Self-diagnostic smart verify algorithm in user mode to prevent unreliable acquired smart verify program voltage

A controller in communication with a memory apparatus including memory cells connected to one of a plurality of word lines and disposed in memory holes and configured to retain a threshold voltage corresponding to one of a plurality of data states, the memory holes organized in rows grouped in a plurality of strings, the controller configured to:

• instruct the memory apparatus to program the memory cells connected to one of the plurality of word lines and associated with a first one of the plurality of strings in a program operation and acquire a smart verify programming voltage in a smart verify operation including a plurality of smart verify loops;
• and
• instruct the memory apparatus to discard the smart verify programming voltage and determine another smart verify programming voltage in another smart verify operation on the memory cells associated with a second one of the plurality of strings in response to a quantity of the plurality of smart verify loops needed to complete programming of the memory cells associated with the first one of the plurality of strings being outside a predetermined threshold criteria.

A method of operating a memory apparatus including memory cells connected to one of a plurality of word lines and disposed in memory holes and configured to retain a threshold voltage corresponding to one of a plurality of data states, the memory holes organized in rows grouped in a plurality of strings, the method comprising the steps of:

• programming the memory cells connected to one of the plurality of word lines and associated with a first one of the plurality of strings in a program operation and acquiring a smart verify programming voltage in a smart verify operation including a plurality of smart verify loops;
• and
• discarding the smart verify programming voltage and determining another smart verify programming voltage in another smart verify operation on the memory cells associated with a second one of the plurality of strings in response to a quantity of the plurality of smart verify loops needed to complete programming of the memory cells associated with the first one of the plurality of strings being outside a predetermined threshold criteria.