Patent classifications
G11C2029/1806
Modifiable repair solutions for a memory array
Methods, systems, and devices for modifiable repair solutions for a memory array are described to support storing repair information for a memory array within the memory array itself. A memory device may include the memory array and an on-die microprocessor, where the microprocessor may retrieve the repair information from the memory array and write the repair information to repair circuitry used for identifying defective memory addresses. The microprocessor may support techniques for identifying additional defects and updating the repair information during operation of the memory array. For example, the microprocessor may identify additional defects based on errors associated with one or more memory cells of the memory array or based on testing performed on one or more memory cells of the memory array. In some cases, a host device may identify additional defects and may notify the microprocessor of the additional defects.
Semiconductor Apparatus and Identification Method of a Semiconductor Chip
A semiconductor apparatus including a semiconductor chip is disclosed. The semiconductor chip includes a modular region and a test circuit. The modular region includes a plurality of modular areas each including a memory cell array with redundant bit lines and a peripheral memory area storing at least redundant addresses. The test circuit retrieves the redundant addresses intrinsic to the semiconductor chip. The distribution of the redundant addresses are randomly formed related to a part or a whole of the modular area of the modular region. The test circuit outputs a random number generated from physical properties intrinsic to the semiconductor chip according to a specification code received from a physical-chip-identification measuring device.
BIT RETIRING TO MITIGATE BIT ERRORS
Methods, systems, and devices for bit retiring to mitigate bit errors are described. A memory device may retrieve a set of bits from a first row of an address space and may determine that the set of bits includes one or more errors. The memory device may remap at least a portion of the first row from a first row index to a second row index, where the second row index, before the remapping, corresponds to a second row within the address space addressable by the host device. Additionally or alternatively, the memory device may receive a first command to access a first logical address of a memory array that is associated with a first row index. The memory device may determine that the first row includes one or more errors and may transmit a signal indicating that the first row includes the one or more errors.
MODIFIABLE REPAIR SOLUTIONS FOR A MEMORY ARRAY
Methods, systems, and devices for modifiable repair solutions for a memory array are described to support storing repair information for a memory array within the memory array itself. A memory device may include the memory array and an on-die microprocessor, where the microprocessor may retrieve the repair information from the memory array and write the repair information to repair circuitry used for identifying defective memory addresses. The microprocessor may support techniques for identifying additional defects and updating the repair information during operation of the memory array. For example, the microprocessor may identify additional defects based on errors associated with one or more memory cells of the memory array or based on testing performed on one or more memory cells of the memory array. In some cases, a host device may identify additional defects and may notify the microprocessor of the additional defects.
MEMORY DEVICE VIRTUAL BLOCKS USING HALF GOOD BLOCKS
Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, devices, memory devices, and machine-readable mediums for using a non-defective portion of a block of memory on which there is a defect on a different portion. Rather than disable the entire block, the system may disable only a portion of the block (e.g., a first deck of the block) and salvage a different portion of the block (e.g., a second deck of the block).
MEMORY WITH FUSE PINS SHARED BY MULTIPLE-TYPE REPAIRS
A self-repair memory circuit includes a cell array, a controller, a row repair decoder, and a column repair decoder. The cell array includes rows and columns of memory cells. The controller receives an input indicating row repair or column repair, and a repair address shared by the row repair and the column repair of the cell array. The row repair decoder maps the repair address of a defective row to a redundant row of the cell array when the input indicates the row repair. The column repair decoder maps the repair address of a defective column to another column of the cell array when the input indicates the column repair.
Error remapping
Many error correction schemes fail to correct for double-bit errors and a module must be replaced when these double-bit errors occur repeatedly at the same address. This helps prevent data corruption. In an embodiment, the addresses for one of the memory devices exhibiting a single-bit error (but not the other also exhibiting a single bit error) is transformed before the internal memory arrays are accessed. This has the effect of moving one of the error prone memory cells to a different external (to the module) address such that there is only one error prone bit that is accessed by the previously double-bit error prone address. Thus, a double-bit error at the original address is remapped into two correctable single-bit errors that are at different addresses.
On-the-fly programming and verifying method for memory cells based on counters and ECC feedback
The present invention relates to a method of operating memory cells, comprising reading a previous user data from the memory cells; writing a new user data and merging the new user data with the previous user data into write registers; generating mask register information, and wherein the mask register information indicates bits of the previous user data stored in the memory cells to be switched or not to be switched in their logic values; counting numbers of a first logic value and a second logic value to be written using the mask register information, respectively; storing the numbers of the first logic value and the second logic value into a first counter and a second counter, respectively; and applying a programming pulse to the memory cells according to the mask register information.
Memory device virtual blocks using half good blocks
Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, devices, memory devices, and machine-readable mediums for using a non-defective portion of a block of memory on which there is a defect on a different portion. Rather than disable the entire block, the system may disable only a portion of the block (e.g., a first deck of the block) and salvage a different portion of the block (e.g., a second deck of the block).
MEMORY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NONVOLATILE MEMORY
According to one embodiment, a memory system manages a plurality of parallel units each including blocks belonging to different nonvolatile memory dies. When receiving from a host a write request designating a third address to identify first data to be written, the memory system selects one block from undefective blocks included in one parallel unit as a write destination block by referring to defect information, determines a write destination location in the selected block, and writes the first data to the write destination location. The memory system notifies the host of a first physical address indicative of both of the selected block and the write destination location, and the third address.