Abstract: Techniques are provided to adaptively determine when to begin verify tests for memory cells during a program operation. The memory cells are programmed using a normal programming speed until their threshold voltage exceeds an initial verify voltage. The memory cells are then programmed further using a reduced programming speed until their threshold voltage exceeds a final verify voltage. In one aspect, a count of memory cells which exceeds the initial verify voltage is used to determine when to begin verify tests for a higher data state. In another aspect, a count of the higher state memory cells which exceeds the initial or final verify voltage is used to determine when to begin verify tests for the higher data state. The counted memory cells are not subject to the reduced programming speed.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for adjusting a programming setting such as a programming voltage of a set of non-volatile storage cells, such as an SLC NAND array. The non-volatile storage cells may be arranged into a plurality of word lines. A subset of the non-volatile storage cells may be configured to store a programming setting. An on-die controller may be configured to read the programming setting from the setting subset, and write data to the non-volatile storage cells, using the programming setting. The on-die controller may further be configured to determine that the programming setting causes suboptimal programming of one or more of the non-volatile storage cells, and in response to the determination, store a revised programming setting on the setting subset.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of NAND strings in a block with word lines connected to cells of the NAND strings and select lines connected to select gate transistors of the NAND strings. A control circuit is configured to, after a read operation of memory cells of the block apply substantially zero volts to the global word lines to discharge the word lines to substantially zero volts. The control circuit is further configured to turn off the select gate transistors to isolate channels, turn off the block select transistors to isolate the word lines from the global word lines, and with the block select transistors turned off, apply a low positive voltage on the global word lines.

Abstract: Non-volatile memory strings may include multiple selection devices for coupling memory cell devices to a bit line. Different programming operations may be used to program various individual selection devices in a non-volatile memory cells string. For example, a control circuit may set a threshold voltage of a particular selection device to a value greater than a threshold voltage of another selection device. In another example, the control circuit may program the selection device using an initial sense time. Subsequent to programming the selection device using the initial sense time, the control circuit may program the selection device using a different sense time that is shorter than the initial sense time.

Abstract: Techniques for fast programming and read operations for memory cells. A first set of bit lines is connected to a first set of NAND strings and is interleaved with a second set of bit lines connected to a second set of NAND strings. The first set of NAND strings can be programmed by driving a voltage on the first set of bit lines while floating a voltage on the second set of bit lines, to reduce an inter-bit line capacitance and provide a relatively high access speed and a relatively low storage density (e.g., bits per memory cell). The second set of NAND strings can be programmed by concurrently driving a voltage on the first and second sets of bit lines, to provide a relatively low access speed and a relatively high storage density.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of NAND strings in a block with word lines connected to cells of the NAND strings and select lines connected to select gate transistors of the NAND strings. A control circuit is configured to, after a read operation of memory cells of the block apply substantially zero volts to the global word lines to discharge the word lines to substantially zero volts. The control circuit is further configured to turn off the select gate transistors to isolate channels, turn off the block select transistors to isolate the word lines from the global word lines, and with the block select transistors turned off, apply a low positive voltage on the global word lines.

Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques for fast programming and read operations for memory cells. A group of word lines comprising a selected word line and one or more adjacent word lines are driven with a common voltage signal during program and read operations. The word lines may be permanently connected to one another or connected by a switch. In another approach, the word lines are driven separately by common voltage signals. In a set of blocks, one block of memory cells can be provided with connected word lines to provide a relatively high access speed, while another block of memory cells has disconnected word lines to provide a higher storage density. In another aspect, the memory cells of a word line are divided into portions, and a portion which is closest to a row decoder is reserved for high access speed with a low storage density.

Abstract: A circuit includes a program controller configured to perform a program operation with interleaved program-verify loops to program memory cells in a same block. During each program-verify loop, a control gate line voltage supply circuit first supplies a program pulse to a first cell of the block and then, before verifying the first cell, supplies a program pulse to a second cell of the block. After the program pulses are sent, the control gate line supply circuit consecutively supplies verify pulses to the first cell and the second cell such that a delay is introduced between the respective program and verify stages of the first and second cells. Additionally, a constant voltage bias on common control gate lines of the first and second memory cells is applied during the consecutive verify stages. Further, an order of verify pulses may be applied in a reverse order during a verify stage.

Abstract: A method and system for executing a dynamic 1-tier scan on a memory array are provided. The memory array includes a plurality of memory cells organized into a plurality of sub-groups. The dynamic 1-tier scan includes executing an program loop in which cells of a first sub-group are counted to determine whether a numeric threshold is met, and, if the numeric threshold is met with respect to the first sub group, at least one additional program loop is executed in which cells of a second sub-group are counted to determine whether the numeric threshold is met with respect to the second sub-group.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to adaptively determine when to begin verify tests for memory cells during a program operation. The memory cells are programmed using a normal programming speed until their threshold voltage exceeds an initial verify voltage. The memory cells are then programmed further using a reduced programming speed until their threshold voltage exceeds a final verify voltage. In one aspect, a count of memory cells which exceeds the initial verify voltage is used to determine when to begin verify tests for a higher data state. In another aspect, a count of the higher state memory cells which exceeds the initial or final verify voltage is used to determine when to begin verify tests for the higher data state. The counted memory cells are not subject to the reduced programming speed.

Abstract: A circuit includes a program controller configured to perform a program operation with interleaved program-verify loops to program memory cells in a same block. During each program-verify loop, a control gate line voltage supply circuit first supplies a program pulse to a first cell of the block and then, before verifying the first cell, supplies a program pulse to a second cell of the block. After the program pulses are sent, the control gate line supply circuit consecutively supplies verify pulses to the first cell and the second cell such that a delay is introduced between the respective program and verify stages of the first and second cells. Additionally, a constant voltage bias on common control gate lines of the first and second memory cells is applied during the consecutive verify stages. Further, an order of verify pulses may be applied in a reverse order during a verify stage.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for adjusting a programming setting such as a programming voltage of a set of non-volatile storage cells, such as an SLC NAND array. The non-volatile storage cells may be arranged into a plurality of word lines. A subset of the non-volatile storage cells may be configured to store a programming setting. An on-die controller may be configured to read the programming setting from the setting subset, and write data to the non-volatile storage cells, using the programming setting. The on-die controller may further be configured to determine that the programming setting causes suboptimal programming of one or more of the non-volatile storage cells, and in response to the determination, store a revised programming setting on the setting subset.

Abstract: Techniques for fast programming and read operations for memory cells. A first set of bit lines is connected to a first set of NAND strings and is interleaved with a second set of bit lines connected to a second set of NAND strings. The first set of NAND strings can be programmed by driving a voltage on the first set of bit lines while floating a voltage on the second set of bit lines, to reduce an inter-bit line capacitance and provide a relatively high access speed and a relatively low storage density (e.g., bits per memory cell). The second set of NAND strings can be programmed by concurrently driving a voltage on the first and second sets of bit lines, to provide a relatively low access speed and a relatively high storage density.

Abstract: A circuit includes selected sense circuits configured to be connected to selected bit lines and unselected sense circuits configured to be connected to unselected bit lines during a sense operation. When the sense circuit is connected to the unselected bit line during the sense operation, the sense circuit is locked out in order to reduce current consumption. However, noise from the locked out sense circuit may be transmitted to the sense circuits connected to the selected bit lines through adjacent bit line coupling. In order to reduce the effect of the noise, charge transfer from the sense node may be blocked from passing to the unselected bit lines. Or, charge may be drained from the sense node, thereby preventing the charge from passing to the unselected bit lines.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is related to a system and a method of adjusting a programming pulse for programming memory cells. In one aspect, the system includes a controller that iteratively applies a programming pulse to the memory cells during programming loops. The programming pulse has progressively increasing magnitudes to program different subsets of the memory cells to corresponding target states. The controller determines that a programming loop to program a subset of the memory cells targeted to have a corresponding target state of the target states is performed. The controller counts a number of memory cells of the subset that have not reached the target state. The controller determines a magnitude for a programming pulse to be applied for a subsequent programming loop based on the counted number, and applies, during the subsequent programming loop, the programming pulse with the determined magnitude.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is related to a system and a method of adjusting a programming pulse for programming memory cells. In one aspect, the system includes a controller that iteratively applies a programming pulse to the memory cells during programming loops. The programming pulse has progressively increasing magnitudes to program different subsets of the memory cells to corresponding target states. The controller determines that a programming loop to program a subset of the memory cells targeted to have a corresponding target state of the target states is performed. The controller counts a number of memory cells of the subset that have not reached the target state. The controller determines a magnitude for a programming pulse to be applied for a subsequent programming loop based on the counted number, and applies, during the subsequent programming loop, the programming pulse with the determined magnitude.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of solid-state storage elements, a plurality of control lines coupled to the plurality of solid-state storage elements, and control circuitry in communication with the plurality of control lines. The control circuitry is configured to during a first phase of a control line pre-charging stage, charge one or more unselected control lines of the plurality of control lines using a regulated charging current for a period of time based at least in part on a bias variance state associated with the plurality of control lines, and during a second phase of the control line pre-charging stage, charge the one or more unselected bit lines to an inhibit voltage level using an unregulated charging current.

Abstract: A circuit includes a detection circuit configured to determine a capacitance delay (RC-delay) in an initial stage of a read or program operation and to adjust timing for detecting data in a subsequent stage, or portion of a stage, of the same read or programming operation. In particular, during a program operation a detection circuit may be configured to detect a pre-charge time for a bit line and adjust a timing of subsequent verify stages of the bit line during the same program operation based on the detected pre-charge time. Additionally, a word line circuit may be configured to detect a pre-charge time for a word line during an initial stage of a read operation and adjust read timing for a subsequent portion of the same read stage, or subsequent read stage of the read operation based on the detected word line pre-charge time.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for identifying and selecting a subgroup of memory cells for use during a programming or erasing operation, in order to execute the programming or erasing operation in less time, while avoiding over and under programming errors. Memory devices disclosed herein may include a state change/programming circuit, a counting circuit, a determination circuit, an identification circuit, and/or a subgroup selection circuit, where each of these circuits are configured to perform operations related to the overall process of identifying and selecting the subgroup of memory cells for utilization during a programming operation.

Abstract: A memory device includes memory cells coupled to a word line. The memory device includes a controller coupled to the word line. The controller is configured to program the memory cells coupled to the word line. The controller is configured to verify a programmed status of a first subset of the memory cells coupled to the word line and a programmed status of a second subset of the memory cells coupled to the word line, based on the programmed status of the first subset of the memory cells.