Reducing read disturb effect on partially programmed blocks of non-volatile memory

US10115472B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Charles J. Camp · Sugar Land, US
• Timothy J. Fisher · Cypress, US
• Thomas J. Griffin · Sand Springs, US
• Thomas Mittelholzer · Zürich, CH
• Nikolaos Papandreou · Thalwil, CH
• Thomas Parnell · Bellinzona, CH
• Roman A. Pletka · Horgen, CH
• Charalampos Pozidis · Thalwil, CH
• Gary A. Tressler · Sandy Hook, US
• Sasa Tomic · Adliswil, CH

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 2, 2017
• Grant date: Oct 30, 2018
• Expiry date: Aug 2, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G11C16/344
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A data storage system includes a non-volatile memory array controlled by a controller. In response to receipt of write data to be written to the non-volatile memory array, the controller determines whether a read count of an unfinalized candidate block of storage within the non-volatile memory array satisfies a read count threshold applicable to the block. In response to determining that the read count of the unfinalized candidate block satisfies the read count threshold, the controller finalizing programming of the candidate block and programming an alternative block with the write data.