Patent · US Active

Non-volatile memory and method with memory planes alignment

US7913061B2 · kind B2 · utility

23Cited by
61References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 26, 2008
Grant dateMar 22, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 12, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C2211/5641
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A non-volatile memory is constituted from a set of memory planes, each having its own set of read/write circuits so that the memory planes can operate in parallel. The memory is further organized into erasable blocks, each for storing a logical group of logical units of data. In updating a logical unit, all versions of a logical unit are maintained in the same plane as the original. Preferably, all versions of a logical unit are aligned within a plane so that they are all serviced by the same set of sensing circuits. In a subsequent garbage collection operation, the latest version of the logical unit need not be retrieved from a different plane or a different set of sensing circuits, otherwise resulting in reduced performance. In one embodiment, any gaps left after alignment are padded by copying latest versions of logical units in sequential order thereto.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.