Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes: cell strings connected to respective bit lines; each of the cell strings having a string select transistor connected to a string select line, a ground select transistor connected to a ground select line, and memory cells connected to corresponding word lines and connected in series between the string select transistor and the ground select transistor; a first voltage drop circuit configured to reduce an applied read voltage during a read operation; a second voltage drop circuit configured to reduce the applied read voltage; a string select line driver circuit configured to drive the string select line with the reduced voltage provided by the first voltage drop circuit; and a ground select line driver circuit configured to drive a ground select line with the reduced voltage provided by the second voltage drop circuit.

Abstract: A read method of a non-volatile memory device includes reading an initial threshold voltage value of an index cell from threshold voltage information cells that store information indicating the initial threshold voltage, determining a current threshold voltage value from the index cell, and comparing the initial threshold voltage value and the current threshold voltage value to calculate a shifted threshold voltage level of the index cell. A read voltage is changed by the shifted threshold voltage level to read user data using the changed read voltage.

Abstract: Methods of generating a program voltage for programming a non-volatile memory device include generating an initial voltage and generating a first ramping voltage in response to the initial voltage. The first ramping voltage has a ramping speed slower than the ramping speed of the initial voltage. A second ramping voltage is generated in response to the first ramping voltage. The second ramping voltage has a lower ripple than the first ramping voltage. The second ramping voltage is output as a program voltage for programming a non-volatile memory device. A program voltage generating circuit includes a program voltage generating unit configured to generate an initial voltage, a ramping circuit configured to generate a first ramping voltage responsive to the initial voltage, and a voltage controlling unit configured to generate a second ramping voltage having relatively low ripple and to output the first ramping voltage or the second ramping voltage responsive to a voltage level of the first ramping voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for reading data. The method for reading data according to example embodiments includes comparing a threshold voltage of a memory cell with a first boundary voltage, comparing the threshold voltage with a second boundary voltage having a higher voltage level than that of the first boundary voltage, and determining data of the memory cell based on the threshold voltage, the first boundary voltage, and the second boundary voltage.

Abstract: An Error Control Code (ECC) apparatus may include a control signal generator that generates an ECC control signal based on channel information. The ECC apparatus also may include: a plurality of ECC encoding controllers that output data respectively inputted via storage elements corresponding to the ECC control signal; and/or an encoding unit that encodes, using a plurality of data outputted from the plurality of ECC encoding controllers, encoding input data into a number of subdata corresponding to the ECC control signal. In addition or in the alternative, the ECC apparatus may include: a plurality of ECC decoding controllers that output data respectively inputted via the storage elements corresponding to the ECC control signal; and/or a decoding unit that decodes, using a plurality of data outputted from the plurality of ECC decoding controllers, a number of decoding input data corresponding to the ECC control signal into one piece of output data.

Abstract: A multi-bit programming device and method for a non-volatile memory are provided. In one example embodiment, a multi-bit programming device may include a multi-bit programming unit configured to multi-bit program original multi-bit data to a target memory cell in a memory cell array, and a backup programming unit configured to select backup memory cells in the memory cell array with respect to each bit of the original multi-bit data, and program each bit of the original multi-bit data to a respective one of the selected backup memory cells.

Abstract: An Error Control Code (ECC) apparatus applied to a memory of a Multi-Level Cell (MLC) method may include: a bypass control signal generator generating a bypass control signal; and an ECC performing unit that may include at least two ECC decoding blocks, determining whether to bypass a portion of the at least two ECC decoding blocks based on the bypass control signal, and/or performing an ECC decoding. In addition or in the alternative, the ECC performing unit may include at least two ECC encoding blocks, determining whether to bypass a portion of the at least two ECC encoding blocks based on the bypass control signal, and/or performing an ECC encoding. An ECC method applied to a memory of a MLC method and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for implementing an EEC method applied to a memory of a MLC method are also disclose.

Abstract: A NAND flash memory device includes a high voltage switch and a bulk voltage supplying circuit. The high voltage switch is configured to transfer a word line voltage to selected word lines of selected memory cells. The bulk voltage supplying circuit is configured to provide a negative voltage to a bulk region of the high voltage switch in response to an operation mode.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first pump clock generator configured to generate a first pump clock signal based on a power supply voltage. The device also includes a first charge pump configured to generate a first pump output voltage in response to the first pump clock signal. The device also includes a second pump clock generator configured to generate a second pump clock signal based on the first pump output voltage. The device also includes a second charge pump configured to generate a second pump output voltage in response to the second pump clock signal. The device also includes a switching unit configured to selectively connect the first charge pump to the second charge pump.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes: cell strings connected to respective bit lines; each of the cell strings having a string select transistor connected to a string select line, a ground select transistor connected to a ground select line, and memory cells connected to corresponding word lines and connected in series between the string select transistor and the ground select transistor; a first voltage drop circuit configured to reduce an applied read voltage during a read operation; a second voltage drop circuit configured to reduce the applied read voltage; a string select line driver circuit configured to drive the string select line with the reduced voltage provided by the first voltage drop circuit; and a ground select line driver circuit configured to drive a ground select line with the reduced voltage provided by the second voltage drop circuit.

Abstract: Various read level control apparatuses and methods are provided. In various embodiments, the read level control apparatuses may include an error control code (ECC) decoding unit for ECC decoding data read from a storage unit, and a monitoring unit for monitoring a bit error rate (BER) based on the ECC decoded data and the read data. The apparatus may additionally include an error determination unit for determining an error rate of the read data based on the monitored BER, and a level control unit for controlling a read level of the storage unit based on the error rate.

Abstract: A flash memory device includes a cell array and a decision unit. The cell array includes multiple regions corresponding to multiple input/output lines. Initialization data are repeatedly stored in each of the regions. The decision unit determines whether the stored data are valid based on values of bits of the stored data read from each region.

Abstract: A flash memory device, related system ad method are disclosed. The memory device includes a memory cell array a page buffer receiving read data, wherein the page buffer includes a main register transferring read data to a cache register during an read operation, and a control logic block controlling operation of the page buffer during the read operation, such that initialization of the main register continuously extends beyond a time period during which read data is transferred from the main register to the cache register.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device having a memory array is configured to prevent power voltage noise generation during programming, thereby improving reliability. An associated programming method of the non-volatile memory device includes storing data input from an external source to a cache register. The stored data is moved to a main register. The cache register is cleared and the data stored in the main register is programmed to the memory cell array.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a flash memory device that can improve the reliability of a reading operation by minimizing a variation in the threshold voltage distribution that occurs due to coupling between cells, and a method of driving the flash memory device. In an embodiment of the invention, the method of driving the flash memory includes: performing an erasing operation on memory cells; after the performing the erasing operation, performing a post-programming operation to control a threshold voltage of the memory cells; and after performing the post-programming operation, performing a main programming operation on the memory cells, wherein the performing of the post-programming operation comprises increasing the threshold voltage of the memory cells in an erased state, thereby reducing a difference in the threshold voltage between the memory cells in the erased state and the memory cells in the programmed state.

Abstract: Methods of generating a program voltage for programming a non-volatile memory device include generating an initial voltage and generating a first ramping voltage in response to the initial voltage. The first ramping voltage has a ramping speed slower than the ramping speed of the initial voltage. A second ramping voltage is generated in response to the first ramping voltage. The second ramping voltage has a lower ripple than the first ramping voltage. The second ramping voltage is output as a program voltage for programming a non-volatile memory device. A program voltage generating circuit includes a program voltage generating unit configured to generate an initial voltage, a ramping circuit configured to generate a first ramping voltage responsive to the initial voltage, and a voltage controlling unit configured to generate a second ramping voltage having relatively low ripple and to output the first ramping voltage or the second ramping voltage responsive to a voltage level of the first ramping voltage.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device for an efficient program of multilevel data includes a memory cell array having a plurality of banks and a cache block corresponding to each of the plurality of banks. The cache block has a predetermined data storage capacity. A page buffer is included which corresponds to each of the plurality of banks. A programming circuit programs all of the plurality of banks except a last of said banks with page data. The page data is loaded through each page buffer and programmed into each cache block such that when page data for the last bank is loaded into the page buffer, the loaded page data and the page data programmed into the respective cache blocks are programmed into respective corresponding banks. Accordingly, the time taken in programming can be reduced without increasing a unit of program in a multilevel flash memory, thereby improving performance in a multilevel program of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device.

Abstract: A method of erasing data in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including applying an erase voltage to a substrate of the semiconductor memory device, applying a ground voltage to wordlines of a selected memory cell string formed in the substrate, and applying a control voltage to at least one of a string selection line and a ground selection line of the selected memory cell string.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device is provided which includes a memory array, a page buffer, and a row decoder. The memory array includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells, a bit line, and a word line, and the row decoder driven to control the word line of the memory array. The page buffer is electrically connected to the bit line and includes a main data latch and a sub-data latch. The page buffer, which is configured such that flipping of the man data latch is inhibited according to a logic state of the sub-data latch, further includes a main latch block, a sub-latch block, and a latch control block. The main latch block drives the main data latch and maps a logic state of the main data latch to a threshold voltage of a corresponding memory cell through the bit line. The sub-latch block drives the sub-data latch, where the sub-data latch is flipped depending on the voltage level of the bit line.

Abstract: In one aspect, a non-volatile memory device is provided which is operable in a programming mode and a read mode. The memory device includes a memory cell array which includes a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of bit lines. The memory device further includes an internal data output line for outputting data read from the bit lines of the memory array, and a page buffer operatively connected between a bit line of the memory cell array and the internal data output line. The page buffer includes a sense node which is selectively connected to the bit line, a latch circuit having a latch node which is selectively connected to the sense node, a latch input path which sets a logic voltage of the latch node in the programming mode and the read mode, and a latch output path which is separate from the latch input path and which sets as logic voltage of the internal date output line according to the logic voltage of the latch node.