Patent ID: 8125828
Filing Date: 2012-02-28
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A reading method for a multi-level cell memory device, the method comprising: initializing a higher-bit register and a lower-bit register provided in a page buffer of the memory device having a plurality of wordlines and a plurality of multi-level cells, each cell being coupled to first and second bit lines and is configured to store at least two bits of data; selecting one of the first and second bitlines; coupling the selected bitline to a sensing node in response to a bitline selection signal and a discharge signal; selecting the lower-bit register as a read register according to read-control signals after one of the wordlines is selected; and reading a lower data bit from a selected multi-level cell corresponding to the selected bitline and the selected wordline by using the lower-bit register, wherein the step of reading the lower data bit includes