Dynamic refresh that changes the physical storage locations of data in flash memory
US6522586B2 · kind B2 · utility
62Cited by
64References
9Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 2002 |
| Grant date | Feb 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C16/3431
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A multi-bit-per-cell non-volatile memory performs refresh operations that move data to different physical storage locations. The movement of data may extend the life of a non-volatile memory by avoiding repetitive erasing and writing of the same data value in the same memory cell. A memory mapping circuit in the memory adjusts for different storage configuration that the refresh operations create. In particular embodiments, shifts sectors-sized data blocks cyclically among sectors in an array, a bank, or an entire memory or alternatively shifts the data blocks between two configurations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.