Method for operating a NAND flash memory device in multiple operational modes

• US 8,687,422 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2012
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Pekny, Theodore T., Tsai, Victor Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, TRONG Q
• Application Number:
  US13/357,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20120124279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 365/185.17, 365/185.33, 365/185.12
• US Class Current: 365/185.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/145 the protection being virtual, e.g. for virtual blocks or segments before a translation mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/1694 Configuration of memory controller to different memory types
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/1052 Security improvement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0629 Configuration or reconfiguration of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/06 Auxiliary circuits, e.g. for writing into memory
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1021 Page serial bit line access mode, i.e. using an enabled row address stroke pulse with its associated word line address and a sequence of enabled column address stroke pulses each with its associated bit line address
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1072 for memories with random access ports synchronised on clock signal pulse trains, e.g. synchronous memories, self timed memories

Abstract

A method and device are provided for operating in a special mode using a special mode enable register. In one example, a memory device includes registers in volatile memory and a memory array. At least one of the registers may include a special mode bit that controls a special mode of operation of the memory device.

Claims

1. A method of operating a NAND flash memory device, comprising:

setting a special mode enable bit in a special mode enable register of a flash memory device to cause the flash memory device to exit an ordinary operational mode and to enter a special operational mode, the ordinary operational mode and the special operational mode having a plurality of shared commands associated therewith, wherein each of the plurality of shared commands is associated with performing an ordinary operation for the ordinary operational mode and a respective special operation for the special operational mode;

performing one of the respective special operations in the special operational mode by issuing one of the plurality of shared commands; and

resetting the special mode enable bit in the special mode enable register of the flash memory device to cause the flash memory device to exit the special operational mode and to re-enter the ordinary operational mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the special mode enable bit comprises sending a register write command signal to a data input pin of the flash memory device, sending a register address signal to the data input pin of the flash memory device, and sending a data byte to the data input pin of the flash memory device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the one of the respective special operations in the special operational mode by issuing the one of the plurality of shared commands comprises issuing a shared command which is associated with performing one of the ordinary operations for the ordinary operational mode and the one of the respective special operations for the special operational mode, wherein the one of the ordinary operations achieves a different result from the one of the respective special operations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the special mode enable bit in the special mode enable register of the flash memory device to cause the flash memory device to exit the ordinary operational mode and to enter the special operational mode comprises setting a parameter page access mode enable bit in a parameter page access mode enable register of the flash memory device to cause the flash memory device to exit the ordinary operational mode and to enter a parameter page access mode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein performing the respective one of the special operations in the special operational mode by issuing the one of the plurality of shared commands comprises performing a parameter page access operation in the parameter page access mode by issuing a page read command, a read status command, and/or a random data read command.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the special mode enable bit in the special mode enable register of the flash memory device to cause the flash memory device to exit the ordinary operational mode and to enter the special operational mode comprises setting a one time programmable (OTP) block access mode enable bit in a one time programmable (OTP) block access mode enable register of the flash memory device to cause the flash memory device to exit the ordinary operational mode and to enter a one time programmable (OTP) block access mode.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein performing the one of the respective special operations in the special operational mode by issuing the one of the plurality of shared commands comprises performing a one time programmable (OTP) block access operation in the one time programmable (OTP) block access mode by issuing a program load command, program random data input command, program execute command, page read command, random data input command, or read status command.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the special mode enable bit in the special mode enable register of the flash memory device to cause the flash memory device to exit the ordinary operational mode and to enter the special operational mode comprises setting a one time programmable (OTP) block page lock mode enable bit in a one time programmable (OTP) block page lock mode enable register of the flash memory device to cause the flash memory device to exit the ordinary operational mode and to enter a one time programmable (OTP) block page lock mode.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein performing the one of the respective special operations in the special operational mode by issuing the one of the plurality of shared commands comprises performing a one time programmable (OTP) block page lock operation in the one time programmable (OTP) block page lock mode by issuing a program execute command.