Data storage device, operating method thereof and data processing system including the same

• US 9,164,833 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2013
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
• Original Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
• Inventors: Um, Gi Pyo, Park, Jong Ju
• Primary Examiner(s): MCMAHON, DANIEL F
• Application Number:
  US14/081,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20150052415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1048 using arrangements adapted for a specific error detection or correction feature
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1056 Updating check bits on partial write, i.e. read/modify/write
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1068 in sector programmable memories, e.g. flash disk G06F11/1072 takes precedence

Abstract

A data storage device includes a nonvolatile memory device; and a controller suitable for controlling an operation of the nonvolatile memory device in response to a request from an external device, wherein the controller comprises a victim block setup unit suitable for setting a victim block for a merge operation based on an error count, which is detected when a read operation of the nonvolatile memory device is performed, and for storing information of the victim block for the merge operation, and wherein the controller converts the victim block into a free memory block during the merge operation and reuses the free memory block to store data.

Claims

1. A data storage device comprising:

a nonvolatile memory device; and

a controller suitable for controlling an operation of the nonvolatile memory device in response to a request from an external device,

wherein the controller comprises a victim block setup unit suitable for setting a victim block for a merge operation based on an error count, which is detected when a read operation of the nonvolatile memory device is performed, and for storing information of the victim block for the merge operation, and

wherein the controller converts the victim block into a free memory block during the merge operation and reuses the free memory block to store data.

2. The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the victim block setup unit comprises:

a victim block information storage block suitable for storing the information of the victim block; and

a victim block setup control block suitable for comparing a first error count stored in the victim block information storage block with a second error count detected when a read operation is performed, and for setting the victim block for the merge operation in response to the comparison result.

3. The data storage device according to claim 2, wherein the victim block setup control block updates the information of the victim block stored in the victim block information storage block, when the second error count is equal to or greater than the first error count.

4. The data storage device according to claim 3, wherein the victim block setup control block updates an error count information stored in the victim block information storage block with the second error count.

5. The data storage device according to claim 3, wherein the victim block setup control block updates an address information stored in the victim block information storage block with a page address or memory block address at which the read operation is performed.

6. The data storage device according to claim 2, wherein the victim block setup control block maintains the victim block information stored in the victim block information storage block, when the second error count is less than the first error count.

7. The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises an error correction code (ECC) unit suitable for detecting and correcting an error of data read from the nonvolatile memory device.

8. The data storage device according to claim 7, wherein the ECC unit provides the error count to the victim block setup unit when the read operation of the nonvolatile memory device is performed.

9. The data storage device according to claim 7, wherein the ECC unit provides the error count including the number of corrected error bits of the read data, or the number of error bits detected from the read data.

10. The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the controller performs the merge operation of copying valid data of the victim block into a merge memory block.

11. The data storage device according to claim 10, wherein the controller retrieves another victim block when the error count of the victim block is less than a reference value.

12. The data storage device according to claim 11, wherein the controller retrieves the another victim block based on a number of valid pages within the another victim block.

13. The data storage device according to claim 11, wherein the controller retrieves the another victim block based on wear-leveling information.

14. The data storage device according to claim 10, wherein the controller maintains the victim block when the error count of the victim block is equal to or greater than a reference value.

15. An operating method of a data storage device which includes a victim block setup unit, the operating method comprising:

selecting an initial victim block based on victim block information stored in the victim block setup unit;

comparing an error count of the initial victim block with a reference value;

selecting the initial victim block as a final victim block, or selecting the final victim block by retrieving other victim blocks, in response to a comparison result;

selecting a merge block into which valid data of the final victim block are to be copied;

performing a merge operation of copying the valid data of the final victim block into the merge block;

converting the final victim block into a free memory block; and

reusing the free memory block to store data.

16. The operating method according to claim 15, wherein the initial victim block is selected as the final victim block when the error count of the initial victim block is equal to or greater than the reference value.

17. The operating method according to claim 15, wherein the final victim block is selected by retrieving the other victim blocks when the error count of the initial victim block is less than the reference value.

18. The operating method according to claim 17, wherein the selecting the final victim block by retrieving other victim blocks comprises retrieving memory blocks including valid data with a smaller size, or retrieving memory blocks having a higher program-erase count.

19. The operating method according to claim 15, further comprising:

receiving an address at which a read operation was performed and an error count of read data;

comparing a received error count with an error count of the victim block information stored in the victim block setup unit; and

when the received error count is equal to or greater than the error count of the victim block information, updating the error count of the victim block information with the received error count, and updating an address of the victim block information with a received address.

20. A data processing system comprising:

a host device; and

a data storage device suitable for storing data processed by the host device, wherein the data storage device comprises;

a nonvolatile memory device; and

a controller suitable for controlling an operation of the nonvolatile memory device in response to a request from the host device, and

wherein the controller comprises a victim block setup unit suitable for setting a victim block for a merge operation based on an error count, which is detected when a read operation of the nonvolatile memory device is performed, and storing information of the victim block for the merge operation, and

wherein the controller converts the victim block into a free memory block during the merge operation and reuses the free memory block to store data.