Memory system includes a memory controller coupled to a non-volatile memory array configured to provide special write operation to write data in the non-volatile memory array before a board mount operation is applied and provde a regular write operation after a board mount operation is applied

• US 9,798,481 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2016
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Shieh, Ming-Huei, Lien, Chuen-Der, Lin, Chi-Shun
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoha, Connie
• Application Number:
  US15/182,612
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 365163, 36518903, 365201, 365 52
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0061 Timing circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0069 Writing or programming circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2013/0076 Write operation performed depending on read result
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2013/0083 Write to perform initialising, forming process, electro forming or conditioning
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/04 Supports for storage elements , e.g. memory modules; Mounting or fixing of storage elements on such supports
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/00 Printed circuits

Abstract

A memory system and operating method thereof are provided. The non-volatile memory array is configured to store data. The controller is coupled to the non-volatile memory array. The memory controller is configured to provide a special write operation to write the data in the non-volatile memory array before a board mount operation is applied, and provide a regular write operation to write the data in the non-volatile memory array after the board mount operation is applied. A read margin provided by the special write operation is larger than a read margin provided by the regular write operation.

Claims

1. A memory system, comprising:

a non-volatile memory array, configured to store data; and

a memory controller, coupled to the non-volatile memory array, and configured to;

provide a special write operation to write the data in the non-volatile memory array before a board mount operation is applied, and

provide a regular write operation to write the data in the non-volatile memory array after the board mount operation is applied,

wherein a read margin provided by the special write operation is larger than a read margin provided by the regular write operation, and a first power provided by the special write operation is greater than a second power provided by the regular write operation.

2. The memory system according to claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory array comprises a phase change random write memory (PCRAM), or a resistive random write memory (RRAM), or conductive-bridging random write memory (CBRAM).

3. The memory system according to claim 1, wherein the special write operation is limited to a narrower temperature range and/or a narrower supply voltage range than a temperature range and/or a supply voltage range that the regular write operation is limited.

4. The memory system according to claim 1, wherein the memory controller is further configured to detect a number of selected memory cells of the non-volatile memory array being provided with the special write operation that switch to a second resistance state from the first resistance state before providing the regular write operation, and when the number of selected memory cells which switch to the second resistance state is greater than a threshold number, the memory controller disables the special write operation and switches to provide the regular write operation.

5. The memory system according to claim 1, wherein the special write operation or the regular write operation are automatically selected during a predetermined period by detecting an indicator signal which indicates a board mount thermal cycle has been experienced.

6. The memory system according to claim 1, wherein the special write operation is determined by a status of an external pad of the memory system.

7. The memory system according to claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory array includes at least one of a memory data array, an error-correcting code (ECC) array, and a redundancy array, and the special write operation is applied to the memory data array, the error-correcting code (ECC) may, or the redundancy array.

8. The memory system according to claim 1, wherein the memory controller executes the special write operation in response to a special write command, and executes the regular write operation in response to a regular write command, wherein the special write command is different from the regular write command.

9. The memory system according to claim 8, wherein a write algorithm of the special write command is different from a write algorithm of the regular write command.

10. The memory system according to claim 9, wherein different write algorithms of the special write operation and the regular write operation comprise different write voltage levels for different write states, different write compliance current limits for different write states, different write pulse widths for different write states, different number of multiple write pulses for different write states, or different verify margins for different write states.

11. An operating method of a memory system, comprising:

providing a special write operation to write data in a non-volatile memory array of the memory system before a board mount operation is applied; and

providing a regular write operation to write the data in the non-volatile memory array after the board mount operation is applied,

wherein a read margin provided by the special write operation is larger than a read margin provided by the regular write operation, and a first power provided by the special write operation is greater than a second power provided by the regular write operation.

12. The operating method of the memory system according to claim 11, wherein the non-volatile memory array comprises a phase change random write memory (PCRAM), or a resistive random write memory (RRAM), or conductive-bridging random write memory (CBRAM).

13. The operating method of the memory system according to claim 11, wherein the special write operation is limited to a narrower temperature range and/or a narrower supply voltage range than a temperature range and/or a supply voltage range that the regular write operation is limited.

14. The operating method of the memory system according to claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a number of selected memory cells of the non-volatile memory array being provided with the special write operation that switch to a second resistance state from the first resistance state before providing the regular write operation; and

disabling the special write operation and switching to provide the regular write operation when the number of selected memory cells which switch to the second resistance state is greater than a threshold number.

15. The operating method of the memory system according to claim 11, further comprises:

automatically selecting the special write operation or the regular write operation during a predetermined period by detecting an indicator signal which indicates a board mount thermal cycle has been experienced.

16. The operating method of the memory system according to claim 11, wherein the special write operation is determined by a status of an external pad of the memory system.

17. The operating method of the memory system according to claim 11, wherein the non-volatile memory array includes at least one of a memory data array, an error-correcting code (ECC) array, and a redundancy array, and the special write operation is applied to the memory data array, the error-correcting code (ECC) array, or the redundancy array.

18. The operating method of the memory system according to claim 11, wherein the special write operation is executed in response to a special write command, and the regular write operation is executed in response to a regular write command, wherein the special write command is different from the regular write command.

19. The operating method of the memory system according to claim 18, wherein a write algorithm of the special write command is different from a write algorithm of the regular write command.

20. The operating method of the memory system according to claim 19, wherein different write algorithms of the special write operation and the regular write operation comprise different write voltage levels for different write states, different write compliance current limits, different write pulse widths for different write states, different number of multiple write pulses for different write states, or different verify margins for different write states.