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US 6,297,988 B1Granted
Mode indicator for multi-level memory
AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorsAllan Parker, Joseph Kucera
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A memory device having a plurality of memory cells that are group into at least two group of cells. Each cell is capable of being programmed in at least two modes. A mode indicator is associated with each group of cells. The mode indicator indicates which programming mode is used to access the cells. The mode indicator is one or more bits and optionally is user selectable.
Claims20
A memory device, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of memory cells comprising at least a first and second group of cells, each cell being capable of being programmed in a plurality of programming modes;
- and
- (b) a first mode indicator associated with the first group of cells, and a second mode indicator associated with the second group of cells each mode indicator being part of the same memory as the first and second groups of memory cells and being capable of indicating one of the plurality of program modes.
A method of accessing multi-bit memory cells, comprising:
- (a) determining a first mode value from a first mode indicator, the first mode indicator being associated with a first segment of the multi-bit memory cells, the first mode indicator being capable of indicating at least a first and second mode and being part of the same memory thereof, the first mode comprising single bit access and the second mode comprising multi-bit access;
- and
- (b) accessing the first segment of multi-bit cells using an access mode corresponding to the first mode value.
A memory device, comprising:
- (a) a storage means for storing data capable of storing data in a plurality of storage formats;
- (b) an indication means for indicating which of the plurality of different formats is to be used to access the data, said indication means being part of the same memory as said storage means;
- and
- (c) an accessing means for accessing the data stored in the storage means.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.