Partial Page Fail Bit Detection in Flash Memory Devices
First Claim
1. A flash memory device, comprising:
- a memory array comprised of a plurality of memory cells arranged into pages, each page having a number of memory cells sufficient to store data for a plurality of groups of memory cells;
row decode circuitry for selecting a page of memory cells;
a data register for receiving input data for each memory cell in a selected page;
a plurality of sense amplifiers coupled to the memory array for sensing the contents of memory cells in a selected page;
circuitry for selectively biasing memory cells in the array to program the memory cells in a selected page responsive to input data for the page;
a plurality of group fail bit detector circuits, coupled to the sense amplifiers and each associated with one of the plurality of groups in a page, for counting a number of memory cells in its associated group that has a programmed state not corresponding to the input data associated with that memory cell; and
control logic circuitry for controlling a programming sequence for the selected page responsive to the numbers of memory cells counted by the plurality of group fail bit detector circuits for the page.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flash memory device, and a method of operating the same, is disclosed. The array of the flash memory device is arranged in pages of memory cells, each page having memory cells associated into groups of memory cells within the page for purposes of fail bit detection in program verification. For example, these groups may correspond to sectors within the page. In a programming operation, the verify process determines whether each group of memory cells within the page has fewer than a selected ignore bit limit for the sector. If not, additional programming is required for the insufficiently programmed cells in the page. By applying a fail bit detection threshold for each of multiple groups within the page, the efficiency of error correction coding in the flash memory is improved. A similar verify and fail bit detection approach may be used in erase and soft programming operations.
101 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A flash memory device, comprising:
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a memory array comprised of a plurality of memory cells arranged into pages, each page having a number of memory cells sufficient to store data for a plurality of groups of memory cells; row decode circuitry for selecting a page of memory cells; a data register for receiving input data for each memory cell in a selected page; a plurality of sense amplifiers coupled to the memory array for sensing the contents of memory cells in a selected page; circuitry for selectively biasing memory cells in the array to program the memory cells in a selected page responsive to input data for the page; a plurality of group fail bit detector circuits, coupled to the sense amplifiers and each associated with one of the plurality of groups in a page, for counting a number of memory cells in its associated group that has a programmed state not corresponding to the input data associated with that memory cell; and control logic circuitry for controlling a programming sequence for the selected page responsive to the numbers of memory cells counted by the plurality of group fail bit detector circuits for the page. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A flash memory system, comprising:
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a flash memory controller, comprising; a host interface, for coupling to a host system; a device interface; and control circuitry for generating memory addresses; and a flash memory device comprising; a memory array comprised of a plurality of memory cells arranged into pages, each page having a number of memory cells sufficient to store data for a plurality of groups of memory cells; row decode circuitry for selecting a page of memory cells; a data register for receiving input data for each memory cell in a selected page; a plurality of sense amplifiers coupled to the memory array for sensing the contents of memory cells in a selected page; circuitry for selectively biasing memory cells in the array to program the memory cells in a selected page responsive to input data for the page; a plurality of group fail bit detector circuits, coupled to the sense amplifiers and each associated with one of the plurality of groups in a page, for counting a number of memory cells in its associated group that has a programmed state not corresponding to the input data associated with that memory cell; and control logic circuitry, coupled to the flash memory controller, for forwarding an address signal to the row decode circuitry to select a page corresponding to a memory address provided by the flash memory controller, and for controlling a programming sequence for the selected page responsive to the numbers of memory cells counted by the plurality of group fail bit detector circuits for the page. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification