IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,742,035
Granted Patent B2
US 11,742,035 · App. 17/183,955 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Memory device including bit line precharge operation during program verify operation

Inventor: Hyung Jin Choi (Icheon-si, KR)
Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
G11C16/3459G11C16/08G11C16/10G11C16/102G11C16/14G11C16/24G11C16/26G11C16/3404
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,742,035
App. No.
17/183,955
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory device may include a plurality of memory cells, a peripheral circuit, and control logic. The peripheral circuit is configured to perform a program verify operation for a target program state among a plurality of program states on selected memory cells among the plurality of memory cells. The control logic is configured to control the peripheral circuit to precharge bit lines coupled to first memory cells among the selected memory cells and bit lines coupled to second memory cells among the selected memory cells in the program verify operation. The first memory cells are program-passed memory cells among memory cells programmed to a program state higher than the target program state among the plurality of program states. The second memory cells are memory cells programmed to a program state lower than or equal to the target program state among the plurality of program states.

Claims (52)

1. A memory device comprising:

a plurality of memory cells;

a peripheral circuit configured to perform a program verify operation for a target program state among a plurality of program states on selected memory cells among the plurality of memory cells; and

control logic configured to control the peripheral circuit to precharge first bit lines coupled to first memory cells, and second bit lines coupled to second memory cells without precharging third bit lines coupled to third memory cells, among the selected memory cells, in the program verify operation,

wherein the first memory cells are program-passed memory cells and the third memory cells are program-failed memory cells, among memory cells to be programmed to a program state having a higher threshold voltage than the target program state among the plurality of program states, and

wherein the second memory cells are program-failed memory cells, among memory cells to be programmed to a program state having a lower threshold voltage than the target program state among the plurality of program states.

2. The memory device of claim 1 ,

wherein the control logic is configured to control the peripheral circuit to perform an evaluation operation of sensing a potential of each of bit lines coupled to the selected memory cells, after the first bit lines and the second bit lines are precharged.

3. The memory device of claim 2 ,

wherein the control logic is configured to control the peripheral circuit to apply a verify voltage to a word line coupled to the selected memory cells and to apply a verify pass voltage to word lines coupled to unselected memory cells among the plurality of memory cells, during the evaluation operation.

4. The memory device of claim 3 ,

wherein the control logic is configured to compare a threshold voltage of each of the memory cells to be programmed to the target program state among the selected memory cells with the verify voltage, based on a result of the evaluation operation, and determine whether the program verify operation for the target program state has passed or failed, based on a comparison result.

5. A memory device comprising:

a plurality of memory cells;

a peripheral circuit configured to perform a program verify operation for a target program state among a plurality of program states on selected memory cells among the plurality of memory cells; and

control logic configured to control the peripheral circuit to precharge first bit lines coupled to first memory cells and second bit lines coupled to second memory cells without precharging third bit lines coupled to third memory cells, among the selected memory cells, in the program verify operation,

wherein the first memory cells are program-passed memory cells among memory cells to be programmed to the other program states except the target program state among the plurality of program states,

wherein the second memory cells are memory cells to be programmed to the target program state,

wherein the third memory cells are program-failed memory cells among memory cells to be programmed to a program state having a higher threshold voltage than the target program state among the plurality of program states, and

wherein the control logic is configured to control the peripheral circuit to precharge fourth bit lines coupled to program-failed memory cells among memory cells to be programmed to a program state having a lower threshold voltage than the target program state, included in the selected memory cells, in the program verify operation.

6. The memory device of claim 5 ,

wherein the control logic is configured to control the peripheral circuit to perform an evaluation operation of sensing a potential of each of bit lines coupled to the selected memory cells, after the first bit lines and the second bit lines are precharged.

7. The memory device of claim 6 ,

wherein the control logic is configured to control the peripheral circuit to apply a verify voltage to a word line coupled to the selected memory cells and to apply a verify pass voltage to word lines coupled to unselected memory cells among the plurality of memory cells, during the evaluation operation.

8. The memory device of claim 7 ,

wherein the control logic is configured to compare a threshold voltage of each of the memory cells to be programmed to the target program state among the selected memory cells with the verify voltage, based on a result of the evaluation operation, and determine whether the program verify operation for the target program state has passed or failed, based on a comparison result.

9. A method for operating a memory device including a plurality of memory cells, the method comprising:

performing a bit line precharge operation of precharging first bit lines coupled to first memory cells and second bit lines coupled to second memory cells without precharging third bit lines coupled to third memory cells, included in selected memory cells among the plurality of memory cells; and

performing an evaluation operation of sensing a potential of each of bit lines coupled to the selected memory cells,

wherein the first memory cells are program-passed memory cells and the third memory cells are program-failed memory cells, among memory cells to be programmed to a program state having a higher threshold voltage than a target program state among a plurality of program states, and

wherein the second memory cells are program-failed memory cells, among memory cells to be programmed to a program state having a lower threshold voltage than the target program state among the plurality of program states.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein performing the evaluation operation includes:

applying a verify voltage to a word line coupled to the selected memory cells;

applying a verify pass voltage to word lines coupled to unselected memory cells among the plurality of memory cells; and

sensing the potential of each of the bit lines coupled to the selected memory cells.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

comparing a threshold voltage of each of the memory cells to be programmed to the target program state among the selected memory cells with the verify voltage, based on a result of the evaluation operation; and

determining whether a program verify operation for the target program state has passed or failed, based on a comparison result.

12. A method for operating a memory device including a plurality of memory cells, the method comprising:

performing a bit line precharge operation of precharging first bit lines coupled to first memory cells and second bit lines coupled to second memory cells without precharging third bit lines coupled to third memory cells, included in selected memory cells among the plurality of memory cells; and

performing an evaluation operation of sensing a potential of each of bit lines coupled to the selected memory cells,

wherein the first memory cells are program-passed memory cells among memory cells to be programmed to the other program states except a target program state among a plurality of program states,

wherein the second memory cells are memory cells to be programmed to the target program state, and

wherein the third memory cells are program-failed memory cells among memory cells to be programmed to a program state having a higher threshold voltage than the target program state among the plurality of program states, and

wherein performing the bit line precharge operation includes precharging fourth bit lines coupled to program-failed memory cells among memory cells to be programmed to a program state having a lower threshold voltage than the target program state, included in the selected memory cells.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein performing the evaluation operation includes:

applying a verify voltage to a word line coupled to the selected memory cells;

applying a verify pass voltage to word lines coupled to unselected memory cells among the plurality of memory cells; and

sensing the potential of each of the bit lines coupled to the selected memory cells.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

comparing a threshold voltage of each of the memory cells to be programmed to the target program state among the selected memory cells with the verify voltage, based on a result of the evaluation operation; and

determining whether a program verify operation for the target program state has passed or failed, based on a comparison result.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2021
From: CHOI, HYUNG JIN
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 055393/0309 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2020-0104937 · Aug 20, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220059174A1 · Feb 24, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,567,467