Non-volatile memory and method with reduced neighboring field errors
First Claim
1. A method of programming a plurality of non-volatile memory cells in parallel with reduced error due to perturbing electric fields from neighboring memory cells, comprising:
- (a) organizing said plurality of memory cells into a page of contiguous memory cells linked by a word line;
(b) coupling a read/write circuit to each memory cell of said page of contiguous memory cells;
(c) sensing said each memory cell in parallel to verify its memory state relative to one to be programmed;
(d) inhibiting said each memory cell among said page that has been verified;
(e) applying a programming pulse to said page of contiguous memory cells; and
(f) repeating steps (c)-(e) until all memory cells of said page have been verified.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A memory device and a method thereof allow programming and sensing a plurality of memory cells in parallel in order to minimize errors caused by coupling from fields of neighboring cells and to improve performance. The memory device and method have the plurality of memory cells linked by the same word line and a read/write circuit is coupled to each memory cells in a contiguous manner. Thus, a memory cell and its neighbors are programmed together and the field environment for each memory cell relative to its neighbors during programming and subsequent reading is less varying. This improves performance and reduces errors caused by coupling from fields of neighboring cells, as compared to conventional architectures and methods in which cells on even columns are programmed independently of cells in odd columns.
327 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of programming a plurality of non-volatile memory cells in parallel with reduced error due to perturbing electric fields from neighboring memory cells, comprising:
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(a) organizing said plurality of memory cells into a page of contiguous memory cells linked by a word line;
(b) coupling a read/write circuit to each memory cell of said page of contiguous memory cells;
(c) sensing said each memory cell in parallel to verify its memory state relative to one to be programmed;
(d) inhibiting said each memory cell among said page that has been verified;
(e) applying a programming pulse to said page of contiguous memory cells; and
(f) repeating steps (c)-(e) until all memory cells of said page have been verified. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A non-volatile memory device, comprising:
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an array of memory cells, addressable row by row by a set of word lines and column by column by a set of bit lines; and
a read/write circuit, addressable to coupled to each of a contiguous segment of memory cells linked by a word line in a row, such that said memory cells in said contiguous segment are read or programmed together. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification