Single level cell programming in a multiple level cell non-volatile memory device
First Claim
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1. A method for single level programming in a multiple level cell memory device, the method comprising:
- writing desired data to one of either the least significant bit or the most significant bit of the cell; and
writing the reinforcing data to the remaining bit of the cell such that a threshold voltage of the cell is adjusted to a voltage level required by the desired data.
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Abstract
A multiple level cell memory array has an area that can be programmed as single level cells. The cells to be programmed are initially programmed with the desire data into either the least significant or most significant bit of the cell. A second programming operation the programs reinforcing data that adjusts the threshold level of the cell to the appropriate level for the desired data.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for single level programming in a multiple level cell memory device, the method comprising:
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writing desired data to one of either the least significant bit or the most significant bit of the cell; and
writing the reinforcing data to the remaining bit of the cell such that a threshold voltage of the cell is adjusted to a voltage level required by the desired data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for single level programming in a multiple level cell NAND flash memory device, the method comprising:
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determining a type of data to be programmed;
writing desired data to a least significant bit of a cell; and
writing reinforcing data that changes a threshold voltage of the cell to a voltage level required by the desired data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for single level programming in a multiple level cell memory device comprising memory with a least significant page and a most significant page, the method comprising:
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writing desired data to either the least significant page or the most significant page of at least one memory cell; and
writing reinforcing data to the remaining page of the at least one memory cell such that the remaining page is a non-adjacent page to the previously written page of each cell and is composed of reinforcing data to the desired data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A memory device comprising:
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a plurality of multiple level cells formed into an array of cells; and
at least one single level cell within the array of cells that is programmed and read as a single level cell in response to a driver. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A flash memory device comprising:
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a memory array comprising a plurality of cells that are programmable to multiple levels within a range of threshold voltages; and
control circuitry that is adapted to execute a single level programming method comprising writing desired data to one of either the least significant bit or the most significant bit of a dynamically selected cell, and writing reinforcing data to the remaining bit of the cell. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A memory system comprising:
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a processor that generates memory signals and executes a memory driver; and
a memory device coupled to the processor and operating in response to the memory signals, the memory device comprising;
a plurality of multiple level cells formed as an array of cells; and
a control circuit that programs at least one multiple level cell in a single level format in response to the memory driver.
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24. A memory module comprising:
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a multiple level memory array arranged in rows and columns such that the rows comprise word lines coupled to control gates of a plurality of memory cells and the columns comprise bit lines coupled to series strings of memory cells, the memory array further arranged in memory blocks; and
control circuitry that is adapted to perform single level programming of at least one dynamically selected cell of the memory array by writing desired data to one of either a least significant bit or a most significant bit of the cell and writing reinforcing data to the remaining bit of the cell; and
a plurality of contacts configured to provide selective contact between the memory array and a host system. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method for single level programming in a multiple level cell NAND flash memory device comprising a memory array, the method comprising:
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determining a type of data to be programmed;
writing either multiple level cell data or single level cell data to at least one selected cell of the array in response to the type of data;
if the type of data is indicative of high reliability, writing desired data to a first bit of a cell and writing reinforcing data to a remaining bit of the cell that changes a threshold voltage of the cell to a voltage level required by the desired data; and
if the type of data is indicative of high memory density, writing the desired data in multiple level cell manner. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A memory system comprising:
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a processor that generates memory signals and executes a high level memory driver and a low-level memory driver; and
a memory device coupled to the processor and operating in response to the memory signals, the memory device comprising;
a plurality of multiple level cells formed as an array of cells; and
a control circuit that programs a plurality of multiple level cells in a single level cell format in response to the high-level memory driver and the low-level memory driver. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A flash memory system having a processor coupled to system memory and to a flash memory device, the system comprising:
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a high-level driver that is executed by the processor and selects memory locations of the flash memory device to which data is written; and
a low-level driver, coupled to the high-level driver, that is executed by the processor to write single level cell data into multiple level cell memory locations as determined by the high-level driver in response to a type of data being written. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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Specification