Hynix Semiconductor Inc.

Skhynix Inc.

Jong Hyun Wang

Se Chun Park

Seong Hun Park

Chae Kyu Jang

Chang Won Yang

Duck Ju Kim

Seok Jin Joo

Jun Seop Chung

Yu Jin Noh

Sang Don Lee

Joong Seob Yang

Suk Yun

A method of 4-bit MLC programming a nonvolatile memory device includes inputting an mprogram operation command and sequentially executing first to fourth logical page program operations according to first to fourth logical page program start voltages, each stored in first to fourth logical page program start voltage storage units, wherein a program voltage, which is applied at a time point at which a memory cell programmed higher than a lowest verify voltage while a program operation of each logical page is performed occurs for a first time, is updated to each logical page program start voltage.

Nonvolatile memory device and method of programming the same

A down-converting voltage generating circuit includes a reference voltage providing unit, an initial setting unit, a driving unit, and a driving force control unit. The reference voltage providing unit provides a reference voltage to a first node. The initial setting unit drops a voltage level of the first node to substantially a level of a ground voltage when an initial setting signal is activated. The driving unit drives a down-converted voltage derived from an external voltage in response to the voltage level of the first node. The driving force control unit is connected to the driving unit, and controls a driving force for driving the down-converted voltage of the driving unit in response to the initial setting signal.

Down-converting voltage generating circuit

Methods for performing a fail test, block management, erase operations and program operations are used in a nonvolatile memory device having a block switch devoid of a fuse and a PMOS transistor. A method for performing a fail test in a nonvolatile memory device includes performing a fail test for a memory cell block; storing good block information in a block information store associated with the corresponding block when the memory cell block is a good block; and repeating the performing and storing steps for all memory cell blocks.

Methods for performing fail test, block management, erasing and programming in a nonvolatile memory device

Multi-level cell programming methods are provided. A method includes providing a page buffer including first and second registers connected to first and second memory cell blocks, respectively. A least significant bit (LSB) program of each memory cell is completed. Most significant bit (MSB) data is set in a first node of the first register. An MSB program is performed. When the MSB program is performed at a first verify voltage, first data at a first voltage level is set in the first node. When the MSB program is performed at a second verify voltage, second data at a second voltage level, opposite to the first voltage level, is set in the first node. When the MSB program is performed at a third verify voltage, the first data is set in the first node. The MSB program is repeated according to the first node data.

Page buffer of non-volatile memory device and programming method of non-volatile memory device

According to an aspect of a method of programming a nonvolatile memory device, a first program operation command is input, and a program operation is executed according to a program start voltage stored in a program start voltage storage unit. Here, a program voltage, which is applied at a time point at which a memory cell programmed higher than a verify voltage while the program operation is performed occurs for the first time, is updated to a program start voltage.

Method of programming nonvolatile memory device

A non-volatile memory device comprises a voltage supplier comprising memory cells in which the voltage supplier supplies a positive set voltage to a bulk of a memory cell array at the time of a read operation of the memory cells and a controller for controlling the voltage supplier to set and supply a bulk voltage depending on a number of erase/program cycles of the memory cell array.

Non-volatile memory device and method of controlling a bulk voltage thereof

A method of programming nonvolatile memory devices. A program operation is performed by applying a dummy program pulse having a pulse width wider than a pulse width of a program start pulse. A program operation is performed by applying the program start pulse. It is then verified whether a program has been completed as a result of the program operation. A program operation is performed by applying a step-shaped dummy program pulse, which has a second pulse width and has been increased by a second step voltage. A program operation is performed by applying a program pulse having a first step voltage and a first pulse width. It is then verified whether a program has been completed as a result of the program operation.

A memory device has memory cells that are Multi-Level Cells (MLCs). A memory cell array includes a plurality of cell strings, each string provided between a bit line and a common source line, wherein a positive voltage is applied to the common source line at the time of program verification. A page buffer is configured to program the MLCs, read memory cells, and perform program verification. This program verification is performed by sequentially increasing a voltage level of a bit line select signal until the bit line select signal reaches to a voltage that is sufficient to verify a programmed state of a selected cell in the memory cell array.

Memory device and method of operating the same

A page buffer includes a first register, a second register and a data I/O unit. The first register temporarily stores data to be programmed into cells included in a first memory cell block group, or reads and stores data of a corresponding memory cell. The second register temporarily stores data to be programmed into cells included in a second memory cell block group, or reads and stores data of a corresponding memory cell. The data I/O unit inputs specific data to the first register and the second register, or outputs data stored in the first register and the second register.

A page buffer includes a first ground voltage supply unit for applying a ground voltage to first and second registers according to a level of a sense node, and a second ground voltage supply unit for applying the ground voltage to the first and second registers irrespective of a level of the sense node. A method of programming a non-volatile memory device includes storing a high-level data in a first node of a first register of a plurality of page buffers, precharging a sense node with a high level, resetting the data stored in the first node of the first register according to a voltage level of the sense node, precharging the sense node with a high level, storing external data in the first node according to a voltage level of the sense node, and performing a program operation according to the data stored in the first node.

Page buffer and programming method of a non-volatile memory device

A flash memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, a page buffer unit including a plurality of page buffers connected to bit lines of the memory cell array, a data line mux unit connected between the page buffer unit and a data line and configured to receive verification data through a page buffer during a verify operation. The flash memory device also includes a fail bit counter unit for counting the verification data, comparing counted fail bits and the number of ECC allowed bits, and outputting a pass or fail signal of a program operation according to the comparison result.

Flash memory device and programming method thereof

Program voltages of a non-volatile memory device are controlled variably according to a program/erase operation count. The non-volatile memory device includes a program voltage supply unit for applying a program voltage to a memory cell, a program/erase count storage unit for storing a total program/erase operation count of the non-volatile memory device, a program start voltage storage unit for storing levels of program start voltages to be differently supplied according to the program/erase operation count, and a program voltage controller for controlling the program start voltage according to the program/erase operation count.

Non-volatile memory device and method of operating the same

A flash memory device includes a plurality of block selection circuits and a plurality of memory blocks. The plurality of block selection circuits generate a block select signal in response to a plurality of decoded block address signals and a block control signal. The plurality of memory blocks are connected to global lines in response to the block select signal, and include a plurality of memory cell arrays performing an erase operation in response to a well bias. Each of the block selection circuits generates the block select signal in response to the block control signal regardless of the plurality of decoded block address signals, or selects the block select signal to select a corresponding memory block in response to the plurality of decoded block address signals.

Flash memory device and erase method using the same

A read method of a memory device including a MLC includes the steps of performing a data read operation according to a first read command; determining whether error correction of the read data is possible; if, as a result of the determination, error correction is difficult, performing a data read operation according to a second read command; determining whether error correction of read data is possible according to the second read command; and if, as a result of the determination, error correction is difficult, performing a data read operation according to a N(N&#x2267;3, N is an integer) read command.

Read method of memory device

A flash memory device and an erase method thereof are included. The erase method includes performing an erase operation of a memory cell block including a plurality of pages, performing an erase verify operation and storing unerased page information about a page including unerased memory cells that have not been normally erased, and performing an additional erase operation of the page including the unerased memory cells based on the unerased page information. When the unerased memory cells exist, the erase verify operation and the additional erase operation are performed repeatedly.

Growing community of inventors

Cheongju-si, South Korea

Jong Hyun Wang