Data protection in NAND memory using internal firmware to perform self-verification

A NAND flash memory device comprising:

• a memory array comprising a plurality of pages, each of the plurality of pages comprising a plurality of memory cells corresponding to a word line;
• and
• a peripheral circuit coupled to the plurality of pages via the word line and configured to:
• program a selected page of the NAND flash memory device according to programming data, wherein the programing of the selected page comprises:
• a plurality of programming operations using a plurality of programming voltages;
• and
• a plurality of verifying operations, wherein ones of the plurality of verifying operations are performed after corresponding ones of the plurality of programming operations to determine whether programmed memory cells of the selected page have threshold voltage levels according to the programming data;
• determine a completion of the programming of the selected page based on each of the plurality of verifying operations returning a pass result;
• and
• perform, after the determining, a read operation on the selected page by the NAND flash memory device to self-verify data stored at the selected page according to the programming data.

A memory system comprising:

• a NAND flash memory device configured to store data, the NAND flash memory device comprising:
• a memory array comprising a plurality of pages, each of the plurality of pages comprising a plurality of memory cells corresponding to a word line;
• and
• a peripheral circuit coupled to the plurality of pages via the word line and configured to:
• program a selected page of the NAND flash memory device according to programming data, wherein the programing of the selected page comprises:
• a plurality of programming operations using a plurality of programming voltages;
• and
• a plurality of verifying operations, wherein ones of the plurality of verifying operations are performed after corresponding ones of the plurality of programming operations to determine whether programmed memory cells of the selected page have threshold voltage levels according to the programming data;
• determine a completion of the programming of the selected page based on each of the plurality of verifying operations returning a pass result;
• and
• perform, after the determining, a read operation on the selected page by the NAND flash memory device to self-verify data stored at the selected page according to the programming data;
• and
• a memory controller coupled to the NAND flash memory device and configured to control the NAND flash memory device.