IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,539,062
Granted Patent B2
US 7,539,062 · App. 11/642,334 · Granted May 26, 2009

Interleaved memory program and verify method, device and system

Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,539,062
App. No.
11/642,334
Granted
May 26, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An interleaved memory programming and verification method, device and system includes a memory array including first and second memory banks of memory cells. The memory device further includes a controller configured to concurrently program a first data into the first memory bank and a second data into the second memory bank using iterative programming and verification operations in each of the first and second memory banks with the programming and verification operations in the second memory bank being offset from the programming and verification operations in the first memory bank.

Claims (48)

1. A memory device, comprising:

a memory array including a first memory bank and a second memory bank of memory cells;

a controller configured to program a first and second data into the memory array by concurrently programming the first data into one of the first and second memory banks and verifying the second data in the other one of the first and second memory banks, wherein the first and second data are interleaved;

an I/O buffer configured to receive the first and second data for programming into the respective first and second memory banks; and

a shared data cache configured to cache the first data from the I/O buffer until the first memory bank is readied to program the first data therein and further configured to subsequently cache the second data from the I/O buffer until the second memory bank is readied to program the second data therein.

2. A memory device, comprising:

a memory array including a first memory bank and a second memory bank of memory cells;

a controller configured to program a first and second data into the memory array by concurrently programming the first data into one of the first and second memory banks and verifying the second data in the other one of the first and second memory banks, wherein the first and second data are interleaved;

an I/O buffer configured to receive the first and second data for programming into the respective first and second memory banks;

a first data cache configured to cache the first data from the I/O buffer until the first memory bank is readied to program the first data therein; and

a second data cache configured to cache the second data from the I/O buffer until the second memory bank is readied to program the second data therein.

3. A memory device, comprising:

a memory array including a first memory bank and a second memory bank of memory cells;

a controller configured to program a first and second data into the memory array by concurrently programming the first data into one of the first and second memory banks and verifying the second data in the other one of the first and second memory banks, wherein the first and second data are interleaved; and

first and second sense amplifiers respectively operatively coupled with the first and second memory banks, the first and second sense amplifiers each including a latch to respectively store the first and second data during iterative programming and verification operations in the first and second memory banks.

4. The memory device of claim 3 , further comprising first and second comparators configured to respectively verify the first and second data with first and second sensed data sensed by the first and second sense amplifiers during the verification operation.

5. The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to repeatedly perform a subsequent programming and verification operation on at least one of the first and second memory banks when the respective first and second data do not match the first and second sensed data.

6. The memory device of claim 3 , wherein the first and second sense amplifiers are further configured to latch the first and second data directly from an external interface of the memory device.

7. The memory device of claim 3 , further comprising a shared data cache and wherein the first and second sense amplifiers are further configured to latch the first and second data from the shared data cache.

8. The memory device of claim 3 , further comprising first and second data caches and wherein the first and second sense amplifiers are further configured to respectively latch the first and second data from the first and second data caches.

9. A non-volatile memory device, comprising:

first and second memory banks;

a controller configured to concurrently program a first data into the first memory bank and a second data into the second memory bank using iterative programming and verification operations in each of the first and second memory banks with the programming and verification operations in the second memory bank being offset from the programming and verification operations in the first memory bank, wherein the first and second data are interleaved; and

a shared data cache configured to cache the first data received from an external interface of the non-volatile memory device until commencement of the programming and verification operations of the first memory bank and further configured to cache the second data received from an external interface of the non-volatile memory device until commencement of the programming and verification operations of the second memory bank.

10. A non-volatile memory device, comprising:

first and second memory banks;

a controller configured to concurrently program a first data into the first memory bank and a second data into the second memory bank using iterative programming and verification operations in each of the first and second memory banks with the programming and verification operations in the second memory bank being offset from the programming and verification operations in the first memory bank, wherein the first and second data are interleaved; and

a first data cache configured to cache the first data received from an external interface of the non-volatile memory device until commencement of the programming and verification operations of the first memory bank and a second data cache configured to cache the second data received from an external interface of the non-volatile memory device until commencement of the programming and verification operations of the second memory bank.

11. A method of programming a non-volatile memory array, comprising:

iteratively programming and verifying a first data in a first memory bank of the non-volatile memory array;

caching the first and second data in a shared cache configured to cache the first data until commencement of the iteratively programming and verifying of the first data and further configured to cache the second data until commencement of concurrently iteratively programming and verifying of the second data; and

concurrently iteratively programming and verifying a second data in a second memory bank of the non-volatile memory array offset from the iteratively programming and verifying in the first memory bank, wherein the first and second data are interleaved.

12. A method of programming a non-volatile memory array, comprising:

iteratively programming and verifying a first data in a first memory bank of the non-volatile memory array;

concurrently iteratively programming and verifying a second data in a second memory bank of the non-volatile memory array offset from the iteratively programming and verifying in the first memory bank, wherein the first and second data are interleaved;

caching in a first data cache configured to cache the first data until commencement of the iteratively programming and verifying of the first data; and

caching in a second data cache configured to cache the second data until commencement of the concurrently iteratively programming and verifying of the second data.

13. A method of writing data to a memory array, comprising:

storing a first data in first sense amplifiers of a first memory bank of the memory array;

storing a second data in second sense amplifiers of a second memory bank of the memory array;

concurrently alternating programming and verifying the first data in the first memory bank and the second data in the second memory bank, wherein the first and second data are interleaved; and

caching the first data in a shared cache configured to cache the first data until commencement of the concurrently alternating programming and verifying the first data in the first memory bank and caching the second data until commencement of the concurrently alternating programming and verifying the second data in the second memory bank.

14. A method of writing data to a memory array, comprising:

storing a first data in first sense amplifiers of a first memory bank of the memory array;

storing a second data in second sense amplifiers of a second memory bank of the memory array;

concurrently alternating programming and verifying the first data in the first memory bank and the second data in the second memory bank, wherein the first and second data are interleaved;

caching in a first data cache configured to cache the first data until commencement of the concurrently alternating programming and verifying of the first data in the first memory bank; and

caching in a second data cache configured to cache the second data until commencement of the concurrently alternating programming and verifying of the second data in the second memory bank.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2011
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: ROUND ROCK RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 026445/0017 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2006
From: DOYLE, DANIEL H.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 018714/0512 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080151637A1 · Jun 26, 2008