Patent ID: 8503231

Claim:
A method of reading data a programmed in a multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory device, the method comprising: reading a least significant bit (LSB) of the data; and reading a most significant bit (MSB) of the data after the reading the LSB read; wherein the reading the LSB comprises: performing a first read with respect to a plurality of first bit lines; and performing a second read with respect to a plurality of second bit lines after the first read; wherein the performing the first read comprises: applying a X read voltage to a word line; identifying a MSB flag indicating whether or not the MSB for memory cells connected to the word line has been programmed as a result of the applying the X read voltage to the word line; and performing one of an identifying the LSB for the memory cells with a result of the applying the X read voltage to the word line and an additional applying a Y read voltage to the word line, in view of a value of the MSB flag.