System and method for refreshing data in a memory device
AssigneeSanDisk Technologies LLC
InventorsJianmin Huang, Bo Lei, Jun Wan, Niles Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided that refresh data in a memory. Data is programmed into the memory. After which, part or all of the data may be refreshed. The refresh of the data may be different from the initial programming of the data in one or more respects. For example, the refresh of the data may include fewer steps than the programming of the data and may be performed without erasing a section of memory. Further, the refresh of the data may be triggered in one of several ways. For example, after programming the data, the data may be analyzed for errors. Based on the number of errors found, the data may be refreshed.
Claims24
A memory device comprising:
- a non-volatile memory;
- and
- processor circuitry in communication with the non-volatile memory, the processor circuitry including:
- an erase module configured to erase a section in the non-volatile memory;
- a program module configured to program data into the section of memory only after the section of memory has been erased by the erase module;
- and
- a refresh module configured to refresh part or all of the data in the section of memory without the section of memory having been erased by the erase module.
A memory device comprising:
- memory controller circuitry including:
- an error correction module configured to determine errors in data read from one or more memory chips;
- and
- a refresh trigger module configured to determine, based on the errors, whether to command a refresh of part or all of the data;
- and
- the one or more memory chips in communication with the memory controller circuitry, the one or more memory chips each including:
- a memory array;
- a refresh module configured to, responsive to a refresh command, refresh part or all of the data in the memory array;
- and
- a program verify module configured to verify the refresh of the part or all of the data in the memory array.
A method comprising:
- performing in a memory device:
- programming data into a section of memory in the memory device using a first programming scheme;
- determining one or more errors in the data in the section of the memory;
- determining, based on the one or more errors, whether to refresh part or all of the data;
- and
- in response to determining to refresh the part or all of the data, programming the part or all of the data into the section of the memory using a second programming scheme, the second programming scheme being different from and having fewer steps than the first programming scheme.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.