IP Library Granted Patent US 7,660,142
Granted Patent B2
US 7,660,142 · App. 11/541,393 · Granted Feb 9, 2010

Device with memory and method of operating device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,660,142
App. No.
11/541,393
Granted
Feb 9, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of operating an electronic device includes storing a first plurality of bits of digital information in a memory using a first number of memory cells in parallel. The first plurality of bits of digital information are for operating the device when operating parameters are not within a nominal range. The method also includes storing a second plurality of bits of digital information in the memory using a second number of memory cells in parallel. The second plurality of bits of digital information are for operating the device when operating parameters are within a nominal range.

Claims (31)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a power supply, the power supply providing power within a first range of parameters during a first period of time and providing power within a second range of parameters during a second period of time;

a logic portion powered by the power supply, the logic portion operable to run subroutines provided by a memory;

a memory storing bits of information;

a first plurality of bits of information stored in the memory and to be run during the first period of time; and

a second plurality of bits of information stored in the memory and to be run during the second period of time;

each of the first plurality of bits of information being sensed using a first number of memory cells in parallel and each of the second plurality of bits of information being sensed using a second number of memory cells in parallel, the first number of memory cells being greater than the second number of memory cells.

2. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first number of memory cells is four and wherein the second number of memory cells is two.

3. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first range of parameters corresponds to non-nominal or non-normal operating conditions and wherein the second range of parameters corresponds to nominal or normal operating conditions.

4. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first range of parameters comprises out-of-spec parameters and the second range of parameters comprises in-spec parameters.

5. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first range of parameters comprises a voltage being within a range of 2.7 V to 3.6 V.

6. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a first set of subroutines comprises at least one of trim, start-up sequence, check out-of-spec condition, or decrease clock frequency.

7. The electronic device in accordance with claim 6 , wherein a second set of subroutines comprises at least one of array read, program or erase.

8. The electronic device in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the first set of subroutines is sensed using the first number of memory cells per cycle during the first period of time and the second set of subroutines is sensed using the second number of memory cells per cycle during the second period of time.

9. The electronic device in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the first set of subroutines is sensed using four memory cells per cycle during the first period of time and wherein the second set of subroutines is sensed using two memory cells per cycle during the second period of time.

10. The electronic device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of bits of information are stored in memory using a first number of memory cells in parallel and wherein the second plurality of bits of information are stored in memory using a second number of memory cells in parallel, wherein the first number of memory cells is greater than the second number of memory cells.

11. The electronic device in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the first number of memory cells is four and the second number of memory cells is two.

12. A method of operating an electronic device, comprising:

sensing a first plurality of bits of information from a memory using a first number of memory cells in parallel when operating parameters are not within a nominal range; and

sensing a second plurality of bits of information from memory using a second number of memory cells in parallel when operating parameters are within the nominal range, wherein the first number of memory cells is more than the second number of memory cells.

13. The method of operating an electronic device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of bits of information comprises out-of-spec subroutines and the second plurality of bits of information comprises in-spec subroutines.

14. The method of operating an electronic device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of bits of information comprise at least one of a trim subroutine or a start-up routine subroutine and wherein the second plurality of bits of information comprise at least one of an array read subroutine, a program subroutine, or an erase subroutine.

15. The method of operating an electronic device in accordance with claim 12 , further comprising:

storing the first plurality of bits of information in the memory using the first number of memory cells in parallel for each bit; and

storing the second plurality of bits of information in the memory using the second number of memory cells in parallel for each bit.

16. The method of operating an electronic device in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the first number of memory cells is four and the second number of memory cells is two.

17. A method of operating an electronic device, comprising:

storing a first plurality of bits of digital information in a memory using a first number of memory cells in parallel, wherein the first plurality of bits of digital information are for operating the device when operating parameters are not within a nominal range; and

storing a second plurality of bits of digital information in the memory using a second number of memory cells in parallel, wherein the second plurality of bits of digital information are for operating the device when operating parameters are within the nominal range.

18. The method of operating an electronic device in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the first number of memory cells in parallel comprises four memory cells in parallel and the second number of memory cells in parallel comprises two memory cells in parallel.

19. The method of operating an electronic device in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the first plurality of bits of digital information comprise out-of-spec subroutines and the second plurality of bits of digital information comprise in-spec subroutines.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2015
From: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
To: POLARIS INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 036701/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2015
From: QIMONDA AG
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
Reel/Frame 035623/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2010
From: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES FLASH GMBH & CO. KG
To: QIMONDA AG
Reel/Frame 023806/0393 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2007
From: CURATOLO, GIACOMO; COHEN, ZEEV; SROWIK, RICO
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES FLASH GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 018813/0680 →