Patent ID: 8432760
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A method of testing cell strength for a solid-state memory comprised of a population of memory cells, the method comprising: performing a functional test of the population of memory cells at a first bias voltage level corresponding to a nominal voltage limit modified by a first guardband voltage; responsive to at least one memory cell of the population of memory cells failing the functional test at the first bias voltage level, performing a functional test of one or more memory cells including the failing memory cell at a second bias voltage level, for a first plurality of repetitions, the second bias voltage level corresponding to the nominal voltage limit modified by a second guardband voltage that is less severe than the first guardband voltage; and responsive to none of the one or more memory cells failing the functional test at the second bias voltage level for any of the first plurality of repetitions, identifying the memory as passing the cell strength test.