Device and method for transferring data to a non-volatile memory device

A memory system, comprising:

• a semiconductor device;
• and
• at least one non-volatile memory device;
• wherein the semiconductor device comprises:
• a virtual page buffer including a plurality of data elements;
• a mask buffer including a plurality of data elements, each of the data elements of the mask buffer corresponding to a respective one of the data elements of the virtual page buffer;
• control logic circuitry for (i) setting each of the data elements of the mask buffer to a first logic state upon receipt of a trigger;
• (ii) causing input data to be written to selected ones of the data elements of the virtual page buffer;
• and (iii) causing those data elements of the mask buffer corresponding to the selected ones of the data elements of the virtual page buffer to be set to a second logic state different from the first logic state;
• mask logic circuitry configured to provide masked output data by combining, for each of the data elements of the virtual page buffer, data read therefrom together with the logic state of the corresponding one of the data elements of the mask buffer;
• and
• an output interface configured to release the masked output data towards the at least one non-volatile memory device.

A method for transferring input data to a non-volatile memory device, comprising:

• maintaining a virtual page buffer including a plurality of data elements;
• maintaining a mask buffer including a plurality of data elements, each of the data elements of the mask buffer corresponding to a respective one of the data elements of the virtual page buffer;
• setting each of the data elements of the mask buffer to a first logic state upon receipt of a trigger;
• writing data to selected ones of the data elements of the virtual page buffer and setting those data elements of the mask buffer corresponding to the selected ones of the data elements of the virtual page buffer to a second logic state different from the first logic state;
• providing masked output data by combining, for each of the data elements of the virtual page buffer, data read therefrom together with the logic state of the corresponding one of the data elements of the mask buffer;
• and
• releasing the masked output data towards the non-volatile memory device.

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when processed, are used to provide a semiconductor device configured to:

• maintain a virtual page buffer including a plurality of data elements;
• maintain a mask buffer including a plurality of data elements, each of the data elements of the mask buffer corresponding to a respective one of the data elements of the virtual page buffer;
• set each of the data elements of the mask buffer to a first logic state upon receipt of a trigger;
• write data to selected ones of the data elements of the virtual page buffer and setting those data elements of the mask buffer corresponding to the selected ones of the data elements of the virtual page buffer to a second logic state different from the first logic state;
• provide masked output data by combining, for each of the data elements of the virtual page buffer, data read therefrom together with the logic state of the corresponding one of the data elements of the mask buffer;
• and
• release the masked output data towards the non-volatile memory device.