Methods, systems, and programs for recalibrating a sense amplifier. A representative
method includes: measuring a physical property of a memory cell to produce a first
measurement; comparing the first measurement to a first range, the first range
being indicative of a short or open circuit in the memory cell; halting the sense
of the selected memory cell if the first measurement exceeds the first range; comparing
the first measurement to a second range, the second range being a predetermined
range signifying a recalibration of the sense amplifier may be necessary; proceeding
with the sense if the first measurement is within the first range and the second
range; repeating the steps of measuring and comparing for a predetermined number
of iterations, if after each iteration, the measurement exceeds the second range
but is within the first range; and recalibrating the sense amplifier, if after
the predetermined number of iterations, the measurement still exceeds the second
range but is within the first range.
