Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for verifying memory cell erasure, which may be employed in association with a dual bit memory cell architecture. The method includes selectively verifying proper erasure of one of a first bit of the cell and a second bit of the cell, determining that the dual bit memory cell is properly erased if the first and second bits of the cell are properly erased, and selectively erasing at least one of the first and second bits of the cell if one of the first and second bits is not properly erased. The method may also comprise selectively re-verifying proper erasure of one of the first and second bits after selectively erasing at least one of the first and second bits.

Abstract: A method and system for performing verify erasure comprises applying an erase pulse that provides a substantially high electric field to each I/O in a sector one at a time. This operation is important for single power supply devices since the beginning of erase band to band currents for the entire array are larger than can be supplied by drain pumps. After the first erase pulse, the erase verify routine can be performed on all the IO's together. In one particular example, a Vdrain voltage is selected to be at a substantially high positive voltage and the value of Vgate voltage is at a substantially high negative voltage where the voltage potential between Vdrain and Vgate is also a substantially high voltage.