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US 10,540,274 B2Granted
Memory devices including dynamic superblocks, and related methods and electronic systems
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorZoltan Szubbocsev
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A memory device includes a memory array having non-volatile memory cells, and a memory controller configured to dynamically construct a superblock during each garbage collection process based, at least in part, on an amount of valid data present in each physical block of the memory array. Another memory device includes physical blocks of memory cells and a memory controller configured to construct a new superblock dynamically each time garbage collection occurs for the physical blocks regardless of whether any physical blocks are determined to be bad. Additional methods for managing operation of a memory device and related electronic systems are also described.
Claims21
A memory device, comprising:
- a memory array comprising a number of dies;
- and
- a memory controller operably coupled to the memory array, the memory controller configured to:
- determine an amount of valid data in each of:
- first physical blocks of a first die of the number of dies;
- second physical blocks of a second die of the number of dies;
- third physical blocks of a third die of the number of dies;
- and
- fourth physical blocks of a fourth die of the number of dies, the first and second dies managed by a first channel of the memory controller and the third die and fourth die managed by a second channel of the memory controller, a channel comprising a hardware unit that enables the memory controller to communicate with a set of dies at the same time;
- and
- dynamically construct a superblock for at least one garbage collection process by selecting at least two physical blocks from the first channel that have a lowest amount of valid data and a second lowest amount of data relative to other physical blocks of the first channel and selecting at least two physical blocks from the second channel that have a lowest amount of valid data and a second lowest amount of valid data relative to other physical blocks of the second channel, the superblock dynamically constructed in a manner that is different than a manner with which superblocks are constructed for reading and writing data, and based, at least in part, on an amount of valid data present in each physical block of the memory array and not a determination of bad physical blocks when constructing the superblock for the at least one garbage collection process.
8 more elements
A memory device, comprising:
- physical blocks of memory cells;
- and
- a memory controller configured to dynamically construct a new superblock each time garbage collection occurs for the physical blocks regardless of whether any physical blocks are determined to be bad and different than construction of superblocks used during reading and writing, the new superblock dynamically constructed using at least two physical blocks from a die of a number of dies managed by the memory controller via a channel, and at least two additional physical blocks from another die of an additional number of dies managed by the memory controller via another channel, wherein a channel comprises a hardware unit that enables the memory controller to communicate with a set of dies at the same time.
A method for managing operation of a memory device, the method comprising:
- initiating a garbage collection process for a memory array divided into physical blocks of data;
- determining an amount of valid data for the physical blocks of data;
- and
- constructing a dynamic superblock via linking at least one physical block of each of a first die and a second die for a first channel with at least one physical block of each of a third die and a fourth die for a second channel, a channel comprising a hardware unit that enables a memory controller to communicate with a set of dies at the same time, the dynamic superblock constructed different than construction of superblocks used during reading and writing and based, at least in part, on the amount of valid data for the physical blocks of data for the memory array at a time of constructing the dynamic superblock for the garbage collection process and not responsive to a determination of physical blocks to be bad.
1 more element
An electronic system, comprising:
- a memory device including dies having physical blocks, the memory device configured to link a first set of at least two physical blocks from at least two different dies managed via a first channel and a second set of at least three physical blocks from at least two different dies managed via a second channel to dynamically construct a superblock responsive to a garbage collection process in a manner that is different than construction of superblocks used for reading and writing data before and after the second garbage collection process, a channel comprising a hardware unit that enables the memory device to communicate with a set of dies at the same time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.