Method of transferring initially-setting data in a non-volatile semiconductor memory
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
InventorsKoji Hosono, Toshihiko Himeno, Kenichi Imamiya, Hiroshi Nakamura
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Abstract
A non-volatile semiconductor memory includes a memory cell array having a plurality of electrically-rewritable non-volatile memory cells. The memory cell array is provided with an initially-setting data area, programmed in which is initially-setting data for deciding memory operation requirements. The non-volatile semiconductor memory also includes an initial-set data latch. The initially-setting data of the memory cell array is read out and transferred to the data latch in an initially-setting operation.
Claims8
In a non-volatile semiconductor memory comprising a memory cell array having a plurality of electrically-rewritable non-volatile memory cells, provided with an initially-setting data area, written in which are plural pieces of initially-setting data for deciding memory operation requirements, a decoder that selects memory cells in the memory cell array according to address signals, at least a sense-amplifier that retrieves data stored in at least a memory cell selected by the decoder, and a latch circuit having a plurality of initially-setting data latches that latches the initially-setting data, a method of transferring initially-setting data comprising the steps of:
- performing a reset operation when power is on;
- and
- transferring data stored in a memory cell included in the initially-setting data area to an initially-setting data latch via a sense-amplifier when the reset operation is performed.
In a non-volatile semiconductor memory comprising a memory cell array having a plurality of electrically-rewritable non-volatile memory cells provided with an initially-setting data area, plural pieces of initially-setting data for deciding memory operation requirements being written into the memory cells, a decoder configured to select memory cells in the memory cell array according to address signals, a sense-amplifier configured to retrieve data stored in a memory cell selected by the decoder, and a latch circuit having a plurality of initially-setting data latches configured to latch the initially-setting data, a method of transferring initially-setting data comprising the steps of:
- performing a reset operation when power is on;
- and
- transferring data stored in the memory cell included in the initially-setting data area to the initially-setting data latch via the sense-amplifier responsive to the reset operation being performed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.