Non-volatile memory array and method of using same for fractional word programming
View Patent ↗A non-volatile memory device that includes N planes of non-volatile memory cells (where N is an integer greater than 1). Each plane of non-volatile memory cells includes a plurality of memory cells configured in rows and columns. Each of the N planes includes gate lines that extend across the rows of the memory cells therein but do not extend to others of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells. A controller is configured to divide each of a plurality of words of data into N fractional-words, and program each of the N fractional-words of each word of data into a different one of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells. The controller uses a programming current and a program time period for the programming, and can be configured to vary the programming current by a factor and inversely vary the program time period by the factor.
1. A non-volatile memory device, comprising:
N planes of non-volatile memory cells, where N is an integer greater than 1, wherein each plane of non-volatile memory cells includes a plurality of memory cells configured in rows and columns, and wherein each of the N planes includes first gate lines that extend across the rows of the memory cells therein but do not extend to others of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells, and wherein the N planes include second gate lines that each extends across one of the rows of the memory cells in each of the N planes;
a controller configured to:
divide each of a plurality of words of data into N fractional-words, and
program each of the N fractional-words of each word of data into a different one of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells.
2. The non-volatile memory device of claim 1 , wherein the controller configuration to program each of the N fractional-words of each word of data into a different one of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells further comprises:
program a first of the N fractional-words for each of the plurality of words of data into a first of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells; and then
program a second of the N fractional-words for each of the plurality of words of data into a second of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells.
3. The non-volatile memory device of claim 1 , wherein the controller configuration to program each of the N fractional-words of each word of data into a different one of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells further comprises:
program the N fractional-words for a first of the plurality of words of data into the N planes of non-volatile memory cells; and then
program the N fractional-words for a second of the plurality of words of data into the N planes of non-volatile memory cells.
4. The non-volatile memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a charge pump configured to selectively supply voltages to one or more of the gate lines in just one of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells at any given time.
5. The non-volatile memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a charge pump for selectively supplying voltages to the gate lines, wherein the controller is configured to control the charge pump to selectively supply the voltages to one or more of the gate lines in just one of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells at any given time.
6. The non-volatile memory device of claim 1 , wherein each of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells further comprises:
a source line decoder circuit immediately adjacent thereto.
7. A method of operating a non-volatile memory device that includes N planes of non-volatile memory cells, where N is an integer greater than 1, wherein each plane of non-volatile memory cells includes a plurality of memory cells configured in rows and columns, and wherein each of the N planes includes first gate lines that extend across the rows of the memory cells therein but do not extend to others of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells, and wherein the N planes include second gate lines that each extends across one of the rows of the memory cells in each of the N planes the method comprising:
dividing each of a plurality of words of data into N fractional-words; and
programming each of the N fractional-words of each word of data into a different one of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the programming further comprises:
programming a first of the N fractional-words for each of the plurality of words of data into a first of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells; and then
programming a second of the N fractional-words for each of the plurality of words of data into a second of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the programming further comprises:
programming the N fractional-words for a first of the plurality of words of data into the N planes of non-volatile memory cells; and then
programming the N fractional-words for a second of the plurality of words of data into the N planes of non-volatile memory cells.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the programming further comprises:
selectively supplying voltages from a charge pump to one or more of the gate lines in just one of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells at any given time.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein a number of bits to be programmed for the N fractional words is less than a bit size of each of the fractional words, and wherein the programming of each of the N fractional-words is performed in a single programming operation.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein one of the plurality of words comprises first and second half-words, and wherein the first half-word has a data pattern of ‘1,’ the method further comprising:
enabling programming of the second half-word.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein one of the fractional words has a data pattern of ‘1’, the method further comprising:
disabling the programming of the one fractional word.
14. A non-volatile memory device, comprising:
N planes of non-volatile memory cells, where N is an integer greater than 1, wherein each plane of non-volatile memory cells includes a plurality of memory cells configured in rows and columns, and wherein each of the N planes includes gate lines that extend across the rows of the memory cells therein;
a controller configured to:
divide each of a plurality of words of data into N fractional-words,
program each of the N fractional-words of each word of data into one of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells using a programming current and within a program time period,
vary the programming current by a factor, and
inversely vary the program time period by the factor.
15. The non-volatile memory device of claim 14 , wherein the factor is proportional to a number of bits of one of the words of data or one of the fractional words, and is inversely proportional to a number of bits to be programmed.
16. The non-volatile memory device of claim 14 , wherein the N fractional-words are programmed independently and concurrently.
17. The non-volatile memory device of claim 14 , wherein a plurality of the N fractional-words are programmed independently and concurrently.
18. A non-volatile memory device, comprising:
first and second memory arrays, wherein each of the memory arrays includes N planes of non-volatile memory cells, where N is an integer greater than 1 , wherein each plane of non-volatile memory cells includes a plurality of memory cells configured in rows and columns, and wherein each of the N planes includes first gate lines that extend across the rows of the memory cells therein but do not extend to others of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells, and wherein the N planes include second gate lines that each extends across one of the rows of the memory cells in each of the N planes;
a controller configured to:
divide each of a plurality of words of data into N fractional-words, and
program each of the N fractional-words of each word of data into a different one of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells;
a first row decoder and a first column decoder for decoding addresses for the memory cells of the first memory array;
a second row decoder and a second column decoder for decoding addresses for the memory cells of the second memory array; and
a source line decoder disposed between the first and second memory arrays for decoding addresses for the memory cells of both the first and second memory arrays.
19. The non-volatile memory device of claim 18 , wherein:
the first row decoder and the first column decoder are immediately adjacent to the first memory array; and
the second row decoder and the second column decoder are immediately adjacent to the second memory array.
20. The non-volatile memory device of claim 19 , wherein the source line decoder is immediately adjacent to the first memory array and immediately adjacent to the second memory array.