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:
May. 31, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 14, 2001
Roger W. March, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Christopher S. Moore, San Jose, CA (US);
Mark G. Johnson, Los Altos, CA (US);
Roger W. March, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Christopher S. Moore, San Jose, CA (US);
Mark G. Johnson, Los Altos, CA (US);
Matrix Semiconductor, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
The preferred embodiments described herein provide a method for altering a word stored in a write-once memory device. In one preferred embodiment, a write-once memory device is provided storing a word comprising a plurality of data bits and a plurality of syndrome bits. The word is altered by identifying X bit(s) in the word that are in an un-programmed state and switching the X bit(s) from the un-programmed state to a programmed state, where X is sufficient to introduce an uncorrectable error in the word. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments can be used alone or in combination with one another.