IP Library Granted Patent US 7,894,267
Granted Patent B2
US 7,894,267 · App. 11/929,741 · Granted Feb 22, 2011

Deterministic programming algorithm that provides tighter cell distributions with a reduced number of programming pulses

Assignee: Spansion LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,894,267
App. No.
11/929,741
Granted
Feb 22, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for improving the programming of memory devices. A pulse component applies different programming pulses to a memory cell. An analysis component measures values of one or more characteristics of the memory cell as a function of the applied different programming pulses. A computation component computes the applied different programming pulses as a function of the measured values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell. The analysis component measures one or more values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell, the computation component computes one or more programming pulses as a function of the one or more measured values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell, and the pulse component applies the one or more programming pulses to the memory cell.

Claims (60)

1. A system comprising:

a pulse component that applies different programming pulses to a memory cell;

an analysis component that measures values of one or more characteristics of the memory cell as a function of the applied different programming pulses;

a computation component that computes the applied different programming pulses as a function of the measured values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell; and

a data store component that stores information,

wherein the computation component computes the applied different programming pulses as a function of the stored information.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stored information comprises at least one of a value of a threshold voltage, current, gain, change in threshold voltage, resistance, impedance, or change in current.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data store component comprises at least one of a look up table or calculation component.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the stored information comprises at least one of a value of a threshold voltage, current, gain, electric field, body effect, change in threshold voltage, resistance, impedance, inductance, temperature coefficient, or change in current.

5. The system of claim 3 , further comprising an artificial intelligence component that automatically generates the applied different programming pulses.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the analysis component measures first values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell, wherein the computation component computes a first programming pulse as a function of the measured first values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell, and wherein the pulse component applies the first programming pulse to the memory cell.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the analysis component measures one or more subsequent values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell, wherein the computation component computes one or more subsequent programming pulses as a function of the measured one or more subsequent values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell, and wherein the pulse component applies the one or more subsequent programming pulses to the memory cell.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the analysis component measures first values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell as a function of a first applied programming pulse and measures second values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell as a function of a second applied programming pulse, wherein the computation component computes a third programming pulse as a function of the measured first and second values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell, and wherein the pulse component applies the third programming pulse to the memory cell.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the pulse component applies one or more subsequent programming pulses to the memory cell, wherein the analysis component measures subsequent values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell as a function of the one or more subsequent programming pulses applied to the memory cell, and wherein the computation component computes the one or more subsequent programming pulses as a function of the measured subsequent values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computation component comprises an algorithm that computes the applied different programming pulses as a function of the measured values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the algorithm is modified as a function of the measured values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory cell comprises at least one of a NOR flash memory, a NAND flash memory, other non-volatile memory, or a combination thereof.

13. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions that, if executed by a machine, will cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

applying different programming pulses to a memory cell;

measuring values of one or more characteristics of the memory cell as a function of the applied different programming pulses; and

computing the applied different programming pulses as a function of the measured values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell; and

further comprising

instructions that, if executed by a machine, will cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

modifying an algorithm that computes the applied different programming pulses, wherein the algorithm is modified as a function of the measured values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 , further comprising instructions that, if executed by a machine, will cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

storing information in a data store component;

computing the applied different programming pulses as a function of the stored information; and

automatically generating the applied different programming pulses.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 , further comprising instructions that, if executed by a machine, will cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

measuring first values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell;

computing a first programming pulse as a function of the measured first values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell;

applying the first programming pulse to the memory cell;

measuring one or more subsequent values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell;

computing one or more subsequent programming pulses as a function of the measured one or more subsequent values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell; and

applying the one or more subsequent programming pulses to the memory cell.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 , further comprising instructions that, if executed by a machine, will cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

measuring first values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell as a function of a first applied programming pulse;

measuring second values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell as a function of a second applied programming pulse;

computing a third programming pulse as a function of the measured first and second values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell; and

applying the third programming pulse to the memory cell.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, if executed by a machine, will cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

applying one or more subsequent programming pulses to the memory cell;

measuring subsequent values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell as a function of the one or more subsequent programming pulses applied to the memory cell; and

computing the subsequent programming pulses as a function of the measured subsequent values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 in a form of nonvolatile memory.

19. A system comprising:

a means for applying different programming pulses to a memory cell;

a means for measuring values of one or more characteristics of the memory cell as a function of the applied different programming pulses;

a means for computing the applied different programming pulses as a function of the measured values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell;

a means for storing information;

a means for computing the applied different programming pulses as a function of the stored information;

a means for automatically generating the applied different programming pulses; and

a means for modifying an algorithm that computes the applied different programming pulses.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising:

means for measuring first values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell;

means for computing a first programming pulse as a function of the measured first values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell;

means for applying the first programming pulse to the memory cell;

means for measuring one or more subsequent values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell;

means for computing one or more subsequent programming pulses as a function of the measured one or more subsequent values of the one or more characteristics of the memory cell; and

applying the one or more subsequent programming pulses to the memory cell.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2015
From: SPANSION LLC
To: VALLEY DEVICE MANAGEMENT
Reel/Frame 036011/0839 →
RELEASE OF LIEN ON PATENT Recorded Aug 5, 2013
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 030945/0505 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 4, 2010
From: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 024522/0338 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2007
From: NAZARIAN, HAGOP; ACHTER, MICHAEL; KUO, HARRY
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 020122/0388 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090109760A1 · Apr 30, 2009