Patent ID: 6847553

Claim:
A data storage memory, comprising: an array of re-programmable non-volatile memory cells individually having at least one charge storage element controlling a threshold voltage thereof and exhibiting a degree of field coupling therebetween, and a programming and reading circuit connected with the array and functioning (1) to program adjacent units of charge storage elements in time succession with levels of charge representative of data being stored and a error correction code calculated therefrom that has a limited capability for correcting errors in reading the data from which it has been calculated, (2) to read the data and error correction code stored in individual units and to determine with use of the error correction code whether data read therefrom are valid, and, if not, (3) to correct the read data by use of the error correction code if the errors are within the limited capability for correcting, and, if not, (4) to then adjust charge levels stored in the charge storage elements of a unit adjacent a given unit from which uncorrectable invalid data were read that was programmed after said given unit, and (5) to then again read the data and error correction code from the given unit, whereby the data are read a second time from the given unit with a different effect of the field coupling between the charge storage elements of the given unit and those of the adjacent unit.