Data programming

An apparatus, comprising:

• an array of memory cells;
• a page buffer configured to store a number of pages of data in respective caches of the page buffer;
• and
• a controller coupled to the page buffer and the array and configured to perform a programming operation to program the number of pages of data to a first group of cells in the array;
• wherein the programming operation comprises:
• programming the first group of cells to target states encoded with respective data patterns;
• responsive to completing programming of those cells of the first group being programmed to a particular one of the target states, releasing a first cache storing one of the number of pages of data;
• and
• responsive to completing programming of those cells of the first group being programmed to a next particular one of the target states, releasing a second cache storing another one of the number of pages of data;
• wherein, while the programming of those cells of the first group to the next particular one of the target states is occurring, loading, to the first cache, a first page of multiple pages of data to be programmed to a second group of cells in association with a subsequent programming operation.

A method, comprising:

• programming a number of pages of data stored in respective caches of a page buffer to a first group of cells in a memory array, wherein the first group of cells are programmed to target states encoded with respective data patterns;
• wherein programming the number of pages to the first group of cells comprises:
• responsive to completing programming of those cells of the first group being programmed to a particular first one of the target states, releasing a first cache storing a first page of the number of pages of data;
• responsive to completing programming of those cells of the first group being programmed to a particular second one of the target states, releasing a second cache storing a second page of the number of pages of data;
• wherein while the programming of those cells of the first group being programmed to the particular second one of the target states is occurring, loading, to the first cache, a first page of a different number of pages of data to be programmed to a second group of cells in association with programming the different number of pages.

A method, comprising:

• storing a first number of pages of data in respective caches of a page buffer;
• performing a first programming operation to program the number of pages of data to a first group of cells in a memory array;
• wherein, while performing the first programming operation:
• incrementally releasing the respective caches of the page buffer storing the first number of pages of data;
• and
• incrementally storing a second number of pages of data in respective released caches of the page buffer;
• and
• performing a second programming operation to program the second number of pages of data to a second group of cells in the memory array;
• wherein:
• the first programming operation comprises programming the first group of cells to target states encoded with respective data patterns;
• and
• the second programming operation comprises programming the second group of cells to target states encoded with the respective data patterns.