Abstract: A non-volatile memory has an array of non-volatile memory cells, first reference word lines and second reference word lines, and sense amplifiers. The sense amplifiers read system data, that has been written to supplemental non-volatile memory cells of the first reference word lines, using comparison of the supplemental non-volatile memory cells of the first reference word lines to supplemental non-volatile memory cells of the second reference word lines. Status of erasure of the non-volatile memory cells of the array is determined based on reading the system data.

Abstract: A method of operating a memory device includes: supplying one or more supply voltages to a memory array; and monitoring the one or more supply voltages, which includes: selecting, from the one or more supply voltages, a selected supply voltage; converting, using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), an internal reference voltage of the memory device and a scaled version of the selected supply voltage into one or more digital values; generating a calibrated measurement result using the one or more digital values; and determining whether the calibrated measurement result is within a pre-determined range.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory has an array of non-volatile memory cells, first reference word lines and second reference word lines, and sense amplifiers. The sense amplifiers read system data, that has been written to supplemental non-volatile memory cells of the first reference word lines, using comparison of the supplemental non-volatile memory cells of the first reference word lines to supplemental non-volatile memory cells of the second reference word lines. Status of erasure of the non-volatile memory cells of the array is determined based on reading the system data.

Abstract: A memory device that includes a first port and a second port. The first port includes a first clock input, at least one first command address input, and at least one data input or output configured to transfer data in relation to the memory device. The second port includes a second clock input and at least one command, address, and data input/output (I/O) configured to receive command and address information from, and to transfer data in relation to the memory device. The memory device also includes a plurality of memory banks, in which two different memory banks may be accessed respectively by the first and the second ports concurrently. Other embodiments of the memory device and related methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device can include a serial port having at least one serial clock input, and at least one serial data input/output (I/O) configured to receive command, address and write data in synchronism with the at least one serial clock input. At least one parallel port can include a plurality of command address inputs configured to receive command and address data in groups of parallel bits and a plurality of unidirectional data outputs configured to output read data in parallel on rising and falling edges of a data clock signal. Each of a plurality of banks can include nonvolatile memory cells and be configurable for access by the serial port or the parallel port. When a bank is configured for access by the serial port, the bank is not accessible by the at least one parallel port. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device can include a serial port having at least one serial clock input, and at least one serial data input/output (I/O) configured to receive command, address and write data in synchronism with the at least one serial clock input. At least one parallel port can include a plurality of command address inputs configured to receive command and address data in groups of parallel bits and a plurality of unidirectional data outputs configured to output read data in parallel on rising and falling edges of a data clock signal. Each of a plurality of banks can include nonvolatile memory cells and be configurable for access by the serial port or the parallel port. When a bank is configured for access by the serial port, the bank is not accessible by the at least one parallel port. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device can include a serial port having at least one serial clock input, and at least one serial data input/output (I/O) configured to receive command, address and write data in synchronism with the at least one serial clock input. At least one parallel port can include a plurality of command address inputs configured to receive command and address data in groups of parallel bits and a plurality of unidirectional data outputs configured to output read data in parallel on rising and falling edges of a data clock signal. Each of a plurality of banks can include nonvolatile memory cells and be configurable for access by the serial port or the parallel port. When a bank is configured for access by the serial port, the bank is not accessible by the at least one parallel port. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises an embedded flash memory with row redundancy. The embedded flash memory comprises a memory bank that includes multiple physical sectors, where each physical sector comprises a plurality of erase sectors. In the memory bank, multiple portions of an additional erase sector are respectively distributed among the multiple physical sectors. The multiple portions of the additional erase sector are configured as a row-redundancy sector for the memory bank.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for responding to a single user read command of a complementary cell array including one or more complementary cell pairs, the method including: determining if a first group of cells out of a data word is in an erased state or in a programmed state, and outputting a data word so that (a) if the first group of cells is determined to be erased a logical “one” is output for each bit of the data word and (b) if the first group of cells is determined to be programmed the result of a complementary read is output for each bit of the data word.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for responding to a single user read command of a complementary cell array including one or more complementary cell pairs, the method including: determining if a first group of cells out of a data word is in an erased state or in a programmed state, and outputting a data word so that (a) if the first group of cells is determined to be erased a logical “one” is output for each bit of the data word and (b) if the first group of cells is determined to be programmed the result of a complementary read is output for each bit of the data word.

Abstract: A method for operating a read command of N complementary memory cells, the method includes the steps of determining if each of the first and second memory cells of the N complementary memory cells is in a first binary state or a second binary state, generating a count value by counting a total number of the first and second memory cells that are in the first binary state, and determining if the N complementary memory cells are programmed or erased based on a result of comparing the count value to a threshold number.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for reading a set of bits from a NVM array (such as a SPI or parallel NOR NVM or otherwise) including: retrieving each of the set of bits from the NVM array substantially in parallel, applying substantially in parallel to each of the retrieved bits a segmented search, each search indexed using an order number of the respective bit being checked, and correcting a bit whose search indicates an error.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for reading a set of bits from a NVM array (such as a SPI or parallel NOR NVM or otherwise) including: retrieving each of the set of bits from the NVM array substantially in parallel, applying substantially in parallel to each of the retrieved bits a segmented search, each search indexed using an order number of the respective bit being checked, and correcting a bit whose search indicates an error.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and circuits for performing recovery associated with programming of non-volatile memory (NVM) array cells. According to embodiments, there are provided methods and circuits for programming NVM cells, including: (1) erasing NVM array cells; (2) loading an SRAM with user data; (3) if programming is successful, then flipping bits in the SRAM; and (4) if programming is not successful, reading data back from the array to the SRAM.

Abstract: A cache programming operation which requires 2 SRAMs (one for the user and one for the array) may be combined with a multi-level cell (MLC) programming operation which also requires 2 SRAMs (one for caching the data and one for verifying the data), using only a total of two SRAMs (or buffers). One of the buffers (User SRAM) receives and stores user data. The other of the two buffers (Cache SRAM) may perform a caching function as well as a verify function. In this manner, if a program operation fails, the user can have its original data back so that he can try to reprogram it to a different place (address).

Abstract: A method of performing recovery in conjunction with programming an array of NVM cells. First, erasing the array cells and loading an SRAM with user data. When programming the cells, flip bits in the SRAM which are successfully programmed (pass PV). If programming is not successful, read the failed data from the array, and if the SRAM bits were not successfully programmed, do not change them. Write the other bits (not programmed or successfully programmed) from the array to the SRAM. Before reading the failed data, the SRAM may be copied to a second SRAM. If the restore did not work, an ED mechanism may be applied, and if the ED bits to not align with the data, move a read reference (RD), copy the second SRAM to the original SRAM, and attempt reading again, until the data is successfully recovered.

Abstract: A cache programming operation which requires 2 SRAMs (one for the user and one for the array) may be combined with a multi-level cell (MLC) programming operation which also requires 2 SRAMs (one for caching the data and one for verifying the data), using only a total of two SRAMs (or buffers). One of the buffers (User SRAM) receives and stores user data. The other of the two buffers (Cache SRAM) may perform a caching function as well as a verify function. In this manner, if a program operation fails, the user can have its original data back so that he can try to reprogram it to a different place (address).

Abstract: Various non-limiting exemplary embodiments are disclosed including a method for power management in a system comprising determining a maximum system current level, and allocating current to one or more operations each having a minimum operation current level and a maximum operation current level such that the total allocated current for the one or more operations does not exceed the maximum system current level.

Abstract: A method for programming in parallel reference cells to be used for operating other cells of a memory cell array, the method including: a) reading each of the reference cells of a memory cell array with a sense amplifier, the sense amplifier providing an output indicative of a programmed state of the reference cell relative to another bit in the array, b) reading each of the reference cells of a memory cell array with a sense amplifier while using read conditions to determine if the reference cells have reached a target level, c) determining if a programming pulse should be applied to the reference cell by comparing the output of the sense amplifier to a predefined target “0” or “1”, d) setting a buffer bit, corresponding to the output of the sense amplifier, in a sticky bit buffer to a first logical state if the reference cell needs to be programmed, and not changing a logical state of the buffer bit if the reference cell does not need to be programmed, e) performing steps a)-d) for a desired address range i

Abstract: A method for preventing fixed pattern programming, the method including programming data into a pattern of memory cells in a memory array, and preventing fixed pattern programming by periodically scrambling the data so that the data is stored in a different pattern of memory cells in the memory array.