IP Library Patent Application 19380294
Patent Application
App. No. 19/380,294

MULTI-STAGE ERASE OPERATION OF MEMORY CELLS IN A MEMORY SUB-SYSTEM

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
19/380,294
Abstract

Control logic in a memory device relocates a set of valid data from a first subset of memory blocks to a second subset of memory blocks. A first erase sub-operation of a multi-stage erase operation to place the first subset of memory blocks in a first erase state. In response to a request to execute a programming operation, executing a second erase sub-operation of the multi-stage erase operation to place the first subset of memory blocks in a second erase state. The programming operation is executed to program the first subset of memory blocks.

Claims (36)

1 . A memory device comprising:

a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells; and

control logic, operatively coupled with the memory array, to perform operations comprising:

relocating a set of valid data from a first subset of memory blocks to a second subset of memory blocks;

executing a first erase sub-operation of a multi-stage erase operation to place the first subset of memory blocks in a first erase state;

in response to a request to execute a programming operation, executing a second erase sub-operation of the multi-stage erase operation to place the first subset of memory blocks in a second erase state; and

executing the programming operation to program the first subset of memory blocks.

2 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first erase sub-operation is executed in response to a command to erase the first subset of memory blocks.

3 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first erase sub-operation comprises applying a first erase pulse having a first erase voltage level to memory cells of the first subset of memory blocks.

4 . The memory device of claim 3 , wherein the second erase sub-operation comprises applying a second erase pulse having a second erase voltage level to memory cells of the first subset of memory blocks.

5 . The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the second erase voltage level is higher than the first erase voltage level.

6 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first erase state corresponds to a first threshold voltage level and the second erase state corresponds to a second threshold voltage level, and wherein the first threshold voltage level is higher than the second threshold voltage level.

7 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein relocating the set of valid data comprises executing a garbage collection operation that identifies the first subset of memory blocks as available for erasing.

8 . A memory device comprising:

a memory array comprising a set of memory cells; and

control logic, operatively coupled with the memory array, to perform operations comprising:

identifying a first subset of memory blocks to be erased;

executing a first erase sub-operation of a multi-stage erase operation to erase the first subset of memory blocks to a first threshold voltage level, wherein the first erase sub-operation comprises applying, to the first subset of memory blocks, a first erase pulse having a first erase voltage level; and

executing a second erase sub-operation of the multi-stage erase operation to erase the first subset of memory blocks to a second threshold voltage level, wherein the second erase sub-operation comprises applying, to the first subset of memory blocks, a second erase pulse having a second erase voltage level, and wherein the first erase voltage level of the first erase sub-operation is lower than the second erase voltage level of the second erase sub-operation.

9 . The memory device of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise executing a garbage collection operation to relocate a set of valid data of the first subset of memory blocks to a second subset of memory blocks prior to executing the first erase sub-operation.

10 . The memory device of claim 8 , the operations further comprising executing a programming operation to program the first subset of memory blocks following execution of the second erase sub-operation.

11 . The memory device of claim 8 , wherein the first erase sub-operation is executed in response to a command to erase the first subset of memory blocks.

12 . The memory device of claim 11 , wherein the second erase sub-operation is executed in response to a command to program the first subset of memory blocks.

13 . The memory device of claim 8 , wherein the first erase sub-operation comprises a pre-program operation.

14 . A memory device comprising:

a memory array comprising a plurality of memory blocks; and

control logic, operatively coupled with the memory array, to perform operations comprising:

executing a scatter-gather process to identify valid data stored in a first set of memory blocks and relocate the valid data to one or more destination memory blocks;

executing a first erase sub-operation of a multi-stage erase operation on the first set of memory blocks; and

executing a second erase sub-operation of the multi-stage erase operation on the first set of memory blocks.

15 . The memory device of claim 14 , wherein the scatter-gather process comprises identifying the first set of memory blocks to be erased.

16 . The memory device of claim 15 , wherein the scatter-gather process comprises denoting the first set of memory blocks with a flag.

17 . The memory device of claim 16 , wherein the first erase sub-operation comprises identifying the flag corresponding to the first set of memory blocks.

18 . The memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise identifying a request to execute a program operation.

19 . The memory device of claim 18 , wherein the second erase sub-operation is executed in response to the request to execute the program operation.

20 . The memory device of claim 14 , wherein the first erase sub-operation comprises applying a first erase pulse having a first erase voltage level to the first set of memory blocks, and wherein the second erase sub-operation comprises applying a second erase pulse having a second erase voltage level to first set of memory blocks.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2025
From: LU, CHING-HUANG; DONG, YINGDA; RATNAM, SAMPATH K.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 072828/0585 →