Patent ID: 7224613

Claim:
A re-programmable non-volatile memory for storing data, comprising: an array of charge storage elements on an integrated circuit chip, characterized by values of charge stored in some of the storage elements affecting data read from others of the storage elements due to at least electric field coupling between storage elements, and a programming circuit on said integrated circuit chip that (1) writes a first set of data as a first set of stored values into a first group of the storage elements, (2) thereafter writes a second set of data as a second set of stored values into a second group of the storage elements, wherein at least some of the stored second set of values affect data read from at least some of the first group of storage elements on account of the field coupling between them, and (3) alters the first set of stored values in a manner to counteract an effect of the second set of stored values on data read from the first group of storage elements at least on account the field coupling between them, without rewritting the second set of data into the second group of the storage elements.