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:
Dec. 23, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 14, 2001
Guido De Sandre, Brugherio, IT;
Marco Pasotti, S. Martino Sicc., IT;
Pier Luigi Rolandi, Monleale, IT;
Giovani Guaitini, Trecella, IT;
David Iezzi, Osnago, IT;
Marco Poles, Ghedi, IT;
STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
It is described a programming method for a multilevel memory cell able to store a plurality of bits in a plurality of levels. The method comprises the phases of: initially programming a cell threshold value to a first set of levels [0;(m−1)] being m a submultiple of the plurality of levels of the multilevel cell; reprogramming without erasing another set of levels [m;(2m−1)] containing the same number m of levels as the first set; reiterating the reprogramming without erasing phase until the levels of the multilevel cell are exhausted. It is also described a multilevel memory device of the type comprising a plurality of multilevel memory cells organized into sectors, the sectors being themselves split into a plurality of data units wherein a data updating operation is performed in parallel, the data units being programmed by means of the programming method.