Counter-based methods and systems for accessing memory cells

Abstract

A method including storing user data in memory cells of a memory array, storing, in a counter associated to the memory cells, count data corresponding to a number of bits in the user data having a predetermined first logic value, applying a read voltage to the memory cells to read the user data, applying the read voltage to the cells of the counter to read the count data and to provide a target value corresponding to the number of bits in the user data having the first logic value. During the application of the read voltage, the count data and the user data are read simultaneously such that the target value is provided during the reading of the user data. The application of the read voltage is stopped when the number of bits in the user data having the first logic value corresponds to the target value.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.