US 2021/0240358 A1 · Storage System and Method for Boundary Wordline Data Retention Handling

Abstract

A storage system and method for boundary wordline data retention handling are provided. In one embodiment, the storage system includes a memory having a single-level cell (SLC) block and a multi-level cell (MLC) block. The system determines if the boundary wordline in the MLC block has a data retention problem (e.g., by determining how long it has been since the boundary wordline was programmed). To address the data retention problem, the storage system can copy data from a wordline in the SLC block that corresponds to the boundary wordline in the MLC block to a wordline in another SLC block prior to de-committing the data in the SLC block. Alternatively, the storage system can reprogram the data in the boundary wordline using a double fine programing technique.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A storage system, comprising:

a memory comprising a first single-level cell (SLC) memory area, a second SLC memory area, and a multi-level cell (MLC) memory area;
and
a controller configured to communicate with the memory and further configured to:
write data to both the first SLC memory area and the MLC memory area;
determine whether an amount of time that has passed since a last-written wordline in the MLC memory area was written is longer than a threshold amount of time;
and
in response to determining that the amount of time is longer than the threshold amount of time:
copy data from a wordline in the first SLC memory area that corresponds to the last-written wordline in the MLC memory area to a wordline in the second SLC memory area;
and
update a mapping table to reflect the copy.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Storage System and Method for Boundary Wordline Data Retention Handling

Life of this patent

Storage System and Method for Boundary Wordline Data Retention Handling

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20