Macronix International Co., Ltd.

Hsin Yi Ho

Chun Hsiung Hung

Hsiang-Lan Lung

Chun-Hsiung Hung

Ming-Hsiu Lee

Han-Sung Chen

Shuo-Nan Hung

Tien-Yen Wang

Shih-Chou Juan

Chung Kuang Chen

Lung Yi Kuo

Chia Ching Li

Chun Jen Huang

A memory device includes an array of programmable resistance memory cells, a differential amplifier coupled to the array, and current circuitry providing a program current to the bit line. The differential amplifier senses a voltage difference between a first voltage on a bit line coupled to a memory cell and a reference voltage, and provides a feedback signal in response to the voltage difference. Control circuitry is coupled to the array and the differential amplifier, and configured to execute a program operation to change the memory cell in a first resistance state to a second resistance state, including selecting a voltage level for the reference voltage which correlates with the second resistance state, turning on the current circuitry to apply a program pulse of program current to the memory cell, and enabling the differential amplifier, where the current circuitry turns off the program current in response to the feedback signal.

Programming verify for nonvolatile memory

A method for managing memory includes setting a state of a first memory cell to a first state representing a first data and setting a state of a second memory cell to a second state representing the first data. If the state of the second memory cell has changed to a third state representing a second data different from the first data, the method also includes changing the state of the second memory cell back to the second state.

Memory and memory managing method

The present invention provides a method of operating a memory device storing error correcting codes ECCs for corresponding data and including ECC logic to correct errors using the ECCs. The method includes correcting data using ECCs for the data on the memory device, and producing information on the memory device about the use of the ECCs. The method provides the ECC information on an output port of the device in response to a command received on an input port from a process external to the memory device. The present invention also provides a method of controlling a memory device. The method includes sending a command to the memory device requesting ECC information corresponding to data in the memory device, and receiving the ECC information from the memory device in response to the command. The method includes performing a memory management function using the ECC information.

Outputting information of ECC corrected bits

A method for programming a non-volatile memory including a plurality of blocks, each block including a plurality of sections, each section including at least one page, and each page including a plurality of memory cells. The method includes checking a current section of the plurality of sections against a damaged section table to determine whether the current section is damaged. The damaged section table records information about whether a section in the memory is good or damaged. The method further includes using the current section for programming if the current section is not damaged.

Management of non-volatile memory

The present invention relates to a circuit for generating a clock signal. The circuit comprises a current source to generate a reference current and provide a first voltage V, a first current generator to generate a first mirror current during a first half cycle based on the reference current, a first capacitor including a first end, and a first transistor having a first threshold voltage V. The first transistor includes a gate to receive the first voltage V, a drain coupled to the first current generator and a source coupled to the first end of the first capacitor so as to allow the first mirror current to charge the first capacitor during the first half cycle, wherein the period of the first half cycle is a function of the first bias voltage Vminus the first threshold voltage V.

Clock generator circuits for generating clock signals

A method for operating a charge-trapping multi-level cell ('MLC') memory array comprises programming a first plurality of charge-trapping sites to a preliminary first-level value, programming a second plurality of charge-trapping sites to a preliminary second-level value, and programming a third plurality of charge-trapping sites to a final third-level value using a first programming scheme. Then, the first plurality of charge-trapping sites is programmed to a final first-level value and the second plurality of charge-trapping sites is programmed to a final second-level value using a second programming scheme.

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Hsinchu, Taiwan

Hsin Yi Ho