IP Library Patent Application 18973880
Patent Application
App. No. 18/973,880

WORDLINE OR PILLAR STATE DETECTION FOR FASTER READ ACCESS TIMES

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
18/973,880
Abstract

A memory device includes an array of memory cells associated with multiple wordlines and control logic operatively coupled with the array. The control logic, in performing a read operation, can determine a length of time that a selected wordline, of the multiple wordlines, takes to reach a pass voltage for reading data from a memory cell associated with the selected wordline. The control logic can select a delay time based on whether the length of time is associated with a transient state or a non-transient state. The control logic can read the data from the memory cell associated with the selected wordline after the selected delay time.

Claims (50)

1 . A memory device comprising:

an array of memory cells associated with multiple wordlines; and

control logic operatively coupled with the array, wherein the control logic, in performing a read operation, is to perform operations comprising:

determining a length of time that a selected wordline, of the multiple wordlines, takes to reach a pass voltage for reading data from a memory cell associated with the selected wordline;

selecting a delay time based on whether the length of time is associated with a transient state or a non-transient state; and

reading the data from the memory cell associated with the selected wordline after the selected delay time.

2 . The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising a counter, wherein tracking the length of time comprises:

starting the counter upon beginning to ramp a voltage of the selected wordline; and

stopping the counter in response to the selected wordline reaching a threshold percentage of the pass voltage.

3 . The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the operations further comprise reading a value of the counter to determine the length of time.

4 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

comparing the length of time with time period values in a lookup table to determine whether the length of time satisfies at least one of a first threshold criterion or a second threshold criterion that is longer than the first threshold criterion;

in response to the length of time satisfying the first threshold criterion, causing a first delay time to pass before reading the data from the memory cell; and

in response to the length of time satisfying the second threshold criterion, causing a second delay time to pass before reading the data from the memory cell, the second delay time being longer than the first delay time.

5 . The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the first threshold criterion corresponds to a pillar of the array starting at a negative voltage.

6 . The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the second threshold criterion corresponds to a pillar of the array starting at an approximately zero voltage.

7 . The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the operations further comprise, in response to the length of time satisfying a third threshold criterion that is longer than the second threshold criterion, causing a third delay time to pass before reading the data from the memory cell, the third delay time being longer than the second delay time.

8 . The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the second delay time comprises a delay that is caused in response to a first read access of the array after being programmed.

9 . The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the first delay time comprises a delay that is caused in response to read accesses of the array that are subsequent to a first read access of the array after being programmed.

10 . A system comprising:

a memory device comprising an array of memory cells associated with multiple wordlines; and

a processing device operatively coupled with the memory device, the processing device to perform operations comprising:

selecting a delay time, of multiple delay times, based on whether a read operation performed on a memory cell of the array is a first read access of the array since being programmed; and

causing control logic of the memory device to wait the selected delay time after a selected wordline of the memory cell has reached a pass voltage before reading data from the memory cell.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the delay time is a first delay time, and wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that a second read operation performed on the array is a second read access of the array; and

communicating to the control logic to use a second delay time, of the multiple delay times, after the selected wordline of a selected memory cell has reached the pass voltage and before reading data from the selected memory cell, wherein the second delay time is shorter than the first delay time.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the memory cells of the array are associated with a pillar of the array, the second delay time is associated with a transient state of the pillar, and wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting the pillar exit from the transient state; and

sending, together with a subsequent read operation, a command to the control logic to again use the first delay time.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the detecting the pillar exit from the transient state comprises one of:

detecting a reset of the voltage of the pillar;

detecting the memory device satisfy a threshold temperature; or

detecting a period of time pass that is associated with the pillar returning to an approximately zero voltage.

14 . A method comprising:

determining, by control logic of a memory device that includes an array of memory cells with which are associated with multiple wordlines, a length of time that a selected wordline, of multiple wordlines, takes to reach a pass voltage for reading data from a memory cell associated with the selected wordline to perform a read operation;

selecting, by the control logic, a delay time based on whether the length of time is associated with a transient state or a non-transient state; and

reading the data from the memory cell associated with the selected wordline after the selected delay time.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

starting a counter upon beginning to ramp a voltage of the selected wordline;

stopping the counter in response to the selected wordline reaching a threshold percentage of the pass voltage; and

reading a value of the counter to determine the length of time.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising

comparing the length of time with time period values in a lookup table to determine whether the length of time satisfies at least one of a first threshold criterion or a second threshold criterion that is longer than the first threshold criterion;

in response to the length of time satisfying the first threshold criterion, causing a first delay time to pass before reading the data from the memory cell; and

in response to the length of time satisfying the second threshold criterion, causing a second delay time to pass before reading the data from the memory cell, the second delay time being longer than the first delay time.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first threshold criterion corresponds to a pillar of the array starting at a negative voltage, and wherein the second threshold criterion corresponds to the pillar starting at an approximately zero voltage.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising, in response to the length of time satisfying a third threshold criterion that is longer than the second threshold criterion, causing a third delay time to pass before reading the data from the memory cell, the third delay time being longer than the second delay time.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second delay time comprises a delay that is caused in response to a first read access of the array after being programmed.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first delay time comprises a delay that is caused in response to read accesses of the array that are subsequent to a first read access of the array after being programmed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2024
From: MOSCHIANO, VIOLANTE; RAGHUNATHAN, SHYAM SUNDER; DI FRANCESCO, WALTER
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 069529/0490 →