Patent ID: 7317638
Filing Date: 2008-01-08
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus used during programming of a non-volatile storage element, comprising: a sense circuit in communication with said non-volatile storage element; a programming mode indication circuit providing an output indicating whether said non-volatile storage element is in a coarse programming mode or a fine programming mode based on said sense circuit; a first selection circuit in communication with said programming mode indication circuit, said first selection circuit applies a coarse reference signal to said sense circuit if said non-volatile storage element is in said coarse programming mode and applies a fine reference signal to said sense circuit if said non-volatile storage element is in said fine programming mode; a second selection circuit in communication with said non-volatile storage element, said second selection circuit applies a coarse mode programming signal to said non-volatile storage element if said output from said programming mode indication circuit indicates that said non-volatile storage element is in said coarse programming mode and applies a fine mode programming signal to said non-volatile storage element if said output from said programming mode indication circuit indicates that said non-volatile storage element is in said fine programming mode; and a switch allowing communication between said non-volatile storage element and either said second selection circuit or said sense circuit, said switch allows communication from said second selection circuit to said non-volatile storage element for programming of said non-volatile storage element and allows communication from said non-volatile storage element to said sense circuit during verification of said non-volatile storage element.