Memory refresh methods and apparatuses
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorGreg A. Blodgett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatuses and memory refresh methods are disclosed, such as those involving checking a portion of a memory device for errors in response to the memory device being powered on, and reprogramming corrected data to the memory device if errors are found in checking the portion of the nonvolatile memory for errors. Other apparatuses and memory refresh methods are disclosed.
Claims46
A method, comprising:
- checking a portion of non-volatile memory of a non-volatile memory device for errors in response to the memory device being powered on, wherein a different portion of the memory is checked for errors in response to each power on;
- checking additional portions of the memory for errors, during operation of the memory, after a predetermined number of pages of the memory have been read wherein the predetermined number of pages is a total number of pages accumulated over a plurality of power cycles;
- and
- reprogramming corrected data to the memory if errors are found.
An apparatus, comprising:
- an array of non-volatile memory cells;
- and
- a controller operable to check a portion of the memory cells for errors in response to at least a portion of the apparatus being powered on, and reprogram corrected data to the memory cells if errors are found, the controller being further operable to check additional portions of the memory cells for errors, during operation of the memory cells, responsive to a number of pages being read during the operation, and reprogram corrected data to the memory cells if errors are found in the additional portions, wherein the number of pages is a total number of pages accumulated over a plurality of power cycles and a different portion of the memory is checked for errors in response to each power on.
A controller operable to check a portion of a non-volatile memory for errors in response to the controller being powered on, and to refresh the portion of the memory in response to errors found in checking the portion for errors, the controller being further operable to check additional portions of the memory for errors, during operation of the memory cells, responsive to a number of pages being read during the operation, and refresh the additional portions in response to errors found in the additional portions, wherein the number of pages is a total number of pages accumulated over a plurality of power cycles and a different portion of the memory is checked in response to each power on.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a controller operable to check a portion of a non-volatile memory for errors in response to at least a portion of the apparatus being powered on, and refresh the portion of the memory in response to errors found in checking the portion of the memory for errors, the controller being further operable to check additional portions of the memory for errors, during operation of the memory cells, based on a number of memory pages being read during the operation, and refresh the additional portions of the memory in response to errors found in checking the additional portions, wherein the number of pages is a total number of pages accumulated over a plurality of power cycles and a different portion of the memory is checked in response to each power on.
A method, comprising:
- checking a portion of non-volatile memory of a non-volatile memory device for errors in response to the memory device being powered on, wherein a different portion of the memory is checked in response to each power on;
- checking additional portions of the memory for errors, during operation of the memory, after a predetermined number of pages of the memory have been read wherein the predetermined number of pages is a total number of pages accumulated over a plurality of power cycles;
- and
- when errors are found, refreshing the portions of memory comprising the errors.
A method comprising:
- responsive to powering on a non-volatile memory device, reading data of an identified block of memory of the memory device;
- checking additional portions of the memory for errors, during operation of the memory, after a predetermined number of pages of the memory have been read wherein the predetermined number of pages is a total number of pages accumulated over a plurality of power cycles, wherein different blocks of memory or different additional portions of the memory are checked in response to each power on;
- determining whether the read data of the identified block of memory or the additional portions of the memory includes a number of errors exceeding a threshold;
- and
- if the number of errors exceeds the threshold, marking the identified block or the additional portions of the memory for refresh.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.