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. 03, 2011
Filed:
Aug. 03, 2009
Applicants:
Robert Melcher, Folsom, CA (US);
Sean Eilert, Penryn, CA (US);
John Egler, Folsom, CA (US);
Inventors:
Assignee:
Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G11C 16/06 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
Methods and systems to selectively refresh a single bit per cell non-volatile memory cell to reduce memory cell errors. In an embodiment, a memory device scans its memory cells, performing a multi-level read on memory cells in a single bit per cell mode. Depending on the state sensed, the cell is refreshed to a correct state if necessary. In one embodiment, the memory scan is appended to a user erase operation, a flash block is swapped with another bock if the state sensed indicates charge gain, and a flash cell is programmed up if the state sensed indicates charge loss.