Multibank memory on a die
AssigneeMatrix Semiconductor, Inc.
InventorsLuca G. Fasoli, Roy E. Scheuerlein
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A nonvolatile multibank memory on a die with multiple read, write, and erase circuits, allowing more than one bank to be read, written, erased, or tested independently. Such a multibank memory arrangement is used advantageously in a monolithic three dimensional memory formed above a substrate, leaving unused substrate area available in which the additional circuitry and related cache memory can be formed.
Claims65
A method of writing to memory comprising:
- starting a first write operation to a first bank, the first write operation performed by a first write circuit;
- and
- while the first write operation is ongoing, starting a second write operation to a second bank, the second write operation performed by a second write circuit,
- wherein the first bank and the second bank comprise nonvolatile memory and are on a die, and wherein the first and second write circuits are on the die.
A method of erasing memory comprising:
- starting first operation first bank, the first erase operation performed by a first erase circuit;
- and
- while the first erase operation is ongoing, starting a second erase operation in a second bank, the second erase operation performed by a second erase circuit,
- wherein the first bank and the second bank comprise nonvolatile memory and are on a die, and wherein the first and second erase circuits are on the die.
A memory comprising:
- at least two banks of nonvolatile memory that form a contiguous address space, said banks on a die, and, on the die,
- at least two write circuits, or
- at least two erase circuits.
An electronic device, comprising:
- a memory comprising:
- at least two banks of nonvolatile memory that form a contiguous address space, said banks on a die, and, on the die,
- at least two write circuits, or
- at least two erase circuits.
A method using logic to redirect data, said method comprising:
- building a table of redirection pointers;
- redirecting a read, write, or erase operation from a destination bank to a hidden bank based on the table of redirection pointers,
- wherein the logic, the hidden bank, the table, and the destination bank are on a die,
- and wherein the destination bank comprises rewriteable nonvolatile memory.
A memory on a card adapted for insertion and removal from a host device, the memory comprising:
- at least two banks of nonvolatile memory on a die;
- at least two write circuits on the die or at least two erase circuits on the die;
- and
- logic on the die,
- wherein the logic translates a complex operation from a host into a combination of read, write, erase, or transfer operations on the die.
A memory comprising:
- at least two banks of nonvolatile memory on a die;
- and
- at least two write circuits on the die, wherein
- the banks comprise memory cells, said cells formed above a substrate.
A memory comprising:
- at least two banks of nonvolatile memory on a die;
- and
- at least two erase circuits on the die, wherein
- the banks comprise memory cells, said cells formed above a substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.