Reading of the state of a non-volatile storage element

Abstract

A method for reading of the state of a non-volatile memory element including conditioning the frequency of a first oscillator to the state of this element, and comparing the frequency of the first oscillator with the predetermined frequency of a second oscillator, selected between two possible frequency values for the first oscillator, according to the state of the storage element.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . A method of writing a value to a storage element, the storage element comprising a first circuit and an oscillating circuit producing an oscillating signal having a frequency based on a characteristic of the first circuit, the first circuit comprising at least one resistor and at least one capacitor, the method comprising:
 changing a value of a first circuit so as to change the frequency of the oscillating signal; and   generating an output indicative of the value stored in the storage element based at least in part on a comparison of the frequency of the oscillating signal to a second frequency of a second oscillating signal.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 prior to the act of changing, generating a different output indicative of the value stored in the storage element based at least in part on a comparison of the frequency of the oscillating signal to the second frequency of the second oscillating signal,   wherein the output and the different output are indicative of different states of the storage element.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein changing the value of the first circuit comprises changing a time constant of the first circuit. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein changing the value of the first circuit comprises:
 adjusting at least one switch of the at least one circuit to couple or decouple one of the at least one resistor and the at least one capacitor to the oscillating circuit so as to change the frequency of the oscillating signal.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein changing the value of the first circuit comprises:
 adjusting at least one fusible element of the at least one circuit to couple or decouple one of the at least one resistor and the at least one capacitor to the oscillating circuit so as to change the frequency of the oscillating signal.