Abstract: A decoding method includes performing a first decoding method and performing a second decoding method when decoding of the first decoding method fails. The first decoding method includes updating multiple variable nodes and multiple check nodes using probability values of received data. The second decoding method includes selecting at least one variable node from among the multiple variable nodes; correcting probability values of data received in the selected at least one variable node; updating the variable nodes and the check nodes using the corrected probability values; and determining whether decoding of the second decoding method is successful.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device using interleaving technology is provided. The nonvolatile memory device includes a first controller configured to allocate one of 2N threshold voltage states to N-bit data where N is 2 or a natural number greater than 2, a second controller configured to set a difference between adjacent threshold voltage states among the 2N threshold voltage states so that the difference increases as a threshold voltage increases, and a programming unit configured to form a threshold voltage distribution state corresponding to the allocated threshold voltage state and to program the N-bit data to a multi-level cell. The second controller controls the difference between the adjacent threshold voltage states to equalize the number of read errors for all intersections among the 2N threshold voltage states at the end of life.

Abstract: Provided are data processing methods for a non-volatile memory. The data processing methods include obtaining read data and erasure information from the non-volatile memory and correcting an error in the read data by referencing the erasure information obtained from the non-volatile memory. Memory systems may be provided. Such memory systems may include a non-volatile memory and a memory controller that is operable to perform an error correction operation according to the methods described herein.

Abstract: A method of operating a memory controller includes reading data from a first block of a memory device; detecting degraded pages from a plurality of pages of the first block and counting a number of the degraded pages in the first block; and recharging or reclaiming the first block, which includes the degraded pages, based on the counted number of the degraded pages.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method of determining an optimal cyclic delay value. The method of determining the optimal cyclic delay value includes determining a Signal-to-Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) function depending on a diversity order; determining a channel estimation error variance function; and determining an SINR being required for a system according to the SINR function and the channel estimation error variance function.

Abstract: A method for operating a controller may include storing a pseudo noise (PN) sequence provided from a PN sequence generator in an i-th area of a seed table and cyclically shifting the PN sequence from the i-th area to an (i+1)-th area in the table to form the table. The table may include row and column areas. A method for operating a controller may include receiving a sequence from a sequence generator, splitting the sequence into seed units, storing split sequences in a j-th area of the seed table, and forming the table including the seed units corresponding to the split sequences stored in the j-th area. A method for operating a controller may include storing a sequence provided from a sequence generator in a seed table that includes a plurality of areas and cyclically shifting the sequence in the table until a seed is formed in each area.

Abstract: A data storage device receives write data and includes a controller configured to determine a characteristic of the write data and provide a first control signal in response to the determined characteristic, a randomizer configured to selectively randomize or not randomize the write data in response to the first control signal to thereby generate randomized write data, and a data storage unit configured to store the randomized write data.

Abstract: A data processing which includes a conversion circuit and a pseudo random number generator including a series connection of plural shift registers. The conversion circuit receives a pseudo random number sequence from an output of one of the plural shift registers excluding a last shift register of the series connection, and converts first data to second data using the received pseudo random number sequence.

Abstract: A decoder includes multiple decoder stages and a controller. The decoder stages perform decoding operations with respect to a received signal using corresponding different decoding algorithms. The controller determines whether the decoding operation performed by one of the decoder stages with respect to the received signal is successful, and controls the decoding operation of each of the other decoder stages in response to a result of the determination.

Abstract: A method setting a read voltage to minimize data read errors in a semiconductor memory device including multi-bit memory cells. In the method, a read voltage associated with a minimal number of read data error is set based on a statistic value of a voltage distribution corresponding to each one of a plurality of voltage states.

Abstract: The flash memory device includes a control logic circuit and a bit level conversion logic circuit. The control logic circuit programs first through Nth bits of data in a memory cell array of the N-bit MLC flash memory device or reads the first through Nth bits of the data from the memory cell array in response to one of a program command and a read command. The bit level conversion control logic circuit, after the first through Nth bits of the data are completely programmed or read, programs or reads an (N+1)th bit of the data in response to a control signal. The bit level conversion control logic circuit converts voltage levels of voltages, which are used for programming or reading the first through Nth bits of the data, to program or read for 2N cell distributions of 2N+1 cell distributions corresponding to the (N+1)th bit of the data and then programs or reads for other 2N cell distributions.

Abstract: A method, implemented by at least an error correction code (ECC) decoder and a controller, estimates and corrects errors in memory cells. The method includes identifying a first candidate group of memory cells having an error-generation possibility using a first method for error estimation; identifying a second candidate group of memory cells having an error-generation possibility using a second method for error estimation; and correcting errors in at least one cell commonly included in the first and second candidate groups.

Abstract: A memory device including a randomizer and a memory system including the memory device are provided. The memory device includes: a randomizer including a sequence generator which generates a first sequence from a seed and a converter which converts the first sequence into a second sequence in response to a conversion factor, the randomizer randomizing data to be programmed using the second sequence and outputting the randomized data; and a storage area which receives the randomized data from the randomizer and storing the randomized data.

Abstract: Memory devices and/or encoding/decoding methods are provided. A memory device may include: a memory cell array; an internal decoder configured to apply, to a first codeword read from the memory cell array, a first decoding scheme selected based on a characteristic of a first channel in which the first codeword is read to perform error control codes (ECC) decoding of the first codeword, and apply, to a second codeword read from the memory cell array, a second decoding scheme selected based on a characteristic of a second channel in which the second codeword is read to perform the ECC decoding of the second codeword; and an external decoder configured to apply an external decoding scheme to the ECC-decoded first codeword and the ECC-decoded second codeword to perform the ECC decoding of the first codeword and the second codeword.

Abstract: Nonvolatile memory devices include support memory cell recovery during operations to erase blocks of nonvolatile (e.g., flash) memory cells. A nonvolatile memory system includes a flash memory device and a memory controller electrically coupled to the flash memory device. The memory controller is configured to control memory cell recovery operations within the flash memory device by issuing a first instruction(s) to the flash memory device that causes erased memory cells in the block of memory to become at least partially programmed memory cells and then issuing a second instruction(s) to the flash memory device that causes the at least partially programmed memory cells become fully erased.

Abstract: A method may be provided to detect and correct data errors in a data system where a data message has been encoded with outer parity bits based on the data message using an outer encoding technique to provide an outer codeword and with inner parity bits based on the outer codeword using an inner encoding technique different than the outer encoding technique to provide an inner codeword. The method may include using the inner parity bits and an inner decoding technique corresponding to the inner encoding technique to perform inner decoding of the inner codeword. Responsive to performing inner decoding of the inner codeword without error, the data message may be extracted from a result of inner decoding the inner codeword without using the outer parity bits to decode the result of inner decoding the inner codeword. Related systems are also discussed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for reading from a non-volatile memory whereby soft decision data is used to determine the reliability of hard decision data. The hard decision data read from the non-volatile memory is de-randomized and the soft decision data read from the non-volatile memory is not de-randomized. Using the soft decision data, the hard decision data is decoded.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory system and a programming method performed by the same. The semiconductor memory system includes: a semiconductor memory device having a storage area; a memory controller for controlling programming and reading of the storage area of the semiconductor memory device; at least one first randomizer for changing program data to be programmed into the storage area to first random data by using a first sequence in a first period; and at least one second randomizer for changing the first random data to second random data by using a second sequence in a second period that is different from the first period.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flash memory device which includes a memory cell array configured to store data, a randomizer configured to generate a random sequence, to interleave the random sequence using at least one of memory parameters associated with data to be programmed in the memory cell array, and a control logic circuit configured to provide the memory parameters to the randomizer and to control the randomizer.

Abstract: Disclosed are a memory device and a data decision method. The memory device may include a memory cell array, and a decision unit configured to read first data from the memory cell array via a first channel, perform at least one of a hard and soft decision on the first data using a first number of decision levels set based on characteristics of the first channel, read second data from the memory cell array via a second channel, and perform a soft decision on the second data using a second number of decision levels set based on characteristics of the second channel.