One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method by which the
imprint of a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) array is reduced.
The method begins when an event that will cause imprint to the memory
array is anticipated by an external agent to the device comprising the
chip. The external agent sends a command to the control circuitry that
the data states are to be written to a particular data state. Upon
receiving a signal the control circuitry writes all of the ferroelectric
memory cells in the FRAM array to a preferred memory data state. The
memory data states are held in the preferred data state for the entire
duration of the event to minimize imprint of the FRAM memory cells. When
the event ends the external agent sends a command to the control
circuitry to resume normal memory operation. Other methods and circuits
are also disclosed.