US Patent 10559338 Multi-bit cell read-out techniques

Techniques for reading a Multi-Bit Cell (MBC) can include sensing a state parameter value, such as source line voltage, and applying a successive one of N programming parameter values, such as successive programming currents, between instances of sensing the state parameter values. The N successive programming parameter values can be selected to program the state of a corresponding one of N cell elements of the MBC to a respective state parameter value. Successive ones of the sensed state parameter values can be compared to determine N state change results, which can be used to determine the read state of the MBC.