METHODS OF OPERATING MULTI-BIT FLASH MEMORY DEVICES AND RELATED SYSTEMS

• US 20090073762A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoon, Song-Ho, Lee, Su-Ryun
• Granted Patent: US 7,843,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 365/185.30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1072 in multilevel memories
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/5628 Programming or writing circuits; Data input circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/04 using variable threshold transistors, e.g. FAMOS
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/10 Programming or data input circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2029/0409 Online test
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2029/0411 Online error correction
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2211/5641 Multilevel memory having cells with different number of storage levels
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2211/5647 Multilevel memory with bit inversion arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/00 Checking stores for correct operation ; Subsequent repair; Testing stores during standby or offline operation
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/74 using duplex memories, i.e. using dual copies

Abstract

Methods of operating a non-volatile multi-bit memory device can include programming multi-bit memory cells included in one page of the device with page data including an error detection code based on the page data and determining the validity of the page data using the error detection code read from the multi-bit memory cells in response to an error during programming of the multi-bit memory cells, wherein the multi-bit memory cells in the one page are configured to store a single bit of the page data.

Claims

1. A method of operating a non-volatile multi-bit memory device comprising:

programming multi-bit memory cells included in one page of the device with page data including an error detection code based on the page data, and

determining validity of the page data using the error detection code read from the multi-bit memory cells in response to an error during programming of the multi-bit memory cells, wherein the multi-bit memory cells in the one page are configured to store a single bit of the page data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the error detection code comprises program data and complementary program data, wherein the complementary data is targeted to include inverted program data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining validity comprises comparing the program data to the complementary program data read from the page to determine a complementary relationship therebetween.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the complementary program data is allocated to a first subset of column locations in the page of the multi-bit memory and erased data is allocated to a second subset of column locations in the page immediately adjacent to the first subset is in an erased state.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second subset of column locations in remaining pages of the non-volatile memory device include a single occurrence of second program data and second complementary program data and the second subset of column locations in a balance of the remaining pages includes erased data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a number of the first and second subsets of column locations are equal.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein determining validity comprises:

reading the page data from the multi-bit memory cells to provide read page data;

extracting the complementary program data from the read page data; and

determining if a complementary relationship exists between program data and the complementary program data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein if the complementary relationship does not exist the page data is indicated as invalid.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the complementary data corresponds to control information about main data in the one page.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the control information is meta data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the error detection code comprises a parity code, check sum code, and/or a cyclic redundancy checking code.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the error comprises a power failure occurring during programming.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of pages are programmed with page data configured in alternating patterns of program and complimentary program data interspersed with erased data within rows of the plurality of pages.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the alternating patterns of program and complimentary program data in adjacent rows of the plurality of pages are offset from one another.

15. A memory system for operating a non-volatile multi-bit memory device comprising:

a controller module configured to determine validity of page data stored in a page of the device using error detection code read from multi-bit memory cells in response to an error during programming of the multi-bit memory cells, wherein the multi-bit memory cells are configured to store a single bit of the page data.

16. The memory system of claim 15, wherein the controller module is configured to allow data to correspond to an erase state in the pages except for one page, the data being in a column address range into which the complementary data is programmed.

17. The memory system of claim 15, wherein the error comprises a power failure occurring during programming of the page.

18. The memory system of claim 15, wherein the controller module is configured to determine validity by comparing program data to complementary program data read from a row of the page to determine a complementary relationship therebetween.

19. The memory system of claim 18, wherein the complementary program data is allocated to a first subset of column locations in the page of the multi-bit memory and erased data is allocated to a second subset of column locations in the page immediately adjacent to the first subset is in an erased state

20. The memory system of claim 18, wherein the controller module is configured to read the page data to provide read page data and to extract the complementary program data from the read page data and to determine if a complementary relationship exists between program data and the complementary program data.