Patent ID: 8432733
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A non-volatile storage device comprising: a plurality of non-volatile storage elements, a set of the plurality of non-volatile storage elements includes data non-volatile storage elements and a dummy non-volatile storage element, the dummy non-volatile storage element is a neighbor to one of the data non-volatile storage elements; and a managing circuit in communication with the plurality of non-volatile storage elements, the managing circuit performs an erase of the plurality of non-volatile storage elements, the managing circuit programs the data non-volatile storage elements, at least some of the data non-volatile storage elements experience an apparent increase in threshold voltage due to coupling that occurs due to subsequent programming of another of the data non-volatile storage elements by the managing circuit, the managing circuit selects a programming voltage to apply to the dummy non-volatile storage elements to increase the threshold voltage of the dummy non-volatile storage element to a target threshold voltage level that compensates for lesser coupling experienced by the neighbor non-volatile storage element during programming of the other data non-volatile storage elements, the managing circuit applies the programming voltage to the dummy non-volatile storage element after programming the data non-volatile storage elements, the programming voltage increases the threshold voltage of the dummy non-volatile storage element to the target threshold voltage level that compensates for lesser coupling experienced by the neighbor non-volatile storage element during programming of the other data non-volatile storage elements, wherein the managing circuit soft programs the plurality of non-volatile storage elements after performing the erase and prior to programming the data non-volatile storage elements, the soft programming includes the managing circuit applying a first soft program voltage to the data non-volatile storage elements while the managing circuit applies a second soft program voltage to the dummy non-volatile storage element, the second soft program voltage is less than the first soft program voltage.