Non-Volatile Memory and Method With Power-Saving Read and Program-Verify Operations
First Claim
1. A non-volatile memory, comprising:
- memory cells organized as an array of NAND chains, each NAND chain accessible via a bit line; and
a switch coupled between said each NAND chain and the bit line, said switch responsive to a voltage condition on the bit line to connect said each NAND chain to the bit line when the bit line is substantially at zero voltage and to disconnect said each NAND chain from the bit line when the bit line is substantially at a supply voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A non-volatile memory device capable of reading and writing a large number of memory cells with multiple read/write circuits in parallel has features to reduce power consumption during read, and program/verify operations. A read or program verify operation includes one or more sensing cycles relative to one or more demarcation threshold voltages to determine a memory state. In one aspect, selective memory cells among the group being sensed in parallel have their conduction currents turned off when they are determined to be in a state not relevant to the current sensing cycle. In another aspect, a power-consuming period is minimized by preemptively starting any operations that would prolong the period. In a program/verify operation cells not to be programmed have their bit lines charged up in the program phase. Power is saved when a set of these bit lines avoids re-charging at every passing of a program phase.
52 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A non-volatile memory, comprising:
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memory cells organized as an array of NAND chains, each NAND chain accessible via a bit line; and
a switch coupled between said each NAND chain and the bit line, said switch responsive to a voltage condition on the bit line to connect said each NAND chain to the bit line when the bit line is substantially at zero voltage and to disconnect said each NAND chain from the bit line when the bit line is substantially at a supply voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification