Patent ID: 6992931

Claim:
A reference cell programming system comprising: a memory device including, a memory array having at least one non-volatile reference cell, a sense amplifier coupled to sense a cell current conducted by the at least one non-volatile reference cell and provide a logic level output in response to a comparison of the cell current and a reference current; and an external tester coupled to the memory device to program the at least one non-volatile reference cell to a designated charge level, wherein the tester generates the reference current that is coupled to the sense amplifier, monitors an output of the sense amplifier, and directs control circuitry of the memory device to provide program pulses to the reference cell in response to the logic level output of the sense amplifier wherein the tester is adapted to determine that the reference current is equal to a current level that would be indicative of a current supplied by an accessed memory cell having a desired threshold voltage.