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:
Mar. 20, 2012
Filed:
Oct. 18, 2010
Andrei Mihnea, Boise, ID (US);
William Kueber, Boise, ID (US);
Andrei Mihnea, Boise, ID (US);
William Kueber, Boise, ID (US);
Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
Abstract
Methods for erasing a memory device and memory systems are provided, such as those including a non-volatile memory device is erased by using an intermediate erase step prior to a normal erase step. The intermediate erase step is comprised of an erase pulse voltage, applied to the semiconductor well of the selected memory block of memory cells, while edge rows of memory cells are biased at a low positive voltage (e.g., 0.2-2V). An erase verify operation is then performed. If the selected memory block is not erased, a normal memory erase step is then performed in which the same erase pulse voltage is used but all of the rows are biased at ground potential as in a normal erase step. If the memory block is still fails the erase verify operation, the erase pulse voltage is increased and the process repeated.