Patent ID: 9123424
Filing Date: 2015-09-01
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A method for programming a set of memory cells connected to a selected word line in a memory device, comprising: configuring the memory device with a reference initial program voltage; configuring the memory device with a reference final program voltage; configuring the memory device with a first reference offset voltage; configuring the memory device with a reference pass voltage; performing one programming pass of a multi-pass programming operation for the set of memory cells by applying a first set of step-wise increasing program voltages having the reference initial program voltage to the selected word line and applying the reference pass voltage to at least one unselected word line during one or more program voltages of the first set of step-wise increasing program voltages; determining a final program voltage of the first set of step-wise increasing program voltages upon completion of the one programming pass; determining an adjusted pass voltage from an adjustment to the reference pass voltage, the adjustment to the reference pass voltage is based on a difference between the determined final program voltage and the reference final program voltage; determining a first initial program voltage of a second set of step-wise increasing program voltages based on the determined final program voltage minus the first reference offset voltage minus another offset; determining an adjustment to the first initial program voltage based on the adjustment to the reference pass voltage, to provide a second initial program voltage, the adjustment to the first initial program voltage is of opposite polarity to the adjustment to the reference pass voltage; and performing another programming pass for the set of memory cells by applying the second set of step-wise increasing program voltages having the second initial program voltage to the selected word line and applying the adjusted pass voltage to the at least one unselected word line during one or more program voltages of the second set of step-wise increasing program voltages.