The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 16, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 24, 1996
Robert D Norman, San Jose, CA (US);
Christophe J Chevallier, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Vinod Lakhani, Milpitas, CA (US);
Micron Quantum Devices, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for programming the memory cells of a multistate memory. The method involves the collapsing of data before transmitting to the memory cells. A controller generates optimized program pulses of high voltage to apply to the memory cells. The pulses vary in amplitude and time, depending on the state level being transitioned. Program verify is performed by reading the programmed data back into the controller where it is compared with the original value intended for programming. This compare operation modifies the data read and initial data to reflect which memory cells require further programming. The modified data is again collapsed and sent to the memory for further programming and verify cycles until a monitoring circuit within the controller detects that no further programming is required.