Patent ID: 7489549
Filing Date: 2009-02-10
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A non-volatile storage system, comprising: a plurality of non-volatile storage elements; and one or more circuits in communication with the plurality of non-volatile storage elements via a plurality of word lines, the one or more circuits program the plurality of non-volatile storage elements according to different target data states, in an initial programming, starting from a first of the plurality of word lines and proceeding successively to each next word line until a last of the plurality of word lines is reached, so that the plurality of non-volatile storage elements are programmed to associated threshold voltage distributions which correspond to the different target data states, and, after the initial programming is completed, perform further programming of at least some of the plurality of non-volatile storage elements according to the different target data states to tighten the associated threshold voltage distributions, the one or more circuits, when programming non-volatile storage elements associated with a given one of the plurality of word lines, in the initial programming, apply a first pass voltage to at least one other word line of the plurality of word lines, and, in the further programming, apply a second pass voltage, different than the first pass voltage, to the at least one other word line.