Non-volatile memory apparatus and empty page detection method thereof

A flash memory apparatus, comprising:

• a flash memory;
• and
• a controller, coupled to the flash memory, configured to perform an empty page detection method to determine whether a memory page of the flash memory is an empty page, wherein the empty page detection method comprises:
• reading, by the controller, a content of the memory page;
• performing, by the controller, a Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) decoding for at least one codeword of the read content of the memory page to obtain a decoded codeword and a check-result vector, wherein the check-result vector is calculated by multiplying the decoded codeword and a parity-check matrix through the performed LDPC decoding;
• determining, by the controller, whether the LDPC decoding for the at least one codeword is successful or unsuccessful according to the check-result vector, wherein
• when the obtained check-result vector is a zero vector, determining that the LDPC decoding for the at least one codeword is successful, and then further determining that the memory page corresponding to the at least one codeword is not an empty page, and
• when the obtained check-result vector is not the zero vector, determining that the LDPC decoding for the at least one codeword is unsuccessful, and then further determining whether the memory page corresponding to the at least one codeword is an empty page or not by one of two procedures, wherein the two procedures comprises:
• counting a first amount of bits with a value of 1 in the check-result vector, and determining that the memory page is an empty page when the first amount is larger than a first preset threshold, otherwise determining that the memory page is not an empty page, and
• counting a second amount of bits with a value of 0 in the check-result vector, and determining that the memory page is an empty page when the second amount is smaller than a second preset threshold, otherwise determining that the memory page is not an empty page.