Patent ID: 9159406
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: G11C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A non-volatile storage system, comprising: a memory array having a first block of non-volatile storage elements and a second block of non-volatile storage elements above a substrate; wherein the non-volatile storage elements in the first block each comprise: a first charge storage region and a first tunnel oxide between the first charge storage region and the substrate, the first tunnel oxide having approximately a first thickness; wherein the non-volatile storage elements in the second block each comprise: a second charge storage region and a second tunnel oxide between the second charge storage region and the substrate, the second tunnel oxide having approximately a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness, wherein substantially all of the non-volatile storage elements in the first block have a thinner first tunnel oxide than the second thickness, substantially all of the non-volatile storage elements in the second block have a thicker second tunnel oxide than the first thickness; and one or more managing circuits in communication with the non-volatile storage elements in the first and second blocks, the one or more managing circuits are configured to store only a single bit in each of the non-volatile storage elements in the first block, the one or more managing circuits are configured to store multiple bits in each of the non-volatile storage elements in the second block, wherein each of the non-volatile storage elements in the first block further includes a first control gate and a first inter-gate dielectric between the first charge storage region and the first control gate, the first inter-gate dielectric of each of the non-volatile storage elements in the first block having approximately a third thickness, each of the non-volatile storage elements in the second block includes a second control gate and a second inter-gate dielectric between the second charge storage region and the second control gate, the second inter-gate dielectric having approximately a fourth thickness that is greater than the third thickness, substantially all of the non-volatile storage elements in the second block have a thicker inter-gate dielectric than the third thickness, substantially all of the non-volatile storage elements in the first block have a thinner inter-gate dielectric than the fourth thickness.