Method and apparatus for setting operational information of a non-volatile memory

Abstract

A verify sense amplifier (19) reads data from a non-volatile memory cell to be rewritten. The readout data is compared to expected data in a comparator circuit (21). Upon completion of rewriting, the comparator circuit (21) outputs a match signal MCH. A selector (23) outputs a decode signal STR(i) or SWP(i) indicative of a volatile data retaining unit (25), in correspondence with the non-volatile memory cell MC to be rewritten. According to a verify instruction signal PGV/ERV, the readout data read by the verify sense amplifier (19) is stored in the volatile data retaining unit (25). Control is performed with a match signal MCH instead of the verify instruction signal PGV/ERV, thereby storing the data in the volatile data retaining unit (25) upon completion of rewriting. Therefore, there is no need to re-read operational information from the non-volatile storage.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.