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US 2012/0236655 A1Published application
Reference Voltage Optimization for Flash Memory
AssigneeMarvell World Trade Ltd.
InventorXueshi Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system includes a voltage generator and a reference voltage setting module. The voltage generator is configured to generate K voltages to be applied to memory cells. The K voltages are used to determine a reference voltage used to read the memory cells, where K is an integer greater than 1. The reference voltage setting module is configured to selectively set the reference voltage to a value between two adjacent ones of the K voltages or one of the two adjacent ones of the K voltages.
Claims18
A system comprising:
- a reference voltage setting module configured to set a reference voltage that is to be used to read a plurality of memory cells, wherein the reference voltage is set based on
- (i) applying a plurality of voltages to the plurality of memory cells, and
- (ii) sensing currents through the plurality of memory cells in response to applying each of the plurality of voltages to the plurality of memory cells;
- and
- a counting module configured to generate, based on the currents sensed through the plurality of memory cells, counts of memory cells having threshold voltages between pairs of the plurality of voltages,
- wherein the reference voltage setting module is configured to
- select a first pair of voltages having a smallest of the counts from the pairs of the plurality of voltages, and
- set the reference voltage to (i) a first voltage between the first pair of voltages or (ii) one of the first pair of voltages.
5 more elements
5-11. (canceled)
A system comprising:
- a reference voltage setting module configured to set a reference voltage that is to be used to read a plurality of memory cells, wherein the reference voltage is set based on
- (i) applying a plurality of voltages to the plurality of memory cells, and
- (ii) sensing currents through the plurality of memory cells in response to applying each of the plurality of voltages to the plurality of memory cells;
- and
- a counting module configured to generate, based on the currents sensed through the plurality of memory cells, counts of 1's or 0's detected for pairs of the plurality of voltages,
- wherein the reference voltage setting module is configured to
- select a pair of voltages having a smallest of the counts from the pairs of the plurality of voltages, and
- set the reference voltage to (i) a value between the selected pair of voltages or (ii) one of the selected pair of voltages.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- applying a plurality of voltages to a plurality of memory cells;
- sensing currents through the plurality of memory cells in response to applying each of the plurality of voltages to the plurality of memory cells;
- generating, based on the currents sensed through the plurality of memory cells, counts of 1's or 0's detected for pairs of the plurality of voltages;
- selecting a pair of voltages having a smallest of the counts from the pairs of the plurality of voltages;
- and
- setting the reference voltage to (i) a value between the selected pair of voltages or (ii) one of the selected pair of voltages.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- applying a plurality of voltages to a plurality of memory cells;
- sensing currents through the plurality of memory cells in response to applying each of the plurality of voltages to the plurality of memory cells;
- generating, based on the currents sensed through the plurality of memory cells, counts of memory cells having threshold voltages between pairs of the plurality of voltages;
- selecting a first pair of voltages having a smallest of the counts from the pairs of the plurality of voltages;
- and
- setting a reference voltage to read the plurality of memory cells to (i) a first voltage between the first pair of voltages or (ii) one of the first pair of voltages.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.