# US 11,443,828 B1 · Read threshold adjustment techniques for memory > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,443,828 B1 - Document ID: US11443828B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/240,938 - Filed: 2021-04-26 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-26 - Assignees: Micron Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Micron Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Robert B. Eisenhuth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11443828B1 ## CPC - G11C 29/42: using error correcting codes [ECC] or parity check - G11C 29/20: using counters or linear-feedback shift registers [LFSR] - G11C 29/44: Indication or identification of errors, e.g. for repair - G11C 29/50004: {of threshold voltage} - G11C: STATIC STORES (semiconductor memory devices H10B) ## Abstract Methods, systems, and devices for read threshold adjustment techniques for memory are described. A memory device may read a codeword from a memory array of the memory device using a read threshold having a first value. The memory device may increment one or more counters of the memory device based on reading the codeword. The counter may indicate a quantity of bits of the codeword that correspond to a first logic value. The memory device may detect an error, such as an uncorrectable error, in the codeword based on reading the codeword. The memory device may adjust the read threshold from the first value to the second value based on the quantity of bits indicated by the counter. The memory device may read the codeword using the read threshold having the second value. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a memory device; and a controller coupled with the memory device and configured to cause the apparatus to: read a codeword from a memory array of the memory device using a read threshold having a first value; increment a counter based at least in part on reading the codeword, the counter indicating a quantity of bits of the codeword that correspond to a first logic value; detect an error in the codeword after reading the codeword; adjust the read threshold from the first value to a second value based at least in part on the quantity of bits indicated by the counter; and read the codeword from the memory array using the read threshold having the second value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the apparatus to: compare the quantity of bits of the codeword that correspond to the first logic value to a second quantity of bits of the codeword that correspond to a second logic value, wherein adjusting the read threshold from the first value to the second value is based at least in part on the comparison. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the apparatus to: select a direction of adjustment, a magnitude of adjustment, or both associated with adjusting the read threshold based at least in part on the comparison. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the apparatus to: adjust the read threshold from the first value to the second value in accordance with the selected direction of adjustment, the magnitude of adjustment, or both. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the apparatus to: determine that the quantity of bits of the codeword that correspond to the first logic value satisfies a threshold based at least in part on the comparison; and select a direction of adjustment, a magnitude of adjustment, or both associated with adjusting the read threshold based at least in part on the quantity of bits satisfying the threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the apparatus to: adjust the read threshold by a magnitude, a direction, or both corresponding to the quantity of bits indicated by the counter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the apparatus to: determine that the error is an uncorrectable error for an error correction code scheme, wherein detecting the error is based at least in part on the error correction code scheme, and wherein adjusting the read threshold is based at least in part on the error being uncorrectable for the error correction code scheme. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the read threshold comprises a voltage threshold, a current threshold, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the apparatus to: detect a second error in the codeword based at least in part on reading the codeword using the read threshold having the second value; and adjust the read threshold from the second value to a third value based at least in part on the detected second error. ### Claim 10 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to: read a codeword from a memory array using a read threshold having a first value; increment a counter based at least in part on reading the codeword, the counter indicating a quantity of bits of the codeword that correspond to a first logic value; detect an error in the codeword after reading the codeword; adjust the read threshold from the first value to a second value based at least in part on the quantity of bits indicated by the counter; and read the codeword from the memory array using the read threshold having the second value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor of the electronic device, further cause the electronic device to: compare the quantity of bits of the codeword that correspond to the first logic value to a second quantity of bits of the codeword that correspond to a second logic value, wherein adjusting the read threshold from the first value to the second value is based at least in part on the comparison. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor of the electronic device, further cause the electronic device to: select a direction of adjustment, a magnitude of adjustment, or both associated with adjusting the read threshold based at least in part on the comparison; and adjust the read threshold from the first value to the second value in accordance with the selected direction of adjustment, the magnitude of adjustment, or both. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor of the electronic device, further cause the electronic device to: determine that the quantity of bits of the codeword that correspond to the first logic value satisfies a threshold based at least in part on the comparison; and select a direction of adjustment, a magnitude of adjustment, or both associated with adjusting the read threshold based at least in part on the quantity of bits satisfying the threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor of the electronic device, further cause the electronic device to: determine that the error is an uncorrectable error for an error correction code scheme, wherein detecting the error is based at least in part on the error correction code scheme, and wherein adjusting the read threshold is based at least in part on the error being uncorrectable for the error correction code scheme. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the read threshold comprises a voltage threshold, a current threshold, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor of the electronic device, further cause the electronic device to: detect a second error in the codeword based at least in part on reading the codeword using the read threshold having the second value; and adjust the read threshold from the second value to a third value based at least in part on the detected second error. ### Claim 17 A method performed by a memory device, the method comprising: reading a codeword from a memory array of the memory device using a read threshold having a first value; incrementing a counter of the memory device based at least in part on reading the codeword, the counter indicating a quantity of bits of the codeword that correspond to a first logic value; detecting an error in the codeword after reading the codeword; adjusting the read threshold from the first value to a second value based at least in part on the quantity of bits indicated by the counter; and reading the codeword from the memory array using the read threshold having the second value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: comparing the quantity of bits of the codeword that correspond to the first logic value to a second quantity of bits of the codeword that correspond to a second logic value, wherein adjusting the read threshold from the first value to the second value is based at least in part on the comparison. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: selecting a direction of adjustment, a magnitude of adjustment, or both associated with adjusting the read threshold based at least in part on the comparison. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising: adjusting the read threshold from the first value to the second value in accordance with the selected direction of adjustment, the magnitude of adjustment, or both. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: determining that the quantity of bits of the codeword that correspond to the first logic value satisfies a threshold based at least in part on the comparison; and selecting a direction of adjustment, a magnitude of adjustment, or both associated with adjusting the read threshold based at least in part on the quantity of bits satisfying the threshold. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the read threshold comprises: adjusting the read threshold by a magnitude, a direction, or both corresponding to the quantity of bits indicated by the counter. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: determining that the error is an uncorrectable error for an error correction code scheme, wherein detecting the error is based at least in part on the error correction code scheme, and wherein adjusting the read threshold is based at least in part on the error being uncorrectable for the error correction code scheme. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the read threshold comprises a voltage threshold, a current threshold, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: detecting a second error in the codeword based at least in part on reading the codeword using the read threshold having the second value; and adjusting the read threshold from the second value to a third value based at least in part on the detected second error.