The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Sep. 17, 2013

Filed:

Mar. 31, 2011
Applicants:

Alan Welsh Sinclair, Falkirk, GB;

Nicholas James Thomas, Dundee, GB;

Barry Wright, Edinburgh, GB;

Inventors:

Alan Welsh Sinclair, Falkirk, GB;

Nicholas James Thomas, Dundee, GB;

Barry Wright, Edinburgh, GB;

Assignee:

SanDisk Technologies Inc., Plano, TX (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G11C 11/34 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A multi-later memory and method for operation is disclosed. The memory includes three or more layers, where each layer is made up of flash memory cells having a greater bit per cell storage capacity than then prior layer. The method may include the steps of directing host data directly into a first or second layer of the multi-layer memory upon receipt depending on a condition of the data. The method may also include copying data within a respective layer in a data relocation operation to generate more free blocks of memory so that data preferably stays within each layer, as well as transferring data from one layer to the next higher bit per cell layer when layer transfer criteria are met.


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