IP Library Granted Patent US 7,768,834
Granted Patent B2
US 7,768,834 · App. 12/493,040 · Granted Aug 3, 2010

Non-volatile storage system with initial programming voltage based on trial

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,768,834
App. No.
12/493,040
Granted
Aug 3, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A trial programming process is performed for a first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements to test usage of the non-volatile storage system. Based on this trial programming, a programming signal is calibrated by adjusting its initial magnitude. The calibrated programming signal is then used to program a second set of non-volatile storage elements (which may or may not include the first set).

Claims (72)

1. A method for programming non-volatile storage, comprising:

applying a common programming stimulus to a first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements;

observing behavior of the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements in response to the common programming stimulus;

determining and setting an initial magnitude of a programming signal based on and in response to the observed behavior of the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements; and

programming a second set of non-volatile storage elements using the program signal with the initial magnitude.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the programming signal includes a set of pulses; and

the initial magnitude of the programming signal is the magnitude of the first pulse of the set of pulses.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the applying a common programming stimulus includes performing at least partial programming on the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements includes multiple non-volatile storage elements; and

the initial magnitude is set based on an average of performance data for the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements includes multiple non-volatile storage elements; and

the initial magnitude is set based on a mathematical function of performance data for the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements are connected to the second set of one or more non-volatile storage elements.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements and the second set of one or more non-volatile storage elements are connected to a common word line, the common programming stimulus is applied to the common word line.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the second set of one or more non-volatile storage elements are connected to a selected word line and are in a particular block; and

the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements are in the particular block and are connected to a first word line for the particular block.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the programming the second set of non-volatile storage elements also programs the first set of non-volatile storage elements.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the second set of non-volatile storage elements includes the first set of non-volatile storage elements.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the applying a common programming stimulus to the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements includes applying a common control gate voltage signal to the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements.

12. A method for programming non-volatile storage, comprising:

performing at least partial programming on a first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements;

observing behavior of the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements in response to the performing at least partial programming;

determining and setting an initial magnitude of programming signal based on and in response to the observed behavior of multiple non-volatile storage elements of the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements; and

programming a second set of non-volatile storage elements using the programming signal with the initial magnitude.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the programming signal includes a set of pulses;

the initial magnitude of the programming signal is the magnitude of the first pulse of the set of pulses.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the performing at least partial programming on the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements includes applying a common programming stimulus to control gates of the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements includes multiple non-volatile storage elements; and

the initial magnitude is set based on a mathematical function of performance data for the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the second set of non-volatile storage elements includes the first set of non-volatile storage elements and additional non-volatile storage elements.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the second set of non-volatile storage elements includes the first set of non-volatile storage elements.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements and the second set of one or more non-volatile storage elements are connected to a common word line, the program signal is applied to the common word line, the performing at least partial programming includes applying a voltage signal to the common word line, the first set of one or more non-volatile storage elements are at least partially programmed in response to the voltage signal.

19. A non-volatile storage system, comprising:

a plurality of non-volatile storage elements; and

one or more managing circuits in communication with the plurality of non-volatile storage elements, the one or more managing circuits apply a common programming stimulus to a first set of the non-volatile storage elements and observe behavior of the first set of the non-volatile storage elements in response to the common programming stimulus, the one or more managing circuits determine and set an initial magnitude of a programming signal based on and in response to the observed behavior of the first set of the non-volatile storage elements, the one or more managing circuits program a second set of the non-volatile storage elements using the programming signal with the initial magnitude.

20. The A non-volatile storage system of claim 19 , wherein:

the programming signal includes a set of pulses; and

the initial magnitude of the programming signal is the magnitude of the first pulse of the set of pulses.

21. The A non-volatile storage system of claim 19 , wherein:

the one or more managing circuits apply a common programming stimulus by applying a common series of pulses to control gates of the first set of the non-volatile storage elements.

22. The A non-volatile storage system of claim 19 , wherein:

the one or more managing circuits set the initial magnitude based on a mathematical function of performance data for the first set of the non-volatile storage elements.

23. The A non-volatile storage system of claim 19 , further comprising:

a first word line, the first set of the non-volatile storage elements and the second set of the non-volatile storage elements are connected to the first word line.

24. The A non-volatile storage system of claim 19 , wherein:

the second set of the non-volatile storage elements includes the first set of the non-volatile storage elements.

25. A non-volatile storage system, comprising:

a plurality of non-volatile storage elements; and

one or more managing circuits in communication with the plurality of non-volatile storage elements, the one or more managing circuits perform at least partial programming on a first set of the non-volatile storage elements and observe behavior of the first set of the non-volatile storage elements in response to the performing of at least partial programming, the one or more managing circuits determine and set an initial magnitude of a programming signal based on and in response to the observed behavior of multiple non-volatile storage elements of the first set of the non-volatile storage elements, the one or more managing circuits program a second set of the non-volatile storage elements using the programming signal with the initial magnitude.

26. The A non-volatile storage system of claim 25 , wherein:

the performing at least partial programming on the first set of the more non-volatile storage elements includes applying a common programming stimulus to control gates of the first set of the non-volatile storage elements.

27. The A non-volatile storage system of claim 26 , wherein:

the programming signal includes a set of pulses; and

the initial magnitude of the programming signal is the magnitude of the first pulse of the set of pulses.

28. The A non-volatile storage system of claim 27 , wherein:

the one or more managing circuits set the initial magnitude based on a mathematical function of performance data for the first set of the non-volatile storage elements.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071050/0001 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 071382/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069796/0423 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 25, 2016
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES INC
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 038807/0850 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2011
From: SANDISK CORPORATION
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 026226/0244 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2009
From: KAMEI, TERUHIKO; LI, YAN
To: SANDISK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022886/0742 →