Patent ID: 8238174

Claim:
A non-volatile storage apparatus, comprising: a first non-volatile storage element; a second non-volatile storage element; and one or more control circuits in communication with the first non-volatile storage element and the second non-volatile storage element, the one or more control circuits select the first non-volatile storage element and start a program operation for the first non-volatile storage element that is completed, the one or more control circuits unselect the first non-volatile storage element and select the second non-volatile storage element after starting the program operation for the first non-volatile storage element and without waiting for completion of the program operation for the first non-volatile storage element, the one or more control circuits start a program operation for the second non-volatile storage element without waiting for completion of the program operation for the first non-volatile storage element, the one or more control circuits comprise a common sense amplifier that supplies charge for the program operation for the first non-volatile storage element and the program operation for the second non-volatile storage element.