IP Library Granted Patent US 9,978,459
Granted Patent B2
US 9,978,459 · App. 14/719,017 · Granted May 22, 2018

Semiconductor device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,978,459
App. No.
14/719,017
Granted
May 22, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device includes a memory array including a plurality of memory blocks, wherein the memory blocks are grouped into sub-block groups, and the sub-block groups are grouped into main block groups; an operation circuit suitable for performing a read operation and a test read operation on memory cells included in the memory block; and a read counter suitable for counting a first number of read operations for each word line in the respective main block groups and a second number of read operations for the respective sub-block groups.

Claims (29)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a memory array including a plurality of memory blocks, wherein the memory blocks are grouped into sub-block groups and the sub-block groups are grouped into main block groups;

a read counter to count a first number of read operations per word line for the respective main block groups and a second number of read operations for the respective sub-block groups; and

an operation circuit to perform a test read operation according to the first number of read operations and the second number of read operations on memory cells in the memory array,

wherein the operation circuit performs the test read operation on word lines adjacent to a word line for which the first number of read operations is greater than a main reference number in memory blocks included in a sub-block group,

wherein the test read operation determines whether to transfer data of a memory block to which the word lines are connected to another memory block by reading the word lines adjacent to the word line for which the first number of read operations is greater than the main reference number in the memory blocks, and

wherein if the test read operation fails, the operation circuit transfers the data of the memory block to which the word lines are connected to the another memory block.

2. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the operation circuit performs a read operation on a selected memory block and the test read operation on a sub-block group.

3. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the operation circuit compares the first numbers of read operations corresponding to a selected main block group, which includes a selected memory block, to the main reference number, and compares the second number of read operations corresponding to a selected sub-block group, which includes the selected memory block, to the main reference number.

4. The semiconductor device of claim 3 , wherein the operation circuit performs the test read operation on the selected sub-block group when at least one of the first numbers of read operations is greater than the main reference number, and the second number of read operations is greater than the main reference number.

5. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein, when data read from memory cells of the adjacent word lines includes error bits equal to a reference value or more, the operation circuit stores the data in another memory block.

6. The semiconductor device of claim 5 , wherein the data is stored in the another memory block after the error bits are corrected by an error correcting circuit.

7. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the operation circuit performs the test read operation on the sub-block group for which at least one of the first numbers of read operations is greater than the main reference number and the second number of read operations is equal to or less than the main reference number and greater than a sub-reference number.

8. The semiconductor device of claim 7 , wherein the operation circuit performs the test read operation on the word lines adjacent to the word line for which the first number of read operations is greater than the main reference number in the memory blocks included in the sub-block group.

9. The semiconductor device of claim 8 , wherein, when data read from memory cells of the adjacent word lines include error bits equal to a reference value or more, the operation circuit stores the data in another memory block.

10. The semiconductor device of claim 9 , wherein the data is stored in the another memory block after the error bits are corrected by an error correcting circuit.

11. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the operation circuit performs the test read operation on the sub-block group for which at least one of the first numbers of read operations is equal to or less than the main reference number and greater than a sub-reference number, and the second number of read operations is greater than the main reference number.

12. The semiconductor device of claim 11 , wherein the operation circuit performs the test read operation on the word lines adjacent to the word line for which the first number of read operations is greater than the sub-reference number in the memory blocks included in the sub-block group.

13. The semiconductor device of claim 12 , wherein, when data read from memory cells of the adjacent word lines include error bits equal to a reference value or more, the operation circuit stores the data in another memory block.

14. The semiconductor device of claim 13 , wherein the data is stored in the another memory block after the error bits are corrected by an error correcting circuit.

15. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the read counter includes a first storage part configured to store the first number of read operations and a second storage part configured to store the second number of read operations.

16. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein, after the test read operation is performed, the first number of read operations and the second number of read operations are reset.

17. A semiconductor device comprising:

a memory array including a plurality of memory blocks, wherein the memory blocks are grouped into sub-block groups, and the sub-block groups are grouped into main block groups; and

an operation circuit configured to count a first number of read operations per word line for the respective main block groups and a second number of read operations for the respective sub-block groups, and perform a test read operation on a sub-block group for which the first number of read operations or the second number of read operations is greater than a main reference number,

wherein the operation circuit performs the test read operation on word lines adjacent to a word line for which the first number of read operations is greater than the main reference number in memory blocks included in the sub-block group,

wherein the test read operation determines whether to transfer data of a memory block to which the word lines are connected to another memory block by reading the word lines adjacent to the word line for which the first number of read operations is greater than the main reference number in the memory blocks, and

wherein if the test read operation fails, the operation circuit transfers the data of the memory block to which the word lines are connected to the another memory block.

18. The semiconductor device of claim 17 , wherein, when data read from memory cells of the adjacent word lines include error bits equal to a reference value or more, the operation circuit stores the data in another memory block after the error bits are corrected by an error correcting circuit.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2024
From: SK HYNIX INC.
To: MIMIRIP LLC
Reel/Frame 067335/0246 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2015
From: HUH, JUN KI
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 035693/0458 →