Reduced power programming of non-volatile cells
Methods for minimizing current consumption in a memory array during programming of non-volatile memory cells, such as NROM cells, in the array include: programming a cell without having a direct current flowing from a positive supply to ground through the array, programming a plurality of cells with programming pulses without discharging a global bit line carrying a programming voltage between programming pulses, and programming a cell with transient currents.
1. A method comprising: programming a non-volatile memory cell utilizing only substantially transient current flowing from a positive supply to ground through a memory array in which said cell forms a part.
2. The method of claim 1 and wherein said programming comprises: disconnecting a source of the non-volatile memory cell from a ground voltage; and after said source is disconnected, providing a programming voltage to a drain of said cell.
3. The method according to claim 2 and wherein said disconnecting comprises disconnecting a ground supply from a global bit line.
4. The method according to claim 2 and wherein said disconnecting comprises disconnecting a local bit line forming said source from a global bit line carrying said ground voltage.
5. The method of claim 1 and wherein said programming comprises: providing a programming voltage to a drain of said cell; and after said drain voltage is applied, disconnecting a source of the non-volatile memory cell from a ground voltage.
6. The method according to claim 5 and wherein said disconnecting comprises disconnecting a ground supply from a global bit line.
7. The method according to claim 5 and wherein said disconnecting comprises disconnecting a local bit line forming said source from a global bit line carrying said ground voltage.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said non-volatile memory cell is art NROM cell.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said memory array is a segmented virtual ground array.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said array has isolation slices therein.