Extending the stop fine mode for improving performance and power by reducing verify and scan operations

A controller in communication with a memory apparatus including memory cells each connected to one of a plurality of word lines and configured to retain a threshold voltage corresponding to one of a plurality of data states, the plurality of data states including a highest data state in which the threshold voltage of the memory cells associated therewith is higher than for others of the plurality of data states, the controller configured to:

• instruct the memory apparatus to apply each of a series of programming pulses of a program voltage followed by verification pulses of a plurality of program verify voltages each associated with one of the plurality of data states to selected ones of the plurality of word lines to program and verify the memory cells connected thereto during each of a plurality of program loops of a program operation;
• and
• instruct the memory apparatus to skip verification of the memory cells targeted for at least one of the others of the plurality of data states in at least one of the plurality of program loops.

A method of operating a memory apparatus including memory cells each connected to one of a plurality of word lines and configured to retain a threshold voltage corresponding to one of a plurality of data states, the plurality of data states including a highest data state in which the threshold voltage of the memory cells associated therewith is higher than for others of the plurality of data states, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying each of a series of programming pulses of a program voltage followed by verification pulses of a plurality of program verify voltages each associated with one of the plurality of data states to selected ones of the plurality of word lines to program and verify the memory cells connected thereto during each of a plurality of program loops of a program operation;
• and
• skipping verification of the memory cells targeted for at least one of the others of the plurality of data states in at least one of the plurality of program loops.