Patent ID: 8441861

Claim:
A method of operating a memory cell, the method comprising: reading memory cells of a memory array to determine a reading parameter distribution of said memory array subsequent to a program or erase pulse applied to said memory cells; determining an expected post-program-verify (post-PV)reading parameter distribution of said memory array based, at least in part, on said determined reading parameter distribution; reading said memory cells of said memory array to determine a measured post-PV reading parameter distribution of said memory array subsequent to a program verify (PV) process applied to said memory cells; and determining a PV-induced reading parameter distribution spread based, at least in part, on a comparison between said measured and said expected post-PV reading parameter distributions, wherein determining further comprises identifying the PV-induced reading parameter distribution by performing de-convolution to algorithmically remove the PV-induced reading parameter distribution spread from the measured post-PV reading parameter distribution by using the expected post-PV reading parameter distribution.