IP Library Granted Patent US 11,886,708
Granted Patent B2
US 11,886,708 · App. 17/051,113 · Granted Jan 30, 2024

Fast mode for a memory device

Inventor: Minjian Wu (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G06F3/0611G06F3/0634G06F3/0679G06F12/0246G06F2212/7201G06F2212/7205
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,886,708
App. No.
17/051,113
Granted
Jan 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for fast mode for a memory device are described. In some examples, a memory device may be initialized during a system boot procedure. The memory device may support multiple modes of operation, including at least a first mode that includes a first set of capabilities, and a second made that includes the first set of capabilities, as well as one or more additional capabilities. The memory device may perform the initialization while operating the memory device according to the first mode, which may include delaying one or more actions associated with the one or more additional capabilities. After the system boot procedure is complete, the memory device may operate according to the second mode, which may include performing an action delayed during the system boot.

Claims (78)

1. A method, comprising:

identifying an initialization of a memory device during a system boot procedure, the memory device supporting a first mode that includes a first set of capabilities and supporting a second mode that includes the first set of capabilities and one or more additional capabilities;

performing, based at least in part on the identifying, the initialization while operating the memory device according to the first mode, wherein operating the memory device according to the first mode comprises delaying an action associated with the one or more additional capabilities; and

operating the memory device according to the second mode after the system boot procedure is complete, wherein operating the memory device according to the second mode comprises performing the delayed action.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a command for the memory device to enter the first mode for the initialization; and

determining to perform the initialization according to the first mode in response to the command.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the command for the memory device to enter the first mode is received from a host device, the method further comprising:

transmitting an acknowledgement of the command to the host device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying the first mode as a default mode for initializing the memory device; and

determining to perform the initialization according to the first mode based at least in part on identifying the first mode as the default mode.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein delaying the action comprises:

delaying a refresh of a mapping table component of the memory device while operating according to the first mode.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein delaying the action comprises:

delaying a refresh of a system component of the memory device while operating according to the first mode.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein delaying the action comprises:

disabling foreground garbage collection for the memory device while operating according to the first mode.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing data in single-level not-and (NAND) memory cells of the memory device while performing the initialization, wherein delaying the action is based at least in part on storing the data to the single-level NAND memory cells; and

storing the data in multi-level NAND memory cells of the memory device after the system boot procedure is complete.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a block of the memory device to be refreshed;

storing an indication of the identified block, wherein delaying the action is based at least in part on storing the indication; and

refreshing the block according to the stored indication after the system boot procedure is complete.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying, during the system boot procedure, an absence of memory blocks in the memory device that are available for writing; and

switching the memory device to the second mode before the system boot procedure is complete based at least in part on identifying the absence of memory blocks.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying, during the system boot procedure, that a read error threshold has been satisfied; and

switching the memory device to the second mode before the system boot procedure is complete based at least in part on identifying that the read error threshold has been satisfied.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a command for the memory device to exit the first mode;

switching the memory device from the first mode to the second mode based at least in part on the received command; and

transmitting an acknowledgement in response to the received command.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

not-and (NAND) memory cells; and

a memory controller coupled with the NAND memory cells and operable to cause the apparatus to:

initialize the apparatus during a system boot procedure, the apparatus supporting a first mode that includes a first set of capabilities and a second mode that includes the first set of capabilities and one or more additional capabilities;

operate the apparatus according to the first mode after initializing the apparatus, wherein operating the apparatus according to the first mode comprises delaying an action associated with the one or more additional capabilities; and

operate the apparatus according to the second mode after the system boot procedure is complete, wherein operating the apparatus according to the second mode comprises performing the delayed action.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:

a mapping table component coupled with the memory controller and operable to map logical memory addresses to physical memory addresses, wherein the delayed action comprises a refresh operation for the mapping table component to the NAND memory cells.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:

a system component coupled with the memory controller and operable to store firmware for the apparatus, wherein the delayed action comprises a refresh operation for the system component.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the delayed action comprises a garbage collection procedure for the NAND memory cells.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the memory controller is further operable to cause the apparatus to:

identify a block of the NAND memory cells to be refreshed;

store an indication of the identified block, wherein delaying the action is based at least in part on storing the indication; and

delay the action based at least in part on refreshing the block according to the stored indication after the system boot procedure is complete.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the memory controller is further operable to cause the apparatus to:

identify, during the system boot procedure, an absence of blocks of the NAND memory cells in the apparatus that are available for writing; and

switch the apparatus to the second mode before the system boot procedure is complete based at least in part on identifying the absence of blocks of the NAND memory cells that are available for writing.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the memory controller is further operable to cause the apparatus to:

identify, during the system boot procedure, that a read error threshold has been satisfied; and

switch the apparatus to the second mode before the system boot procedure is complete based at least in part on identifying that the read error threshold has been satisfied.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:

the NAND memory cells comprise single-level NAND memory cells and multi-level NAND memory cells;

the memory controller is further operable to cause the apparatus to;

store data in the single-level NAND memory cells while operating in the first mode, wherein delaying the action is based at least in part on storing the data in the single-level NAND memory cells; and

copy the data to the multi-level NAND memory cells after switching to the second mode.

21. A method, comprising:

determining to initialize a memory device during a system boot procedure for a system that includes the memory device, the memory device supporting a first mode that includes a first set of capabilities and supporting a second mode that includes the first set of capabilities and one or more additional capabilities;

transmitting an initialization command to the memory device;

transmitting one or more read commands to the memory device during the system boot procedure;

determining that the system boot procedure is complete; and

transmitting, to the memory device in response to the determining that the system boot procedure is complete, a command for the memory device to switch from operating in the first mode to the second mode.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the initialization command comprises a command for the memory device to operate in the first mode.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

receiving, from the memory device, an acknowledgement of the command for the memory device to operate in the first mode.

24. A method, comprising:

initiating a boot procedure for a system that includes a host device coupled with a memory device, wherein the memory device supports a first mode that includes a first set of capabilities and a second mode that includes the first set of capabilities and one or more additional capabilities;

operating, based at least in part on initiating the boot procedure, the memory device according to the first mode, wherein operating the memory device according to the first mode comprises delaying an action associated with the one or more additional capabilities; and

operating, based at least in part on completing the boot procedure, the memory device according to the second mode, wherein operating the memory device according to the second mode comprises performing the delayed action.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising:

transmitting, based at least in part on initiating the boot procedure, an enter command for the first mode from the host device to the memory device, wherein operating the memory device according to the first mode is based at least in part on transmitting the enter command;

determining, by the host device, that the boot procedure is complete; and

transmitting, based at least in part on the boot procedure being complete, an exit command for the first mode from the host device to the memory device, wherein operating the memory device according to the second mode is based at least in part on transmitting the exit command.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2023
From: WU, MINJIAN
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 065181/0529 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230342033A1 · Oct 26, 2023
Cited By (1)
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