Memory system and controller
View Patent ↗A memory system includes a semiconductor memory device and a controller. The semiconductor memory device performs a writing operation with either a first writing method or a second writing method. The controller selects one of the first writing method and the second writing method upon receipt of a write instruction and output a write command indicating the selected writing method to the semiconductor memory device. The controller selects the writing method in accordance with a storage location in the semiconductor memory device targeted by the write instruction.
1. A memory system, comprising:
a semiconductor memory device configured to perform a writing operation with either a first writing method or a second writing method; and
a controller configured to select one of the first writing method and the second writing method upon receipt of a write instruction and output a write command indicating the selected writing method to the semiconductor memory device, the selection of the writing method being made in accordance with a storage location in the semiconductor memory device targeted by the write instruction.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein
the semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell transistors, and a plurality of word lines connected to the plurality of memory cell transistors,
in the first writing method, a positive voltage is applied to a selected word line corresponding to the first address, and
in the second writing method, a negative voltage is applied to the selected word line corresponding to the first address.
3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to record the selected writing method indicated in the write command in association with the storage location of the semiconductor memory device targeted by the write command.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein
the semiconductor memory device is configured to perform a reading operation with either a first reading method or a second reading method, and
the controller is configured to select one of the first reading method and the second reading method upon receipt of a read instruction and output a read command indicating one of the first reading method and the second reading method to the semiconductor memory device, the selection of the reading method being made in accordance with a storage location in the semiconductor memory device targeted by the read instruction.
5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein
the semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell transistors, and a plurality of word lines connected to the plurality of memory cell transistors,
in the first reading method, a positive voltage is applied to a non-selected word line, and
in the second reading method, a negative voltage is applied to the non-selected word line.
6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to access a recorded correlation between the storage location of the semiconductor memory device targeted by the read instruction and the writing method used to write the data into the storage location when selecting the reading method.
7. A controller for a semiconductor memory device configured to perform a writing operation with either a first writing method or a second writing method and a reading operation with either a first reading method or a second reading method, comprising:
a host interface unit; and
a processing unit configured to select one of the first writing method and the second writing method upon receipt of a write instruction received through host interface unit and output a write command indicating the selected writing method to the semiconductor memory device, the selection of the writing method being made in accordance with a storage location in the semiconductor memory device targeted by the write instruction.
8. The controller according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a semiconductor memory in which the processing unit records the selected writing method indicated in the write command in association with the storage location of the semiconductor memory device targeted by the write command.
9. The controller according to claim 8 , wherein
a processing unit configured to select one of the first reading method and the second reading method upon receipt of a read instruction received through host interface unit and output a read command indicating the selected reading method to the semiconductor memory device, the selection of the reading method being made in accordance with a storage location in the semiconductor memory device targeted by the read instruction.
10. The controller according to claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to access the semiconductor memory device to determine the writing method recorded in association with the storage location of the semiconductor memory device targeted by the read instruction.
11. A memory system comprising:
a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cell transistors, the semiconductor memory device being configured to perform a writing operation with either a first writing method or a second writing method, the semiconductor memory device being configured to apply a first positive voltage to a gate of a selected memory cell in the first writing method, the semiconductor memory device being configured to apply a first negative voltage to the gate of the selected memory cell in the second writing method; and
a controller configured to select one of the first writing method and the second writing method upon receipt of a write instruction and output a write command indicating the selected writing method to the semiconductor memory device.
12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein
the controller is configured to select one of the first writing method and the second writing method based on an address for the selected memory cell.
13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein
the semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of blocks, one of the blocks includes a first memory string and a second memory string, the first memory string includes first memory cells, the second memory string includes second memory cells, and the first memory cells are disposed above the second memory cells.
14. The system according to claim 11 , wherein
the semiconductor memory device is configured to perform a reading operation with either a first reading method or a second reading method, and
the controller is configured to select one of the first reading method and the second reading method upon receipt of a read instruction and output a read command indicating one of the first reading method and the second reading method to the semiconductor memory device.
15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein
in the first reading method, a second positive voltage is applied to the gate of the selected memory cell, and
in the second reading method, a second negative voltage is applied to the gate of the selected memory cell.
16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein
the controller performs an ECC operation when the controller receives data read from the semiconductor memory device, and
the controller outputs a retry reading command to the semiconductor memory device if the number of errors is more than a first number.
17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein
the semiconductor memory device perform a retry reading operation when the semiconductor memory device receives the retry reading command.
18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein
The semiconductor memory device is configured to apply a third positive voltage to the gate of the selected memory cell in the retry reading operation, and the third positive voltage being higher than the second positive voltage.
19. The system according to claim 17 , wherein
The semiconductor memory device is configured to apply a third negative voltage to the gate of the selected memory cell in the retry reading operation, and the third negative voltage being lower than the second negative voltage.