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:
Feb. 07, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 08, 2001
Christopher S. Moore, San Jose, CA (US);
James E. Schneider, Los Angeles, CA (US);
J. James Tringali, Los Altos, CA (US);
Roger W. March, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Christopher S. Moore, San Jose, CA (US);
James E. Schneider, Los Angeles, CA (US);
J. James Tringali, Los Altos, CA (US);
Roger W. March, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Matrix Semiconductor, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
The preferred embodiments described herein provide a memory device and method for storing and reading data in a write-once memory array. In one preferred embodiment, a plurality of bits representing data is inverted and stored in a write-once memory array. When the inverted plurality of bits is read from the memory array, the bits are inverted to provide the data in its original, non-inverted configuration. By storing data bits in an inverted form, the initial, un-programmed digital state of the memory array is redefined as the alternative, programmed digital state. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another. For example, the embodiments in which data bits are inverted can be used alone or in combination with the embodiments in which data is redirected.