Patent ID: 7486561

Claim:
A method for operating non-volatile storage, comprising: programming a plurality of non-volatile storage elements via a plurality of word lines according to different target data states, in an initial programming, starting from a first of the plurality of word lines and proceeding successively to each next word line until a last of the plurality of word lines is reached, so that the plurality of non-volatile storage elements are programmed to associated threshold voltage distributions which correspond to the different target data states; after the initial programming is completed, performing further programming of at least some of the plurality of non-volatile storage elements according to the different target data states to tighten the associated threshold voltage distributions; and when programming non-volatile storage elements associated with a given one of the plurality of word lines, in the initial programming, applying a first pass voltage to at least one other word line of the plurality of word lines, and, in the further programming, applying a second pass voltage, different than the first pass voltage, to the at least one other word line.