1. A method for operating a multi-level-cell (MLC) memory device, comprising
a substrate;
a gate electrode; and
a charge trapping structure disposed between the substrate and the gate electrode and having a second bit operation window, the charge trapping structure having a first storage side space apart from a second storage side, the first storage side having m bits for 2m multiple voltage threshold Vt distributions and a plurality of sensing windows, each sensing window in the first storage side defining a voltage margin between two voltage threshold Vt distributions; the method comprising:
enlarging the second bit operation window by a hole injection that move holes to the charge trapping layer; and
wherein the hole injection comprises one of applying a positive gate voltage to erase the memory device to a negative voltage level by moving holes from the gate electrode to the charge trapping structure, and of applying a negative gate voltage to erase the memory device to a negative voltage level by moving holes from the substrate to the charge trapping structure.
2. The method for operating a MLC memory device of claim 1, wherein the second storage side stores m bits for 2m multiple voltage threshold Vt distributions and a plurality of sensing windows, each sensing window in the first storage side defining a voltage margin between two voltage threshold Vt distributions.
3. The method for operating a MLC memory device of claim 1, wherein the charge trapping structure stores two bits, the first bit on the first storage side to provide a logic 0 state and a logic 1 state, the multiple voltage threshold Vt distributions including a first voltage threshold distribution and a second voltage threshold distribution, the second bit operation window measured between the first and second voltage threshold distributions.
4. The method for operating a MLC memory device of claim 1, wherein the charge trapping structure stores four bits, the first storage side having two bits to provide a logic 00 state, a logic 01 state, a logic 10 state and a logic 11 state, the multiple voltage threshold Vt distributions including a first voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 11 state, a second voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 10 state, a third voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 01 state, and a fourth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 00 state,
wherein the second bit operation window measured between the first and fourth voltage threshold distributions, the second bit operation window includes the second voltage threshold distribution, the third voltage threshold distribution, a first sensing window providing a first voltage margin between the logic 10 and 11 states, a second sensing window a second voltage margin between the logic 10 and 01 states, and a third sensing window providing a third voltage margin between the logic 01 and 00 states.
5. The method for operating a MLC memory device of claim 1, wherein the charge trapping structure stores six bits, the first storage side having three bits to provide a logic 000 state, a logic 001 state, a logic 010 state, a logic 011 state, a logic 100 state, a logic 101 state, a logic 110 state, and a logic 111 state, the multiple voltage threshold Vt distributions including a first voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 111 state, a second voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 110 state, a third voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 101 state, and a fourth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 100 state, a fifth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 011 state, a sixth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 010 state, a seventh voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 001 state, and an eighth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 000 state,
wherein the second bit operation window measured between the first and eighth voltage threshold distributions, the second bit operation window includes the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh voltage threshold distributions, a first sensing window providing a first voltage margin between the logic 111 and 110 states, a second sensing window providing a second voltage margin between the logic 110 and 101 states, a third sensing window providing a third voltage margin between the logic 101 and 100 states, a fourth sensing window providing a fourth voltage margin between the logic 101 and 100 states, a fifth sensing window providing a fifth voltage margin between the logic 100 and 011 states, a sixth sensing window providing a sixth voltage margin between the logic 011 and 010 states, a seventh sensing window providing a seventh voltage margin between the logic 010 and 001 states, and an eighth sensing window providing an eighth voltage margin between the logic 001 and 000 states.
6. The method for operating a MLC memory device of claim 1, wherein the charge trapping structure stores eight bits, the first storage side having four bits to provide a logic 0000 state, a logic 0001 state, a logic 0010 state, a logic 0011 state, a logic 0100state, a logic 0101 state, a logic 0110 state, a logic 0111 state, a logic 1000 state, a logic 1001state, a logic 1010 state, a logic 1011 state, a logic 1100 state, a logic 1101 state, a logic 1110state, a logic 1111 state, the multiple voltage threshold Vt distributions including a first voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 1111 state, a second voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 1110 state, a third voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 1101 state, and a fourth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 1100 state, a fifth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 1011 state, a sixth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 1010 state, a seventh voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 1001 state, and an eighth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 1000 state, a ninth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 0111 state, a tenth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 0110 state, an eleventh voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 0101 state, and a twelfth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 0100state, a thirteenth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 0011 state, a fourteenth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 0010 state, a fifteenth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 0001 state, and a sixteenth voltage threshold distribution corresponding to the logic 0000 state,
wherein the second bit operation window measured between the first and sixteenth voltage threshold distributions, the second bit operation window includes the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleventh, the twelfth, the thirteenth, the fourteenth, the fifteen, and the sixteenth voltage threshold distributions, a first sensing window providing a first voltage margin between the logic 1111 and 1110 states, a second sensing window providing a second voltage margin between the logic 1110and 1101 states, a third sensing window providing a third voltage margin between the logic 1101and 1100 states, a fourth sensing window providing a fourth voltage margin between the logic 1101 and 1100 states, a fifth sensing window providing a fifth voltage margin between the logic 1100 and 1011 states, a sixth sensing window providing a sixth voltage margin between the logic 1011 and 1010 states, a seventh sensing window providing a seventh voltage margin between the logic 1010 and 1001 states, an eighth sensing window providing an eighth voltage margin between the logic 1001 and 1000 states, a ninth sensing window providing a ninth voltage margin between the logic 1000 and 0111 states, a tenth sensing window providing a tenth voltage margin between the logic 0111 and 0110 states, an eleventh sensing window providing an eleventh voltage margin between the logic 0110 and 0101 states, a twelfth sensing window providing a twelfth voltage margin between the logic 0101 and 0100 states, a thirteenth sensing window providing a thirteenth voltage margin between the logic 0100 and 0011 states, a fourteenth sensing window providing a fourteenth voltage margin between the logic 0011 and 0010 states, a fifteenth sensing window providing a fifteenth voltage margin between the logic 0010 and 0001 states, and a sixteenth sensing window providing a sixteenth voltage margin between the logic 0001 and 0000 states.
7. The method for operating a MLC memory device of claim 1, wherein the charge trapping structure comprises a charge trapping layer overlying a dielectric layer.
8. The method for operating a MLC memory device of claim 1, wherein the charge trapping structure comprises a top dielectric layer overlying a charge trapping layer, and the charge trapping layer overlying a bottom dielectric layer.
9. The method for operating a MLC memory device of claim 8, further comprising a first dielectric section and a second dielectric section, the charge trapping layer disposed between the first and second dielectric sections.
10. A method for operating a charge trapping memory cell, comprising:
setting a cell threshold voltage to a level within a first voltage threshold Vt distribution including negative voltages for a first memory state by hole tunneling; and
setting the cell threshold voltage to a level within a second voltage threshold Vt distribution higher than the first voltage threshold Vt distribution for a second memory state.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A surgical instrument for use with an electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising:
a coupling configured to couple the surgical instrument with the electro-mechanical surgical device; and
a memory unit configured to store data representing at least one parameter relating to the surgical instrument;
wherein the coupling includes a data connector configured to connect the memory unit with the electro-mechanical surgical device.
2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising at least one rotatable drive shaft configured to couple with a respective drive shaft of the electro-mechanical surgical device.
3. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a first rotatable drive shaft and a second rotatable drive shaft, each of the drive shafts being configured to couple with a respective drive shaft of the electro-mechanical surgical device.
4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first data is readable by a control system of the electro-mechanical surgical device.
5. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the data connector is configured to electrically and logically connect the memory unit to a control system of the electro-mechanical surgical device.
6. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the coupling is configured to detachably attach the surgical instrument to the electro-mechanical surgical device.
7. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument includes a surgical staplercutter instrument.
8. The surgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the surgical staplercutter instrument includes an anvil portion and a staple drivercutter portion.
9. The surgical instrument according to claim 8, further comprising a first rotatable drive shaft configured to open and close the anvil portion and a second rotatable drive shaft configured to drive the staple drivercutter portion.
10. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of a usage data, a serial number data and a type of the surgical instrument.
11. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising:
a least one driven element; and
a gear arrangement configured to couple a drive shaft of the electro-mechanical surgical device to the at least one driven element, the gear arrangement being configured to convert a high-speed rotation of the drive shaft to drive the at least one driven element at a high-torque.
12. A surgical instrument for use with an electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising:
a coupling configured to couple the surgical instrument with the electro-mechanical surgical device; and
a memory unit configured to store data representing a usage of the surgical instrument;
wherein the coupling includes a data connector configured to connect the memory unit with the electro-mechanical surgical device.
13. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, further comprising at least one rotatable drive shaft configured to couple with a respective drive shaft of the electro-mechanical surgical device.
14. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, further comprising a first rotatable drive shaft and a second rotatable drive shaft, each of the drive shafts being configured to couple with a respective drive shaft of the electro-mechanical surgical device.
15. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the first data is readable by a control system of the electro-mechanical surgical device.
16. The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein the control system is configured to limit usage of the surgical instrument in accordance with the usage data.
17. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the data connector is configured to electrically and logically connect the memory unit to a control system of the electro-mechanical surgical device.
18. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the coupling is configured to detachably attach the surgical instrument to the electro-mechanical surgical device.
19. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the surgical instrument includes a surgical staplercutter instrument.
20. The surgical instrument according to claim 19, wherein the surgical staplercutter instrument includes an anvil portion and a staple drivercutter portion.
21. The surgical instrument according to claim 20, further comprising a first rotatable drive shaft configured to open and close the anvil portion and a second rotatable drive shaft configured to drive the staple drivercutter portion.
22. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, further comprising:
a least one driven element; and
a gear arrangement configured to couple a drive shaft of the electro-mechanical surgical device to the at least one driven element, the gear arrangement being configured to convert a high-speed rotation of the drive shaft to drive the at least one driven element at a high-torque.
23. A surgical instrument for use with an electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising:
a coupling configured to couple the surgical instrument with the electro-mechanical surgical device; and
a memory unit configured to store data representing a serial number of the surgical instrument;
wherein the coupling includes a data connector configured to connect the memory unit with the electro-mechanical surgical device.
24. The surgical instrument according to claim 23, further comprising at least one rotatable drive shaft configured to couple with a respective drive shaft of the electro-mechanical surgical device.
25. The surgical instrument according to claim 23, further comprising a first rotatable drive shaft and a second rotatable drive shaft, each of the drive shafts being configured to couple with a respective drive shaft of the electro-mechanical surgical device.
26. The surgical instrument according to claim 23, wherein the first data is readable by a control system of the electro-mechanical surgical device.
27. The surgical instrument according to claim 23, wherein the data connector is configured to electrically and logically connect the memory unit to a control system of the electro-mechanical surgical device.
28. The surgical instrument according to claim 23, wherein the coupling is configured to detachably attach the surgical instrument to the electro-mechanical surgical device.
29. The surgical instrument according to claim 23, wherein the surgical instrument includes a surgical staplercutter instrument.
30. The surgical instrument according to claim 29, wherein the surgical staplercutter instrument includes an anvil portion and a staple drivercutter portion.
31. The surgical instrument according to claim 30, further comprising a first rotatable drive shaft configured to open and close the anvil portion and a second rotatable drive shaft configured to drive the staple drivercutter portion.
32. The surgical instrument according to claim 23, further comprising:
a least one driven element; and
a gear arrangement configured to couple a drive shaft of the electro-mechanical surgical device to the at least one driven element, the gear arrangement being configured to convert a high-speed rotation of the drive shaft to drive the at least one driven element at a high-torque.
33. An electro-mechanical surgical device, comprising:
at least one rotatable drive shaft;
a motor arrangement configured to rotate the at least one rotatable drive shaft from a proximal end thereof;
a first gear arrangement disposed at a distal end of the rotatable drive shaft; and
at least one element driven by the gear arrangement;
wherein the gear arrangement is configured to convert a high-speed rotation of the rotatable drive shaft to drive the at least one driven element at a high-torque.
34. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to claim 33, further comprising a surgical attachment attachable to the distal end of the rotatable drive shaft, the surgical attachment including the at least one element.
35. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to claim 34, wherein the first gear arrangement is disposed in the surgical attachment.
36. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to claim 34, wherein the surgical attachment includes a circular surgical stapler attachment.
37. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to claim 36, wherein the at least one element includes at least one of an anvil of the circular surgical stapler attachment and a staple drivercutter of the circular surgical stapler attachment.
38. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to claim 33, wherein the at least one rotatable drive shaft includes a first rotatable drive shaft and a second rotatable drive shaft, the at least one element including a first element driven by the first rotatable drive shaft and a second element driven by the second rotatable drive shaft, the gear arrangement including a first gear system configured to convert a high-speed rotation of the first rotatable drive shaft to drive the first driven element at a high-torque and a second gear system configured to convert a high-speed rotation of the second rotatable drive shaft to drive the second driven element at a high-torque.
39. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to claim 38, wherein the motor arrangement includes a first motor configured to rotate the first rotatable drive shaft and a second motor configured to rotate the second rotatable drive shaft.
40. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to claim 38, further comprising a surgical attachment detachably attachable to the distal end of the first and second rotatable drive shafts, the surgical attachment including the first and second elements.
41. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to claim 40, wherein the first element includes an anvil and the second element includes a staple drivercutter.
42. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to claim 33, further comprising a second gear arrangement disposed between the motor arrangement an the at least one rotatable drive shaft, the second gear arrangement configured to convert a high torque transmitted by the motor arrangement to rotate the at least one rotatable drive shaft at the high speed.
43. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to claim 33, wherein the first gear arrangement includes at least one of a spur gear arrangement, a planetary gear arrangement, a harmonic gear arrangement, cycloidal drive arrangement and an epicyclic gear arrangement.
44. The electro-mechanical surgical device according to claim 33, wherein each of the first gear arrangement and the second gear arrangement includes at least one of a spur gear arrangement, a planetary gear arrangement, a harmonic gear arrangement, cycloidal drive arrangement and an epicyclic gear arrangement.