Method for programming of multi-state non-volatile memory using smart verify
First Claim
1. A method for programming non-volatile storage, comprising:
- programming, in a set of non-volatile storage elements, at least first and second subsets of non-volatile storage elements having respective threshold voltages that fall within a first threshold voltage distribution, so that a threshold voltage of at least a first non-volatile storage element of the first subset transitions to a second threshold voltage distribution which overlaps with the first threshold voltage distribution, and a threshold voltage of at least a second non-volatile storage element of the second subset transitions to a third threshold voltage distribution which is outside of the first and second threshold voltage distributions;
tracking the threshold voltage of the at least a first non-volatile storage element to determine when it has transitioned to the second threshold voltage distribution; and
determining when to initiate a verification process for verifying when the threshold voltage of the at least a second non-volatile storage element has transitioned to the third threshold voltage distribution, responsive to the tracking.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a non-volatile memory, the initiation of program verification is adaptively set so that programming time is decreased. In one approach, non-volatile storage elements are programmed based on a lower page of data to have a voltage threshold (VTH) that falls within a first VTH distribution or a higher, intermediate VTH distribution. Subsequently, the non-volatile storage elements with the first VTH distribution either remain there, or are programmed to a second VTH distribution, based on an upper page of data. The non-volatile storage elements with the intermediate VTH distribution are programmed to third and fourth VTH distributions. The non-volatile storage elements being programmed to the third VTH distribution are specially identified and tracked. Verification of the non-volatile storage elements being programmed to the fourth VTH distribution is initiated after one of the identified non-volatile storage elements transitions to the third VTH distribution from the intermediate VTH distribution.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for programming non-volatile storage, comprising:
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programming, in a set of non-volatile storage elements, at least first and second subsets of non-volatile storage elements having respective threshold voltages that fall within a first threshold voltage distribution, so that a threshold voltage of at least a first non-volatile storage element of the first subset transitions to a second threshold voltage distribution which overlaps with the first threshold voltage distribution, and a threshold voltage of at least a second non-volatile storage element of the second subset transitions to a third threshold voltage distribution which is outside of the first and second threshold voltage distributions; tracking the threshold voltage of the at least a first non-volatile storage element to determine when it has transitioned to the second threshold voltage distribution; and determining when to initiate a verification process for verifying when the threshold voltage of the at least a second non-volatile storage element has transitioned to the third threshold voltage distribution, responsive to the tracking. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for programming non-volatile storage, comprising:
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programming, in a set of non-volatile storage elements, at least first and second subsets of non-volatile storage elements having respective threshold voltages that fall within a first threshold voltage distribution, so that a threshold voltage of at least a first non-volatile storage element of the first subset transitions to a second threshold voltage distribution which overlaps with the first threshold voltage distribution, and a threshold voltage of at least a second non-volatile storage element of the second subset transitions to a third threshold voltage distribution which is outside of the first and second threshold voltage distributions; determining when the threshold voltage of the at least a first non-volatile storage element has transitioned to the second threshold voltage distribution; and after a predetermined number of programming voltage pulses have been applied to the at least a second non-volatile storage element after it is determined that the threshold voltage of the at least a first non-volatile storage element has transitioned to the second threshold voltage distribution, initiating a verification process for verifying when the threshold voltage of the at least a second non-volatile storage element has transitioned to the third threshold voltage distribution. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for programming non-volatile storage, comprising:
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programming, in a set of non-volatile storage elements, at least first and second subsets of non-volatile storage elements having respective threshold voltages that fall within a first threshold voltage distribution, so that a threshold voltage of at least a first non-volatile storage element of the first subset transitions to a second threshold voltage distribution, and a threshold voltage of at least a second non-volatile storage element of the second subset transitions to a third threshold voltage distribution which exceeds the first and second threshold voltage distributions; determining when the threshold voltage of the at least a first non-volatile storage element has transitioned to the second threshold voltage distribution; and a) prior to when it is determined that the threshold voltage of the at least a first non-volatile storage element has transitioned to the second threshold voltage distribution, programming of the first and second subsets of non-volatile storage elements is performed without verifying whether their respective threshold voltages have transitioned to the third threshold voltage distribution, and b) after it is determined that the threshold voltage of the at least a first non-volatile storage element has transitioned to the second threshold voltage distribution, programming of the first and second subsets of non-volatile storage elements is performed with verifying of whether their respective threshold voltages have transitioned to the third threshold voltage distribution. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification