Intel Corporation

Hanmant Pramod Belgal

Xin Guo

Kiran Pangal

Yogesh B Wakchaure

Ning Wu

Qingru Meng

Prashant S Damle

Robert Frickey

Paul D Ruby

Davide Mantegazza

Abhinav Pandey

Feng Q Pan

Mase J Taub

Andrew W Vogan

Neal R Mielke

Bruce Querbach

Sanjay Rangan

Scott Nelson

Sai Krishna Mylavarapu

Christopher Connor

Dany-Sebastien Ly-Gagnon

Sebastian T Uribe

Arjun Kripanidhi

Ivan Kalastirsky

Svanhild M Salmons

In one embodiment, a non-volatile memory is controlled in a selectable read mode in response to commands from a processor. Selectable read modes may include a default read memory mode, for example, and a performance read memory mode having a shorter read pulse and a reduced read latency than the default read memory mode, for example. In one embodiment, the performance read memory mode may also have refresh operations at an increased frequency compared to that of the default read mode. Other aspects and advantages are described.

Selective performance level modes of operation in a non-volatile memory

A disclosed example to reduce a threshold voltage drift of a selector device of a memory cell includes providing an applied voltage to the selector device of the memory cell, the applied voltage being less than a threshold voltage of the selector device, and reducing the threshold voltage drift of the memory cell by maintaining the applied voltage at the selector device for a thresholding duration to activate the selector device.

Methods and apparatus to reduce threshold voltage drift

According to one configuration, a memory system includes a configuration manager and multiple memory devices. The configuration manager includes status detection logic, retrieval logic, and configuration management logic. The status detection logic receives notification of a failed attempt by a first memory device to be initialized with custom configuration settings stored in the first memory device. In response to the notification, the retrieval logic retrieves a backup copy of configuration settings information from a second memory device in the memory system. The configuration management logic utilizes the backup copy of the configuration settings information retrieved from the second memory device to initialize the first memory device.

Configuration information backup in memory systems

An apparatus is provided which comprises: a plurality of memory cells; a bias logic coupled with at least one memory cell of the plurality, the bias logic to: apply a first read voltage to the at least one memory cell; and apply a second read voltage to the at least one memory cell, the first read voltage being higher than the second read voltage; and a first circuit operable to float a word-line coupled to the at least one memory cell before the bias logic applies the first read voltage to the at least one memory cell. A method is provided which comprises: performing a first read operation to at least one memory cell; and performing a second read operation to the at least one memory cell after the first read operation completes, wherein the second read operation is different from the first read operation.

Apparatus and method for drift cancellation in a memory

A flash memory device may include two or more flash memory cells organized as a NAND string in a block of flash memory cells, and flash cells, coupled to the NAND string at opposite ends, to function as select gates. The flash memory device may be capable of providing information related to a voltage threshold of the select gates to a flash controller, erasing the flash cells that function as select gates in response to a select gate erase command, and programming the flash cells that function as select gates in response to a select gate program command. A flash controller may be coupled to the flash memory device, and is capable of sending the select gate erase commend to the flash memory device if the information provided by the flash memory device indicates that the voltage threshold of at least one of the select gates is above a predetermined voltage level, and sending the select gate program command to the flash memory device if the information provided by the flash memory device indicates that the voltage threshold of at least one of the select gates is outside of a predetermined voltage range.

Extended select gate lifetime

Embodiments including systems, methods, and apparatuses associated with expanding a threshold voltage window of memory cells are described herein. Specifically, in some embodiments memory cells may be configured to store data by being set to a set state or a reset state. In some embodiments, a dummy-read process may be performed on memory cells in the set state prior to a read process. In some embodiments, a modified reset algorithm may be performed on memory cells in the reset state. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.

Threshold voltage expansion

Described are an apparatus, system, and method for improving read endurance for a non-volatile memory (NVM). The method comprises: determining a read count corresponding to a block of NVM; identifying whether the block of NVM is a partially programmed block (PPB); comparing the read count with a first threshold when it is identified that the block is a PPB; and when identified otherwise, comparing the read count with a second threshold, wherein the first threshold is smaller than the second threshold. The method further comprises: identifying a block that is a PPB; determining a first word line corresponding to un-programmed page of the PPB; and sending the first word line to the NVM, wherein the NVM to apply: a first read voltage level to word lines corresponding to the un-programmed pages of the PPB, and a second read voltage level to word lines corresponding to programmed pages of the PPB.

Apparatus, system, and method for improving read endurance for a non-volatile memory

A memory device may include two or more memory cells in an integrated circuit, at least one flash cell acting as a select gate coupled to the two or more memory cells, and an interface to accept a select gate erase command and a select gate program command during normal operation of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may be capable to perform operations to erase the at least one select gate in response to the select gate erase command, and program the at least one select gate in response to the select gate program command.

Described herein are an apparatus, system, and method for refreshing a non-volatile memory. The method comprises loading a time stamp, corresponding to data in a data location of a non-volatile memory, to a register; determining an elapsed time, corresponding to the data in the data location, according to the loaded time stamp; and refreshing data of the data location for which it is determined that the elapsed time exceeds a refresh time associated with the non-volatile memory.

Apparatus, system, and method for refreshing non-volatile memory

Embodiments of the invention describe a dynamic read reference voltage for use in reading data from non-volatile memory cells. In embodiments of the invention, the read reference voltage is calibrated as the non-volatile memory device is used. Embodiments of the invention may comprise of logic and or modules to read data from a plurality of non-volatile memory cells using a first read reference voltage level (e.g., an initial read reference voltage level whose value is determined by the non-volatile device manufacturer). An Error Checking and Correction (ECC) algorithm is performed to identify whether errors exist in the data as read using the first read reference voltage level. If errors in the data as read are identified, a pre-determined value is retrieved to adjust the first read reference voltage level to a second read reference voltage level.

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El Dorado Hills, CA, United States of America

Hanmant Pramod Belgal