IP Library Granted Patent US 10,340,016
Granted Patent B2
US 10,340,016 · App. 15/633,377 · Granted Jul 2, 2019

Methods of error-based read disturb mitigation and memory devices utilizing the same

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,340,016
App. No.
15/633,377
Granted
Jul 2, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory device comprising a main memory and a controller operably connected to the main memory. The main memory can comprise a plurality of memory addresses, each corresponding to a single one of a plurality of word lines. Each memory address can be included in a tracked subset of the plurality of memory addresses. Each tracked subset can include memory addresses corresponding to more than one of the plurality of word lines. The controller is configured to track a number of read operations for each tracked subset, and to scan, in response to the number of read operations for a first tracked subset exceeding a first threshold value, a portion of data corresponding to each word line of the first tracked subset to determine an error count corresponding to each word line of the first tracked subset.

Claims (34)

1. A memory device, comprising:

a main memory comprising a plurality of memory addresses, each memory address corresponding to a single one of a plurality of word lines and being included in a tracked subset of the plurality of memory addresses, each tracked subset including memory addresses corresponding to more than one of the plurality of word lines; and

a controller operably connected to the main memory and configured to:

track, for each tracked subset, a number of read operations,

scan, in response to the number of read operations for a first tracked subset exceeding a first threshold value corresponding to the first tracked subset, a portion of data corresponding to each word line of the first tracked subset to determine an error count corresponding to each word line of the first tracked subset, and

update the first threshold value by an amount corresponding to the determined error count.

2. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the tracked subset is one of: a memory block, a memory superblock, or a set of memory blocks comprising a subset of a memory superblock.

3. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the portion of data corresponding to each word line is a memory page from each word line of the first tracked subset.

4. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the portion of data corresponding to each word line is an allocation unit from each word line of the first tracked subset.

5. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

relocate data from the tracked subset if the error count is determined to exceed a second threshold value.

6. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to update the first threshold value by adjusting a threshold scaling factor corresponding to the first tracked subset based on the determined error count.

7. The memory device of claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

calculate the first threshold value based on the threshold scaling factor before scanning.

8. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold value corresponds at least in part to a number of erase operations performed on the first tracked subset.

9. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the main memory is a flash memory.

10. A method of managing a memory device having a plurality of memory addresses, each memory address corresponding to a single one of a plurality of word lines and being included in a tracked subset of the plurality of memory addresses, each tracked subset including memory addresses corresponding to more than one of the plurality of word lines, the method comprising:

tracking, for each tracked subset, a number of read operations,

scanning, in response to the number of read operations for a first tracked subset exceeding a first threshold value corresponding to the first tracked subset, a portion of data corresponding to each word line of the first tracked subset to determine an error count corresponding to each word line of the first tracked subset, and

updating the first threshold value by an amount corresponding to the determined error count.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the tracked subset is one of: a memory block, a memory superblock, or a set of memory blocks comprising a subset of a memory superblock.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the portion of data corresponding to each word line is a memory page from each word line of the first tracked subset.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the portion of data corresponding to each word line is an allocation unit from each word line of the first tracked subset.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

relocating data from the tracked subset if the error count is determined to exceed a second threshold value.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the updating comprises adjusting a threshold scaling factor corresponding to the first tracked subset based on the determined error count.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

calculating the first threshold value based on the threshold scaling factor before scanning.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the main memory is a flash memory.

18. A memory device, comprising:

a main memory comprising a plurality of memory addresses, each memory address corresponding to a single one of a plurality of word lines and being included in a tracked subset of the plurality of memory addresses, each tracked subset including memory addresses corresponding to more than one of the plurality of word lines; and

a controller operably connected to the main memory and configured to:

scan a portion of data corresponding to each word line of the first tracked subset to determine an error count corresponding to each word line of the first tracked subset, and

schedule a subsequent scan for the first tracked subset to occur after a number of read operations are performed on the first tracked subset, wherein the number is based on the determined error count.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050709/0838 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 046597/0333 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 6 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 1, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044653/0333 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 6 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 1, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044348/0253 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2017
From: HOEI, JUNG SHENG; MALSHE, ASHUTOSH; SINGIDI, HARISH R.; MUCHHERLA, KISHORE KUMAR; AWUSIE, ROLAND J.; MILLER, MICHAEL G.; BESINGA, GARY F.; PADILLA, RENATO C.; RATNAM, SAMPATH K.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 042818/0947 →