NONVOLATILE MEMORY DEVICES INCLUDING MULTIPLE USER-SELECTABLE PROGRAM MODES AND RELATED METHODS OF OPERATION
First Claim
1. A memory device comprising:
- a flash memory including at least one memory cell configured to store multi-bit data therein;
an MLC mode selector configured to generate a mode selection signal indicating whether to store single-bit data or multi-bit data in the memory cell responsive to a user selection; and
a memory controller configured to operate the flash memory in a single-level cell (SLC) program mode to store the single-bit data or a multi-level cell (MLC) program mode to store the multi-bit data based on the mode selection signal from the MLC mode selector.
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Abstract
A memory device includes a flash memory, a memory controller, and an MLC mode selector. The flash memory includes at least one memory cell configured to store multi-bit data therein. The MLC mode selector is configured to generate a mode selection signal indicating whether to store single-bit data or multi-bit data in the memory cell responsive to a user selection. The memory controller is configured to operate the flash memory in a single-level cell (SLC) program mode to store the single-bit data or a multi-level cell (MLC) program mode to store the multi-bit data based on the mode selection signal from the MLC mode selector. The memory device may be configured to store program mode information for the memory cell indicating whether the single-bit data or the multi-bit data is stored therein. Related systems and methods of operation are also discussed.
73 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A memory device comprising:
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a flash memory including at least one memory cell configured to store multi-bit data therein; an MLC mode selector configured to generate a mode selection signal indicating whether to store single-bit data or multi-bit data in the memory cell responsive to a user selection; and a memory controller configured to operate the flash memory in a single-level cell (SLC) program mode to store the single-bit data or a multi-level cell (MLC) program mode to store the multi-bit data based on the mode selection signal from the MLC mode selector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A memory system comprising:
a memory controller configured to operate a flash memory device in a single-level cell (SLC) program mode to store single-bit data in a memory cell thereof or in a multi-level cell (MLC) program mode to store multi-bit data in the memory cell based on a mode selection signal generated responsive to a user selection, wherein the memory controller is further configured to store program mode information for the memory cell indicating whether the single-bit data or the multi-bit data is stored therein. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of operating a memory device, the method comprising:
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generating a mode selection signal indicating whether to store single-bit data or multi-bit data in a memory cell of a flash memory device that is configured to store multi-bit data therein responsive to a user selection; and operating the flash memory device in a single-level cell (SLC) program mode to store the single-bit data or a multi-level cell (MLC) program mode to store the multi-bit data based on the mode selection signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification