Patent ID: 7268809

Claim:
A digital imaging system comprising: an image sensor; image processing and compression circuits; and an analog/multi-level memory coupled between said image sensor and said image processing and compression circuits to receive and temporarily store analog data from said image sensor and transmit said analog data to said image processing and compression circuits, wherein said memory comprises: a plurality of odd numbered write pipelines and a plurality of even numbered write pipelines, each write pipeline comprising: an array of non-volatile memory cells; and a write circuit coupled to the array, wherein when started on a programming operation for a selected memory cell in the array, the write circuit applies a first voltage to the selected memory cell to drive a current through the selected memory cell, wherein when an odd numbered pipeline and an even numbered pipeline are both performing programming operations, a selection circuit in the odd numbered pipeline selects the first voltage when a selection circuit in the even numbered pipeline selects a second voltage and a selection circuit in the odd numbered pipeline selects the second voltage when the selection circuit in the even numbered pipeline selects the first voltage.