Highly compact non-volatile memory and method therefor with space-efficient data registers
AssigneeSanDisk Corporation
InventorRaul-Adrian Cernea
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A non-volatile memory device capable of reading and writing a large number of memory cells in parallel has an architecture that reduces redundancy in the multiple read/write circuits to a minimum. In one aspect, data latches associated with the multiple read/write circuits are I/O enabled and coupled in a compact manner for storage and serial transfer. They are implemented by one or more chain of link modules, which can selectively behave as inverters or latches. A method enables the use of a minimum number of link modules by cycling data between a set of master link modules and a substantially smaller set of slave link modules.
Claims38
A non-volatile memory device, comprising:
- an array of memory cells;
- a set of sense amplifiers for sensing a set of memory cells among said array in parallel;
- a set of data link modules coupled to said set of sense amplifiers for temporarily storing data associated with said set of memory cells;
- said set of data link modules being constituted from a first set of modules and a substantially smaller second set of modules;
- said first set of modules storing said associated data;
- and
- second set of modules storing a duplicated subset of said associated data;
- and
- a controller controlling individual data link modules of said set for serial data transfer therewith and data storage therein.
A non-volatile memory device, comprising:
- an array of memory cells;
- a set of sense amplifiers for sensing a set of memory cells among said array in parallel;
- a set of data link modules coupled to said set of sense amplifiers for temporarily storing data associated with said set of memory cells;
- said set of data link modules being constituted from a first set of modules and a substantially smaller second set of modules;
- said first set of modules storing said associated data;
- and
- second set of modules storing a duplicated subset of said associated data;
- and
- means for controlling individual data link modules of said set for serial data transfer therewith and data storage therein.
A method of storing N data items in a chain of link modules in a non-volatile memory device, comprising:
- (a) providing a chain including at least N link modules, wherein each module is controllable to behave either as an inverter or as a latch;
- (b) inputting said N data items serially to said chain from an opposite end to a first link module;
- (c) latching a first data item into said first master link module while controlling said first link module to behave as a latch and all intervening link modules to behave as inverters;
- (d) latching a next data item into a next link module while controlling said next link module to behave as a latch and all intervening link modules to behave as inverters;
- and
- (e) repeating step (d) until all N data items have been moduled in said chain.
A method of reading N data items stored in a chain of link modules in a non-volatile memory device, each link module being controllable to behave either as an inverter or a latch, said method comprising:
- (a) reading out from said chain beginning from said first link module a first data item stored in said first link module while controlling all link modules to behave as latches;
- (b) reading out a next data item stored in a next link module while controlling those link modules that have previously been readout to behave as inverters and those link modules that have not been readout to behave as latches;
- and
- (c) repeating step (b) until all N data items have been readout.
In a non-volatile memory device have a chain of link modules for storing N data items, said chain including (N+S) link modules, with N and S being integers and S larger than zero, and a first link module of the chain feeding back to a last link module, a method of reading said N data items, comprising:
- (a) reading out a first data item stored in said first link module;
- (b) cycling the N data by one link module along said chain so that a data item in the first link module is shifted to the (N+S)th link module and an ith link module is shifted to an (i−1)th link module in said chain;
- (c) reading out a next data item stored in said first link module;
- and
- (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until all N data items have been read out.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.