Patent ID: 8395936

Claim:
A non-volatile storage system, comprising: a set of NAND strings formed on a substrate, each NAND string comprising a storage element in communication with a word line, the storage elements include a plurality of storage elements having one target data state, and a plurality of storage elements having another target data state, higher than the one target data state; a plurality of bit lines, including a respective bit line in communication with each NAND string; and at least one control circuit, the at least one control circuit, in connection with one verify operation of a program-verify iteration in which a verify voltage of the one target data state is applied to the word line: applies a nominal voltage appropriate for sensing to at least one bit line of the plurality of bit lines which is associated with at least one storage element having a verify status of no pass with respect to the one target data state; applies the nominal voltage to at least one bit line of the plurality of bit lines which is associated with at least one storage element having a verify status of pass with respect to the another target data state; and applies a voltage less than the nominal voltage to at least one bit line of the plurality of bit lines which is associated with at least one storage element having the verify status of no pass with respect to the another target data state.