IP Library Granted Patent US 12712026
Granted Patent B2
US 12712026 · App. 18/776,549 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Memory device and method of operating the same

Inventor: Jae Woong Kim (Icheon-si, KR)
Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
G11C16/16G11C16/0483G11C16/12G11C16/24G11C16/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12712026
App. No.
18/776,549
Filed
Jul 18, 2024
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Examiner
PHAM, LY D
Art Unit
2827
USPC
365/185.29
Abstract

Provided is a memory device and a method of operating the same. The memory device includes a memory block including a plurality of memory cells, a source line driver configured to apply an erase voltage to a source line of the memory block during an erase operation, a page buffer group configured to apply the erase voltage to bit lines of the memory block during the erase operation, a voltage generating circuit configured to generate a select line voltage that is applied to a select line of the memory block during the erase operation, and control logic configured to control the source line driver, the page buffer group, and the voltage generating circuit to perform a suspend operation including suspending the erase operation in response to a suspend command.

Claims (25)

1 . A memory device comprising:

a memory block including a plurality of memory cells;

a source line driver configured to apply an erase voltage to a source line of the memory block during an erase operation;

a page buffer group configured to apply the erase voltage to bit lines of the memory block during the erase operation;

a voltage generating circuit configured to generate a select line voltage that is applied to a select line of the memory block during the erase operation; and

control logic configured to control the source line driver, the page buffer group, and the voltage generating circuit to perform a suspend operation including suspending the erase operation in response to a suspend command;

wherein the control logic is configured to control the voltage generating circuit such that, during a rising period of the erase operation in which the erase voltage increases to a target voltage level, a difference between the erase voltage and the select line voltage is maintained at a first voltage differential, and during a pulse application period during which the erase voltage at the target voltage level is applied, the difference between the erase voltage and the select line voltage is maintained at a second voltage differential that is greater than the first voltage differential.

2 . The memory device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the control logic comprises an operating voltage controller, and

the operating voltage controller is configured to control the voltage generating circuit to set a voltage level of the select line voltage and generate the select line voltage at the voltage level.

3 . The memory device according to claim 1 , wherein, during the rising period, the erase voltage and the select line voltage each increase with a constant slope.

4 . The memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the select line voltage is maintained at a constant level or decreases stepwise over time during the pulse application period.

5 . The memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to control the source line driver, the page buffer group, and the voltage generating circuit such that, in response to receiving the suspend command during the rising period, the erase operation is suspended and a program operation or a read operation is performed.

6 . The memory device according to claim 5 , wherein the control logic is configured to control the source line driver, the page buffer group, and the voltage generating circuit such that, after the program operation or read operation is completed, the suspended erase operation is resumed by beginning a second rising period.

7 . A method of operating a memory device, the method comprising:

applying, to a source line or a bit line of a memory block, an erase voltage that increases to a target voltage level during a rising period of an erase operation;

applying, to a select line of the memory block, a select line voltage that is lower than the erase voltage by a first voltage differential during the rising period;

in response to receiving a suspend command during the rising period, suspending the erase operation and resuming the erase operation in response to receiving a resume command;

after the rising period ends, applying the erase voltage at the target voltage level during a pulse application period of the erase operation; and

applying the select line voltage that is lower than the erase voltage by a second voltage differential during the pulse application period,

wherein the second voltage differential is greater than the first voltage differential.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the select line voltage decreases stepwise over time during the pulse application period.

9 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein, during the rising period, the erase voltage and the select line voltage each increase with a constant slope.

10 . The method according to claim 7 , further comprising suspending the erase operation and performing a program operation or a read operation.

11 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein resuming the erase operation comprises by beginning a second rising period.