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US 7,613,051 B2Granted
Interleaving charge pumps for programmable memories
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorMichael J. Cornwell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods, including computer software for performing operations enable interleaving of charging operations in a charging pump. A first charge pump is charged to a predetermined level, and a first operation is performed using a charge stored in the first charge pump after it reaches the predetermined level. A second charge pump is charged during a time that overlaps with performing the first operation. A second operation is performed using a charge stored in the second charge pump as a result of charging the second charge pump.
Claims7
A method for interleaving charging operations, the method comprising:
- charging a first charge pump coupled to a memory block in an electrically programmable memory to at least a predetermined level, the memory block selectively switched between the first charge pump and a second charge pump based on an interleaving policy;
- performing a first operation using a charge stored in the first charge pump after reaching the predetermined level;
- charging the second charge pump coupled to the electrically programmable memory, wherein charging of the second charge pump temporally overlaps with performing the first operation;
- and
- performing a second operation using a charge stored in the second charge pump as a result of charging the second charge pump;
- wherein the first operation and the second operation delete the charge stored in the first charge pump and the charge stored in the second charge pump, respectively.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.