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US 9,312,012 B2Granted
EEPROM programming with first and second programming modes
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
InventorFrancois Tailliet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of programming an EEPROM, including: a first mode where a writing into cells is performed under a first voltage; and a second mode where the writing is performed under a second voltage smaller than the first one.
Claims11
A method, comprising:
- programming an EEPROM, the programming including:
- selecting one of first and second programming modes depending on an amount of input data desired to be programmed;
- in response to selecting the first programming mode, writing the input data into memory cells of the EEPROM using a first programming voltage;
- in response to selecting the second programming mode, writing the input data into the EEPROM using a second programming voltage, smaller than the first programming voltage;
- and
- determining that a given number of programming operations have been performed in the first programming mode, and
- limiting programming operations to the second programming mode in response to determining that the given number of programming operations have been performed in the first programming mode.
4 more elements
An EEPROM, comprising;
- a memory matrix of EEPROM memory cells;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- program an EEPROM using steps including:
- selecting one of first and second programming modes depending on an amount of input data desired to be programmed;
- in response to selecting the first programming mode, writing the input data into memory cells of the EEPROM using a first programming voltage;
- and
- in response to selecting the second programming mode, writing the input data into the EEPROM using a second programming voltage, smaller than the first programming voltage;
- determine that a given number of programming operations have been performed in the first programming mode, and
- limit programming operations to the second programming mode in response to determining that the given number of programming operations have been performed in the first programming mode.
7 more elements
A system comprising:
- an EEPROM, including:
- a memory matrix of EEPROM memory cells;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- program an EEPROM using steps including:
- selecting one of first and second program modes depending on an amount of input data desired to be programmed;
- in response to selecting the first programming mode, writing the input data into memory cells of the EEPROM using a first programming voltage;
- and
- in response to selecting the second programming mode, writing the input data into the EEPROM using a second programming voltage, smaller than the first programming voltage;
- determine that a given number of programming operations have been performed in the first programming mode, and
- limit programming operations to the second programming mode in response to determining that the given number of programming operations have been performed in the first programming mode;
- and
- at least one circuit configured to communicate with the me EEPROM to read data from the memory matrix or write data into the memory matrix.
10 more elements
A method, comprising
- programming an EEPROM, the programming including:
- selecting one of first and second programming modes depending on an amount of input data desired to be programmed;
- in response to selecting the first programming mode, writing the input data into memory cells of the EEPROM using a first programming voltage;
- and
- in response to selecting the second programming mode, writing the input data into the EEPROM using a second programming voltage, smaller than the first programming voltage;
- and
- limiting programming operations in the first programming mode to a number smaller, by a ratio of at least ten, than a number of possible programming operations in the second programming mode.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.