METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING WRITE OPERATIONS OF NON-VOLATILE MEMORY
First Claim
1. A method for selectively retiring a block in a non-volatile Nand flash memory, the method comprising:
- writing data into at least one page of a block;
determining a time period, Tprogram, it takes for data to be programmed into each of the at least one page;
determining if the Tprogram time period exceeds a Tprogram threshold; and
in response to determining that the Tprogram time period exceeds the Tprogram threshold, retiring the block containing the at least one page.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring the time it takes to perform a write operation, and based on the time it takes, a determination is made whether to retire a block that is a recipient of the write operation. The time duration of the write operation for a page or a combination of pages may indicate whether any block or blocks containing the page or combination of pages is experiencing a physical failure. That is, if the time duration of the write operation for a particular page exceeds time threshold, this may indicate that this page requires a larger number of program cycles than other pages. The longer programming cycle can be an indication of cell leakage or a failing block.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for selectively retiring a block in a non-volatile Nand flash memory, the method comprising:
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writing data into at least one page of a block; determining a time period, Tprogram, it takes for data to be programmed into each of the at least one page; determining if the Tprogram time period exceeds a Tprogram threshold; and in response to determining that the Tprogram time period exceeds the Tprogram threshold, retiring the block containing the at least one page. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 18, 19)
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7. A system having non-volatile memory comprising:
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a non-volatile memory (NVM) including a plurality of dies; a NVM interface in operative communication with the NVM, the NVM interface operative to; monitor a write operation for at least one page to obtain a write operation timing parameter; monitor the at least one page for an error quantity; determine if the write operation timing parameter exceeds a time threshold; determine if the error quantity exceeds an error threshold; and retire a block including the at least one page if it is determined that the write operation timing parameter exceeds the time threshold and the error quantity exceeds the error threshold. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for using timing data associated with a non-volatile memory, the method comprising:
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obtaining timing data for at least one page in at least one block, the timing data associated with a time duration to perform a write operation; applying criteria to the timing data to determine whether the at least one block should be retired; and retiring the at least one block if it is determined the at least one block should be retired. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification