Patent ID: 9570167
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: G11C

Claim:
1. A method of reading a memory cell in a memory array that can have an overlapped electrical response region between a first state distribution a second state distribution, comprising: proving a plurality memory cells, wherein the first state distribution corresponds to a first memory state and has a mean electrical response lower than a mean electrical response of the second state distribution corresponding to a second memory state; ramping a bias on a memory cell a first time to determine a first electrical response of the memory cell; and determining whether the first electrical response is within the overlapped electrical response region, wherein upon determining that the first electrical response is within the overlapped electrical response region, the method further comprises applying a write pulse to the memory cell, ramping a bias on the memory cell a second time to determine a second electrical response, and determining a state of the memory cell prior to receiving the write pulse based on a comparison between the first electrical response and the second electrical response.