US 2014/0181382 A1 · User Selectable Balance Between Density and Reliability

Abstract

A method for enabling users to select a configuration balance for a memory device is described. The method includes receiving an indication of a memory configuration for a mass memory including two or more of memory cells. One or more memory cells of the mass memory are selected based at least in part on 1) the indication, 2) a current configuration for each of the one or more memory cells and 3) a program-erase count for each of the one or more memory cells. The method also includes determining a new configuration for each of the selected one or more memory cells. For each of the selected one or more memory cells, the configuration of the memory cell is changed from the current configuration to the determined new configuration. Apparatus and computer readable media are also disclosed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

receiving, during operation of a mass memory, an indication of a memory configuration for the mass memory comprising a plurality of memory cells,
where the indication comprises a selection between density and reliability for the mass memory and
where the mass memory comprises management software configured to operate the mass memory in accordance with dynamic operation parameters;
and
adjusting the dynamic operation parameters based on the indication.

2 more elements

An apparatus, comprising at least one processor;

and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
to receive, during operation of a mass memory, an indication of a memory configuration for the mass memory comprising a plurality of memory cells,
where the indication comprises a selection between density and reliability for the mass memory and
where the mass memory comprises management software configured to operate the mass memory in accordance with dynamic operation parameters;
and
to adjust the dynamic operation parameters based on the indication.

3 more elements

A computer readable medium tangibly encoded with a computer program executable by a processor to perform actions comprising:

receiving, during operation of a mass memory, an indication of a memory configuration for the mass memory comprising a plurality of memory cells,
where the indication comprises a selection between density and reliability for the mass memory and
where the mass memory comprises management software configured to operate the mass memory in accordance with dynamic operation parameters;
and
adjusting the dynamic operation parameters based on the indication.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/194,427Filed 28 Feb 2014

Priority

18 Jul 2011

Published

26 Jun 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G11C 16/107
Programming or data input circuits: programming all cells in an array, sector or block to the same state prior to flash erasing
G06F 11/008
Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring: reliability or availability analysis
G06F 12/0246
Memory management in non-volatile memory, e.g. resistive RAM or ferroelectric memory: in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
G11C 16/3495
Arrangements for evaluating degradation, retention or wearout, e.g. by counting erase cycles: circuits or methods to detect or delay wearout of…

User Selectable Balance Between Density and Reliability

Life of this patent

User Selectable Balance Between Density and Reliability

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20