Memory Programming Methods and Memory Programming Devices

Abstract

Memory programming devices include a print head that moves across a substrate to deposit memory material on the substrate to form an array of memory cells and programming circuitry coupled to the print head so that the programming circuitry moves across the substrate along with the print head and that, for individual memory cells of the array, is positioned proximate the individual memory cell and writes data to the individual memory cell. Memory programming methods include depositing memory material above a first portion of an electrically conductive bitline printed on a substrate to form a memory cell and using programming circuitry positioned proximate the memory cell, storing data in the memory cell by altering a characteristic of the memory cell, the characteristic remaining altered after the programming circuitry is moved away from the memory cell.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A memory programming device comprising:
 a print head that moves across a substrate to deposit memory material on the substrate to form an array of memory cells; and   programming circuitry coupled to the print head so that the programming circuitry moves across the substrate along with the print head and that, for individual memory cells of the array, is positioned proximate the individual memory cell and writes data to the individual memory cell.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the programming circuitry writes data to the individual memory cell by altering a characteristic of the memory cell, the characteristic remaining altered after the programming circuitry is moved away from the individual memory cell. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the print head forms a first memory cell of the array and the programming circuitry writes data to the first memory cell of the array prior to the print head forming a second memory cell of the array. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the programming circuitry writes the data to the memory cells by controlling the print head to deposit a first memory material in memory cells of the array storing a first binary value and to deposit a second memory material in memory cells of the array storing a second binary value different from the first binary value, the first memory material having an electrical characteristic that is different from an electrical characteristic of the second memory material. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the programming circuitry writes data to the individual memory cell by applying an electric and/or magnetic field to the individual memory cell and the memory programming device prevents the field from altering data written to other memory cells of the array while the programming circuitry is writing data to the individual memory cell. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the memory programming device prevents the field from altering the data written to other memory cells of the array by positioning the programming circuitry closer to the individual memory cell than any other memory cell of the array. 
     
     
         7 . A programming device comprising:
 a structure comprising a receiving area configured to receive at least a portion of a substrate in a preset position;   communication circuitry in the structure and configured to receive and transmit data; and   a first set of one or more electrical contacts connected to the communication circuitry and configured to physically contact a corresponding second set of one or more electrical contacts located on the portion of the substrate when the substrate is in the preset position.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  further comprising an indicator configured to indicate that the first and second sets of the one or more electrical contacts are in physical contact. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a detection device configured for detecting a current position of the substrate relative the preset position; and 
 an adjustment device configured to reposition the substrate from the current position to the preset position. 
 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7  further comprising a biasing structure secured in the structure and configured to force the substrate toward the first set of the one or more electrical contacts. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the first set of the one or more electrical contacts are movably biased to contact the substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the communication circuitry comprises circuitry implementing wireless communication. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the communication circuitry comprises circuitry implementing USB protocols. 
     
     
         14 . A programming method comprising:
 providing at least one substrate to be programmed, the substrate comprising communication circuitry;   interfacing the communication circuitry with a data storage device comprising program data; and   transmitting the program data via the communication circuitry to the at least substrate.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 the data storage device comprises a computer; and 
 the interfacing comprises providing a structure comprising a set of one or more electrical contacts electrically coupled to the communication circuitry of the substrate. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 the at least one substrate comprises a plurality of substrates; and 
 the transmitting comprises transmitting the program data simultaneously to the plurality of substrates. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 the at least one substrate comprises a plurality of substrates; and 
 the transmitting comprises transmitting the program data serially to the plurality of substrates. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising verifying the program data transmitted matches the program data stored on the data storage device.