Patent ID: 8416626
Filing Date: 2013-04-09
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. An non-volatile storage apparatus, comprising: a first set of non-volatile storage elements; and one or more managing circuits in communication with the first set of non-volatile storage elements, the one or more managing circuits perform a programming process on the first set of non-volatile storage elements to program the first set of non-volatile storage elements to a first target condition, the programming process includes the one or more managing circuits applying a programming signal to the first set of non-volatile storage elements and verifying whether the first set of non-volatile storage elements have reached the first target condition, the one or more managing circuits determine a number of non-volatile storage elements of the first set that have not yet reached an intermediate condition during the programming process, the intermediate condition is different than the first target condition, the one or more managing circuits conclude the programming process for the first set of non-volatile storage elements if the number of non-volatile storage elements of the first set that have not yet reached the intermediate condition is less than the compare value.