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. 19, 2009
Filed:
Jun. 06, 2007
Daniel Elmhurst, Folsom, CA (US);
Violante Moschiano, Bacoli, NA 80070, IT;
Paul Ruby, Folsom, CA (US);
Daniel Elmhurst, Folsom, CA (US);
Violante Moschiano, Bacoli, NA 80070, IT;
Paul Ruby, Folsom, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for refreshing non-volatile memories due to changes in memory cell charges, such as charge loss, are disclosed. Embodiments generally comprise a voltage generator to create a sub-threshold voltage for a memory state of memory cells in a block. Once the sub-threshold voltage is applied to a word line a state reader determines states of memory cells coupled to the word line. If the state reader determines that one or more of the memory cells coupled to the word line is in the memory state, despite the sub-threshold voltage, a memory refresher may program a number of memory cells in the block. Method embodiments generally comprise applying a sub-threshold voltage to a word line for a plurality of memory cells, detecting at least one memory cell of the plurality violates a state parameter, and refreshing a block of memory cells associated with the plurality of cells.