NAND flash memory controller exporting a NAND interface

• US 7,631,245 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Memory Systems, Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SanDisk IL Ltd. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Lasser, Menahem
• Primary Examiner(s): Abraham; Esaw T
• Application Number:
  US11/326,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20070074093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 714/763, 714/776, 714/768, 365/185
• US Class Current: 714/768
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1068 in sector programmable memories, e.g. flash disk G06F11/1072 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1072 in multilevel memories
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/04 using variable threshold transistors, e.g. FAMOS

Abstract

A NAND controller for interfacing between a host device and a flash memory device (e.g. a NAND flash memory device) fabricated on a flash die is disclosed. In some embodiments, the presently disclosed NAND controller includes electronic circuitry fabricated on a controller die, the controller die being distinct from the flash die, a first interface (e.g. a host-type interface, for example, a NAND interface) for interfacing between the electronic circuitry and the flash memory device, and a second interface (e.g. a flash-type interface) for interfacing between the controller and the host device, wherein the second interface is a NAND interface. According to some embodiments, the first interface is an inter-die interface. According to some embodiments, the first interface is a NAND interface. Systems including the presently disclosed NAND controller are also disclosed. Methods for assembling the aforementioned systems, and for reading and writing data using NAND controllers are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A controller for interfacing between a host controller in a host device and a flash memory device, the controller comprising:

a first NAND interface configured to transfer data between the host controller and the controller using a NAND interface protocol, wherein the first NAND interface is further configured to receive, from the host controller, (i) one of a read command and a write command and (ii) a logical address;

an address conversion module configured to convert the logical address received from the host controller to a physical address of the flash memory device;

a second NAND interface configured to transfer data between the controller and the flash memory device using a NAND interface protocol in accordance with the one of the read command and the write command received from the host controller; and

an error correction code (ECC) module configured to calculate ECC bits for data received through at least one of the first and second NAND interfaces.

2. The controller of claim 1 further comprising an encryption module.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the NAND interface protocol used by the first NAND interface is the same as the NAND interface protocol used by the second NAND interface.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the NAND interface protocol used by the first NAND interface is different from the NAND interface protocol used by the second NAND interface.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein a bus between the host device and the controller is different from a bus between the controller and the flash memory device.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller and the flash memory device both reside within a common multi-chip package.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller and the flash memory device are packaged in different packages.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller and the flash memory device are integrated on a same die.

9. A controller for interfacing between a host controller in a host device and a flash memory device, the controller comprising:

a first NAND interface configured to transfer data between the host controller and the controller using a NAND interface protocol, wherein the first NAND interface is further configured to receive, from the host controller, (i) one of a read command and a write command and (ii) a physical address of the flash memory device;

a second NAND interface configured to transfer data between the controller and the flash memory device using a NAND interface protocol in accordance with the one of the read command and the write command received from the host controller; and

an error correction code (ECC) module configured to calculate ECC bits for data received through at least one of the first and second NAND interfaces.

10. The controller of claim 9 further comprising an additional functionality module.

11. The controller of claim 10, wherein the additional functionality module comprises an encryption module.

12. The controller of claim 10, wherein the additional functionality module comprises an address mapping module.

13. The controller of claim 9, wherein the NAND interface protocol used by the first NAND interface is the same as the NAND interface protocol used by the second NAND interface.

14. The controller of claim 9, wherein the NAND interface protocol used by the first NAND interface is different from the NAND interface protocol used by the second NAND interface.

15. The controller of claim 9, wherein a bus between the host device and the controller is different from a bus between the controller and the flash memory device.

16. The controller of claim 9, wherein the controller and the flash memory device both reside within a common multi-chip package.

17. The controller of claim 9, wherein the controller and the flash memory device are packaged in different packages.

18. The controller of claim 9, wherein the controller and the flash memory device are integrated on a same die.

19. A method for interfacing between a host controller in a host device and a flash memory device, the method comprising:

performing in a controller in communication with the host controller and the flash memory device;

receiving (i) one of a read command and a write command and (ii) a logical address, wherein (i) the one of the read command and the write command and (ii) the logical address are received through a first NAND interface of the controller using a NAND interface protocol;

converting the logical address received from the host controller to a physical address of the flash memory device;

transferring data between the host controller and the controller in accordance with the one of the read command and the write command received from the host controller, wherein the data is transferred through the first NAND interface of the controller using the NAND interface protocol;

transferring data between the controller and the physical address of the flash memory device in accordance with the one of the read command and the write command received from the host controller, wherein the data is transferred through a second NAND interface of the controller using a NAND interface protocol; and

calculating error correction code (ECC) bits for the data received through at least one of the first and second NAND interfaces.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising performing an encryption function on data received through at least one of the first and second NAND interfaces.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the NAND interface protocol used by the first NAND interface is the same as the NAND interface protocol used by the second NAND interface.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the NAND interface protocol used by the first NAND interface is different from the NAND interface protocol used by the second NAND interface.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein a bus between the host device and the controller is different from a bus between the controller and the flash memory device.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the controller and the flash memory device both reside within a common multi-chip package.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the controller and the flash memory device are packaged in different packages.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the controller and the flash memory device are integrated on a same die.

27. A method for interfacing between a host controller in a host device and a flash memory device, the method comprising:

performing in a controller in communication with the host controller and the flash memory device;

receiving (i) one of a read command and a write command and (ii) a physical address of the flash memory device from the host controller, wherein (i) the one of the read command and the write command and (ii) the physical address are received through a first NAND interface of the controller using a NAND interface protocol;

transferring data between the host controller and the controller in accordance with the one of the read command and the write command received from the host controller, wherein the data is transferred through the first NAND interface of the controller using the NAND interface protocol;

transferring data between the controller and the physical address of the flash memory device in accordance with the one of the read command and the write command received from the host controller, wherein the data is transferred through a second NAND interface of the controller using a NAND interface protocol; and

calculating error correction code (ECC) bits for the data received through at least one of the first and second NAND interfaces.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising performing an additional function using an additional functionality module of the controller.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein performing the additional function comprises performing an encryption function on data received through at least one of the first and second NAND interfaces.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the NAND interface protocol used by the first NAND interface is the same as the NAND interface protocol used by the second NAND interface.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the NAND interface protocol used by the first NAND interface is different from the NAND interface protocol used by the second NAND interface.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein a bus between the host device and the controller is different from a bus between the controller and the flash memory device.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the controller and the flash memory device both reside within a common multi-chip package.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the controller and the flash memory device are packaged in different packages.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the controller and the flash memory device are integrated on a same die.