IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,208,897
Granted Patent B2
US 9,208,897 · App. 14/475,475 · Granted Dec 8, 2015

Configuring storage cells

Inventors: John Strasser (Kaysville, UT); David Flynn (Sandy, UT); Jeremy Fillingim (Salt Lake City, UT); Robert Wood (Niwot, CO)
Assignee: Intelligent Intellectual Property Holdings 2 LLC
G11C16/3495G06F11/1048G06F11/1068G06F12/0246G11C11/56G11C11/5642G11C16/26G11C16/28G11C16/349G11C16/3418G11C29/02G11C29/026G11C29/028G11C29/42G11C29/50016G11C16/00G11C2029/0409
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,208,897
App. No.
14/475,475
Granted
Dec 8, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for configuring storage cells. A method includes determining a usage history for a set of storage cells of a solid-state storage medium. A method includes adjusting a voltage threshold for a set of storage cells by an amount based at least in part on a usage history. A method includes configuring a set of storage cells to use an adjusted voltage threshold.

Claims (30)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a data set read module configured to detect a shift in a read voltage level past a read voltage threshold for a set of memory cells of a non-volatile memory medium;

an adjustment module configured to, in response to the shift in the read voltage level, adjust a read voltage threshold for the set of memory cells by an amount based at least in part on one or more characteristics of the set of memory cells; and

a read voltage module configured to configure the set of memory cells to use the adjusted read voltage threshold;

wherein the adjustment module is external to the non-volatile memory medium.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a persistence module configured to retain the adjusted read voltage threshold for the set of memory cells.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the persistence module is configured to store different read voltage thresholds for different sub-groupings of the set of memory cells.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the read voltage module is configured to reconfigure the entire set of memory cells to use one of the different read voltage thresholds in response to a read request for a sub-grouping associated with the one of the different read voltage thresholds.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the persistence module is configured to send the adjusted read voltage threshold to the non-volatile memory medium for each read operation for the set of storage cells.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more of a usage history for the set of memory cells, an error history for the set of memory cells, an age for the set of memory cells, a number of program and erase cycles for the set of memory cells, and an amount of wear for the set of memory cells.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the data set read module is further configured to detect the shift in the read voltage level by detecting a data error for the set of memory cells.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the data set read module is further configured to detect the shift in the read voltage level in response to a testing operation for the set of memory cells.

9. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining a number of program and erase cycles for a set of storage cells of a solid-state storage medium; and

means for compensating for a change in read voltage levels for the set of storage cells based at least in part on the number of program and erase cycles; wherein the means for compensating are external to the solid-state storage medium.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising means for persisting an adjustment that compensates for the change in read voltage levels.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the means for persisting the adjustment comprises means for persisting different adjustments for different sets of storage cells.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein compensating for the change in read voltage levels comprises adjusting a read voltage threshold for the set of storage cells, an amount of the adjustment based at least in part on the number of program and erase cycles.

13. A method comprising:

determining a usage history for a set of storage cells of a solid-state storage medium;

adjusting a voltage threshold for the set of storage cells by an amount based at least in part on the usage history; and

configuring the set of storage cells to use the adjusted voltage threshold;

wherein said adjusting is performed by a module external to the solid-state storage medium.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount is based at least in part on a difference between a bias for data of the storage cells and a known bias.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein a direction for adjusting the voltage threshold is determined based on a deviation of a bias for data of the storage cells from a known bias.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the voltage threshold comprises a read voltage threshold.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the voltage threshold comprises a program voltage.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the usage history comprises a number of program and erase cycles for the set of storage cells.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the usage history comprises an error history for the set of storage cells.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the voltage threshold is in response to detecting a read error for the set of storage cells.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 25, 2016
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES INC
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 038807/0948 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2016
From: INTELLIGENT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS 2 LLC
To: PS12 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 038362/0575 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2016
From: PS12 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
To: LONGITUDE ENTERPRISE FLASH S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 038362/0604 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2016
From: LONGITUDE ENTERPRISE FLASH SARL
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 038324/0628 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2014
From: FUSION-IO, INC.
To: INTELLIGENT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS, 2 LLC
Reel/Frame 034143/0762 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2014
From: STRASSER, JOHN; FLYNN, DAVID; FILLINGIM, JEREMY; WOOD, ROBERT
To: FUSION-IO, INC.
Reel/Frame 034092/0771 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 14067323 · Oct 30, 2013
Continuation In Part 13719045 · Dec 18, 2012
Continuation In Part 13189402 · Jul 22, 2011
Continuation In Part 13015458 · Jan 27, 2011
Continuation In Part 13175637 · Jul 1, 2011
Provisional Application 61298861 · Jan 27, 2010
Provisional Application 61305205 · Feb 17, 2010
Related Publication 20140369118A1 · Dec 18, 2014