Method of and apparatus for refreshing memory devices

A method comprising:

• storing a data word and an indicator bit in an array of bit cells of a memory device, wherein storing the data word and the indicator bit comprises storing each bit value in the data word into a data bit cell as a stored data bit value and storing an indicator bit value of the indicator bit into an indicator bit cell as a stored indicator bit value;
• and
• refreshing the array of bit cells repetitively, wherein refreshing the array of bit cells comprises:
• reading the stored data bit value from a data bit cell as a read-out data bit value,
• reading the stored indicator bit value from the indicator bit cell as a read-out indicator bit value,
• storing a bit inversion of the read-out data bit value into the data bit cell as the stored data bit value, and
• storing a bit inversion of the read-out indicator bit value into the indicator bit cell as the stored indicator bit value.

A method of storing data comprising:

• generating an augmented error correction code (ECC) word from raw data based on an ECC algorithm;
• storing the augmented ECC word into bit cells as stored bit values;
• and
• refreshing the bit cells after a predetermined time by modifying the stored bit value in each of the bit cells, wherein modifying the stored bit value in a bit cell comprises,
• reading the stored bit value in the bit cell as a first bit value, and
• storing a second bit value into the bit cell as the stored bit value, with the second bit value being a bit inversion of the first bit value.