Methods of operating a memory device include programming a page of a memory block of the memory device using a particular starting programming voltage, determining a programming voltage indicative of a programming efficiency of the page of the memory block during programming of the page of the memory block, storing a representation of the programming voltage indicative of the programming efficiency of the page of the memory block, setting a starting programming voltage for a different page of the memory block in response to the stored representation of the programming voltage indicative of the programming efficiency of the page of the memory block, and programming the different page of the memory block using its starting programming voltage.

The present invention provides circuits, systems, and methods for programming a floating gate. As described herein, a floating gate tunneling device is used with an analog comparison device in a circuit having a floating reference node and an offset-mitigating feedback loop for iteratively programming a floating gate or multiple floating gates.

A first data stored at a first portion of a memory cell and a second data stored at a second portion of the memory cell are identified. A first error rate associated with first data stored at the first portion of the memory cell is determined. The first error rate is adjusted to exceed a second error rate associated with the second data stored at the second portion of the memory cell. A determination is made as to whether the first error rate exceeds a threshold. The second data stored at the second portion of the memory cell is provided for use in an error correction operation in response to determining that the first error rate exceeds the threshold.

A memory controller includes an over-program controller that preprograms and then erases the memory cells such that each of the memory cells has a first threshold voltage level, wherein fast cells are detected among the memory cells according to a threshold voltage less than or equal to a second threshold voltage less than the first threshold voltage, and a processor that generates fast cell information identifying the fast cells among the memory cells and stores the fast cell information in a buffer. The over-program controller controls the over-programming of the fast cells and normal programming of normal cells among the memory cells based on the fast cell information stored in the buffer.

Methods of operating a memory device include programming a page of a memory block of the memory device using a particular starting programming voltage, determining a programming voltage indicative of a programming efficiency of the page of the memory block during programming of the page of the memory block, storing a representation of the programming voltage indicative of the programming efficiency of the page of the memory block, setting a starting programming voltage for a different page of the memory block in response to the stored representation of the programming voltage indicative of the programming efficiency of the page of the memory block, and programming the different page of the memory block using its starting programming voltage.

A first data stored at a first portion of a memory cell and a second data stored at a second portion of the memory cell are identified. A first error rate associated with first data stored at the first portion of the memory cell is determined. The first error rate is adjusted to exceed a second error rate associated with the second data stored at the second portion of the memory cell. A determination is made as to whether the first error rate exceeds a threshold. The second data stored at the second portion of the memory cell is provided for use in an error correction operation in response to determining that the first error rate exceeds the threshold.

A configuration setting manager of a memory device receives a request to perform an adjustment operation on a set of configuration setting values for the memory device, where each configuration setting value of the set of configuration setting values is stored in a corresponding configuration register of a set of configuration registers; determines a configuration adjustment definition associated with one or more configuration setting values of the set of configuration setting values; calculates an updated set of configuration setting values by applying a multiplier value to the configuration adjustment definition, wherein the multiplier value is associated with a number of programming operations performed on the memory device; and stores the updated set of configuration setting values in the corresponding configuration registers.

The present embodiments relate to methods for estimating bit error rates (BERs) associated with a flash memory. According to certain aspects, embodiments provide estimating the BER of multi-bit flash memories during the programming of the flash memory, and providing the estimated BER in a readable status register of the flash memory, thereby improving the speed of programming of the flash memory.

A memory device is provided. The memory device includes: memory cells respectively connected with word lines; first ground selection transistors connected with a first ground selection line programmed to have a first threshold voltage; second ground selection transistors connected with a second ground selection line programmed to have a second threshold voltage which differs from the first threshold voltage; and a control circuit configured to: control an erase operation to be performed on each of at least one first ground selection transistor of the first ground selection transistors based on a threshold voltage of each of the at least one first ground selection transistor being greater than a predetermined first criterion; and control a threshold voltage of each of the second ground selection transistors to be compared with a predetermined second criterion based on the erase operation on the at least one first ground selection transistor being completed.

An operating method of a non-volatile memory device including a plurality of memory cells respectively connected to a plurality of word lines is provided. The operating method includes applying an erase detect voltage to a selected word line of the plurality of word lines to perform an erase detect operation on memory cells connected to the selected word line in response to a program command, applying a program voltage to the selected word line after the erase detect operation, and counting a number of undererased cells of the memory cells on which the erase detect operation has been performed.