Micron Technology, Inc.
Apparatus for programming memory cells using multi-step programming pulses

Abstract:

Memories having a controller configured to apply a particular multi-step programming pulse to a selected access line of a programming operation, enable for programming memory cells that have a particular desired data state for the programming operation and are deemed to have a threshold voltage lower than a first threshold voltage level while applying a first step of a multi-step programming pulse to the selected access line, and enable for programming memory cells that have the particular desired data state for the programming operation and are deemed to have a threshold voltage lower than a second threshold voltage level and higher than the first threshold voltage level while applying a second step of the multi-step programming pulse, lower than the first step of the multi-step programming pulse, to the selected access line.