Semiconductor memory device having a memory string that includes a transistor having a charge stored therein to indicate the memory string is defective

1. A semiconductor memory device, comprising:

a plurality of memory strings, each including memory cell transistors connected in series;

a register for each of the memory strings; and

a control circuit configured to store in each register of a memory string that is defective, information indicating that the memory string is defective, and to carry out an erase operation that includes at least a first erase operation followed by a first verify operation, and a second erase operation followed by a second verify operation, wherein

the first verify operation is performed on all of the memory strings except each memory string indicated by the register thereof as being defective, and

the second verify operation is performed on all of the memory strings except each memory string indicated by the register thereof as being defective, and each memory string that passed the first verify operation.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to store information indicating that a memory string has passed the first verify operation in the register corresponding to the memory string.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the register stores a first value if the memory string corresponding thereto is defective or has passed the first verify operation, and a second value otherwise.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to determine whether or not a memory string is defective and, upon determining that the memory string is defective, stores the information indicating that the memory string is defective in the register corresponding to the memory string.

5. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of bit lines, each connected to a first end of one of the memory strings; and

a source line connected to second ends of the memory strings, wherein

each of the memory strings further comprises a transistor connected in series to the memory cell transistors, the transistor having a charge storage layer and a control gate, wherein a charge is stored in the charge storage layer to indicate that the corresponding memory string is defective.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the control circuit is configured to perform a read operation on the transistor of each of the memory strings to determine whether or not the corresponding memory string is defective.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the transistor is a selective transistor connected between the first end of the memory string to a corresponding bit line.

8. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the transistor is a selective transistor connected between the second end of the memory string to the source line.

9. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the transistor is a back gate transistor connected between first and second ends of the memory string.

10. A method of erasing memory strings of a semiconductor memory device, wherein each of the memory strings includes memory cell transistors connected in series, said method comprising:

for each memory string, storing information indicating whether or not the memory string is defective in a register corresponding to the memory string; and

carrying out an erase operation on the memory strings, the erase operation including at least a first erase operation followed by a first verify operation, and a second erase operation followed by a second verify operation, wherein

the first verify operation is performed on all of the memory strings except each memory string indicated by the register thereof as being defective, and

the second verify operation is performed on all of the memory strings except each memory string indicated by the register thereof as being defective, and each memory string that passed the first verify operation.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

for each memory string that passed the first verify operation, storing information indicating that the memory string passed the first verify operation in the register corresponding to the memory string.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the register stores a first value if the memory string corresponding thereto is defective or passed the first verify operation, and a second value otherwise.

13. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

determining whether or not a memory string is defective; and

upon determining that the memory string is defective, storing the information indicating that the memory string is defective in the register corresponding to the memory string.

14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein

the semiconductor memory device further comprises a plurality of bit lines, each connected to a first end of one of the memory strings, and a source line connected to second ends of the memory strings, and

each of the memory strings further comprises a transistor connected in series to the memory cell transistors, the transistor having a charge storage layer and a control gate, a charge stored in the charge storage layer indicating that the corresponding memory string is defective.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:

performing a read operation on the transistor of each of the memory strings to determine whether or not the corresponding memory string is defective.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the transistor is a selective transistor connected between the first end of the memory string to a corresponding bit line.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the transistor is a selective transistor connected between the second end of the memory string to the source line.

18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the transistor is a back gate transistor connected between first and second ends of the memory string.