IP Library Granted Patent US 7,639,537
Granted Patent B2
US 7,639,537 · App. 12/184,643 · Granted Dec 29, 2009

Method for writing data in a non volatile memory unit

Assignee: Incard S.A.
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 7,639,537
App. No.
12/184,643
Granted
Dec 29, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for writing data in a non volatile memory unit having memory pages includes a predetermined number of memory cells storing a memory word being a predetermined sequence of digital values. An erase operation erases the memory words in the memory page, setting the predetermined sequence of digital values to a sequence of complementary values. A program operation stores in the memory cell a word and sets a sequence of a word to be stored. For the memory cells of the memory page, the memory word is compared with the word to be stored. A positive check is returned if complementary values of the sequence correspond to complementary values of the predetermined sequence. If the check is negative, the erase operation is executed. The memory word is compared with the word to be stored and the program operation is executed if the word to be stored is different.

Claims (23)

1. A method for writing data in a non-volatile memory unit comprising a plurality of memory pages, each memory page including a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell storing a memory word, each memory word comprising a sequence of logic values, the method comprising:

for each memory cell of a given memory page, comparing a stored word with a word to be stored and returning a positive check if first logic values of the sequence of the word to be stored correspond to first logic values of the sequence of the stored word and otherwise returning a negative check;

if the check is negative, performing an erase operation by setting the sequence of the stored word to a sequence of first logic values; and

for each memory cell; comparing the stored word with the word to be stored and executing a program operation if the word to be stored is different from the stored word, the program operation setting a sequence of the word to be stored into the memory cell.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein, if the check is negative and the erase operation has been executed, the word to be stored is compared with the sequence of the stored word, and the program operation is executed if the word to be stored is different from the sequence of the stored word.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the negative check is returned when a first mismatch between the sequence of the word to be stored and the sequence of the stored word is detected.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein each memory word comprises eight digital values.

5. A method for writing data in a non-volatile memory unit comprising a plurality of memory pages, each memory page including a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell storing a memory word, each memory word comprising a sequence of logic values, the method comprising:

for each memory page wherein data is to be stored

for each memory cell of a given memory page, comparing a stored word with a word to be stored and returning a positive check if first logic values of the sequence of the word to be stored correspond to first logic values of the sequence of the stored word,

when a first mismatch between the sequence of the word to be stored and the sequence of the stored word is detected, returning a negative check,

if the check is negative, performing an erase operation by setting the sequence of the stored word to a sequence of first logic values, and

for each memory cell, comparing the stored word with the word to be stored and executing a program operation if the word to be stored is different from the stored word, the program operation setting a sequence of the word to be stored into the memory cell.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein, if the check is negative and the erase operation has been executed, the word to be stored is compared with the sequence of the stored word, and the program operation is executed if the word to be stored is different from the sequence of the stored word.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a non-volatile memory unit comprising a plurality of memory pages, each memory page including a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell storing a memory word, each memory word comprising a sequence of logic values; and

circuitry coupled to the non-volatile memory unit to

for each memory cell of a given memory page, comparing a stored word with a word to be stored and returning a positive check if first logic values of the sequence of the word to be stored correspond to first logic values of the sequence of the stored word and otherwise returning a negative check,

if the check is negative, performing an erase operation by setting the sequence of the stored word to a sequence of first logic values, and

for each memory cell, comparing the stored word with the word to be stored and executing a program operation if the word to be stored is different from the stored word, the program operation setting a sequence of the word to be stored into the memory cell.

8. An electronic device according to claim 7 wherein, if the check is negative and the erase operation has been executed, the word to be stored is compared with the sequence of the stored word, and the program operation is executed if the word to be stored is different from the sequence of the stored word.

9. An electronic device according to claim 7 wherein the negative check is returned when a first mismatch between the sequence of the word to be stored and the sequence of the stored word is detected.

10. An electronic device according to claim 7 wherein each memory word comprises eight digital values.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2013
From: INCARD SA
To: STMICROELECTRONICS N.V.
Reel/Frame 030669/0192 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2013
From: STMICROELECTRONICS N.V.
To: STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.
Reel/Frame 030669/0257 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2008
From: SEPE, PAOLO, MR.; CIMINO, CARLO, MR.; CHICHIERCHIA, MARIA
To: INCARD S.A.
Reel/Frame 021764/0351 →
Priority Claims (1)
IT MI2007A1601 · Aug 2, 2007 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090046522A1 · Feb 19, 2009