Search Patents
  • Publication number: 20080219050
    Abstract: A method for operating a memory that includes multiple analog memory cells includes storing data in the memory by writing first storage values to the cells, so as to cause the cells to hold respective electrical charge levels. After storing the data, second storage values are read from at least some of the cells, including at least one interfered cell that belongs to a group of cells. A Back Pattern Dependency (BPD) distortion caused by the electrical charge levels of one or more interfering cells in the group to at least one of the second storage values read from the at least one interfered cell is detected and canceled. The second storage values, including the at least one of the second storage values in which the BPD distortion was canceled, are processed so as to reconstruct the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: ANOBIT TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Ofir Shalvi, Zeev Cohen
  • Publication number: 20080130341
    Abstract: A method for storing data in a memory that includes a plurality of analog memory cells includes mapping the data to programming values, which are selected from a set of nominal programming values. The set of nominal programming values includes at least a first nominal programming value and a second nominal programming value, which is higher than the first nominal programming value. A part of the data is stored in the analog memory cells by programming at least a first group of the cells using the first nominal programming value. A statistical characteristic of the first group of the cells is measured after programming the first group of the cells using the first nominal programming value. The second nominal programming value is modified responsively to the statistical characteristic, and at least a second group of the cells is programmed using the modified second nominal programming value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: ANOBIT TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Ofir Shalvi, Zeev Cohen, Dotan Sokolov
  • Patent number: 7881107
    Abstract: A method for data storage in a memory that includes a plurality of analog memory cells includes storing data in the memory by writing first storage values to the cells. One or more read reference levels are defined for reading the cells, such that at least one of the read reference levels is negative. After storing the data, second storage values are read from the cells using the read reference levels, so as to reconstruct the stored data. In another disclosed method, data is stored in the memory by mapping the data to first storage values selected from a set of the nominal storage values, and writing the first storage values to the cells. The set of nominal storage values is defined such that at least one of the nominal storage values is negative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Anobit Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Ofir Shalvi
  • Publication number: 20120290768
    Abstract: A method for data storage includes providing a memory, which includes multiple groups of memory cells and is configured to concurrently store first data using a first storage configuration having a first access time, and second data using a second storage configuration having a second access time, longer than the first access time, such that each memory cell in each of the groups stores at least one bit of the first data and one or more bits of the second data. Data items are accepted for storage in the memory. The accepted data items are classified into a fast-access class and a normal-access class. The data items in the fast-access class are stored in the memory using the first storage configuration, and the data items in the normal-access class are stored in the memory using the second storage configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: ANOBIT TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventor: Amit Rubowitz
  • Publication number: 20090144600
    Abstract: A method for data storage includes storing data, which is encoded with an Error Correction Code (ECC), in a group of analog memory cells by writing respective first storage values to the memory cells in the group. After storing the data, respective second storage values are read from the memory cells in the group, and the read second storage values are processed so as to decode the ECC. Responsively to a failure in decoding the ECC, one or more of the second storage values that potentially caused the failure are identified as suspect storage values. Respective third storage values are re-read from a subset of the memory cells that includes the memory cells holding the suspect storage values. The ECC is re-decoded using the third storage values so as to reconstruct the stored data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: ANOBIT TECHNOLOGIES LTD
    Inventors: Uri Perlmutter, Naftali Sommer, Ofir Shalvi
  • Publication number: 20090106485
    Abstract: A method for data storage includes storing data in a memory that includes multi-bit analog memory cells, each of which stores at least first and second data bits by assuming one of a predefined plurality of programming levels associated with respective storage values. The memory has at least a first built-in command for reading the first data bits of the memory cells by comparing the storage values of the memory cells to a first number of first thresholds, and a second built-in command for reading the second data bits of the memory cells by comparing the storage values of the memory cells to a second number of second thresholds, such that the first number is less than the second number. After storing the data, the first data bits are read from the memory cells by executing at least the second built-in command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: ANOBIT TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventor: Micha Anholt
  • Publication number: 20110225472
    Abstract: A method for operating a memory (28) includes storing data, which is encoded with an Error Correction Code (ECC), in analog memory cells (32) of the memory by writing respective analog input values selected from a set of nominal values to the analog memory cells. The stored data is read by performing multiple read operations that compare analog output values of the analog memory cells to different, respective read thresholds so as to produce multiple comparison results for each of the analog memory cells. At least two of the read thresholds are positioned between a pair of the nominal values that are adjacent to one another in the set of the nominal values. Soft metrics are computed responsively to the multiple comparison results. The ECC is decoded using the soft metrics, so as to extract the data stored in the analog memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: ANOBIT TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Naftali SOMMER, Ofir SHALVI, Dotan SOKOLOV
  • Publication number: 20090213654
    Abstract: A method includes defining a nominal level of a physical quantity to be stored in analog memory cells for representing a given data value. The given data value is written to the cells in first and second groups of the cells, which have respective first and second programming responsiveness such that the second responsiveness is different from the first responsiveness, by applying to the cells in the first and second groups respective, different first and second patterns of programming pulses that are selected so as to cause the cells in the first and second groups to store respective levels of the physical quantity that fall respectively in first and second ranges, such that the first range is higher than and the second range is lower than the nominal level. The given data value is read from the cells at a later time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: ANOBIT TECHNOLOGIES LTD
    Inventors: URI PERLMUTTER, OFIR SHALVI
  • Publication number: 20100165730
    Abstract: A method for operating a memory (28) includes storing data, which is encoded with an Error Correction Code (ECC), in analog memory cells (32) of the memory by writing respective analog input values selected from a set of nominal values to the analog memory cells. The stored data is read by performing multiple read operations that compare analog output values of the analog memory cells to different, respective read thresholds so as to produce multiple comparison results for each of the analog memory cells. At least two of the read thresholds are positioned between a pair of the nominal values that are adjacent to one another in the set of the nominal values. Soft metrics are computed responsively to the multiple comparison results. The ECC is decoded using the soft metrics, so as to extract the data stored in the analog memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: ANOBIT TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Naftali Sommer, Ofir Shalvi, Dotan Sokolov
  • Patent number: 8050086
    Abstract: A method for operating a memory (28) includes storing data in a group of analog memory cells (32) of the memory as respective first voltage levels. After storing the data, second voltage levels are read from the respective analog memory cells. The second voltage levels are affected by cross-coupling interference causing the second voltage levels to differ from the respective first voltage levels. Cross-coupling coefficients, which quantify the cross-coupling interference among the analog memory cells, are estimated by processing the second voltage levels. The data stored in the group of analog memory cells is reconstructed from the read second voltage levels using the estimated cross-coupling coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Anobit Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofir Shalvi, Naftali Sommer, Eyal Gurgi, Ariel Maislos
  • Publication number: 20080282106
    Abstract: A method for operating a memory includes encoding input data with an Error Correction Code (ECC) to produce input encoded data including first and second sections, such that the ECC is decodable based on the first section at a first redundancy, and based on both the first and the second sections at a second redundancy that is higher than the first redundancy. Output encoded data is read and a condition is evaluated. The input data is reconstructed using a decoding level selected, responsively to the condition, from a first level, at which a first part of the output encoded data corresponding to the first section is processed to decode the ECC at the first redundancy, and a second level, at which the first part and a second part of the output encoded data corresponding to the second section are processed jointly to decode the ECC at the second redundancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: Anobit Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Ofir Shalvi, Dotan Sokolov, Eyal Gurgi, Oren Golov, Naftali Sommer
  • Publication number: 20090024905
    Abstract: A method for operating a memory device (24) includes encoding data using an Error Correction Code (ECC) and storing the encoded data as first analog values in respective analog memory cells (32) of the memory device. After storing the encoded data, second analog values are read from the respective memory cells of the memory device in which the encoded data were stored. At least some of the second analog values differ from the respective first analog values. A distortion that is present in the second analog values is estimated. Error correction metrics are computed with respect to the second analog values responsively to the estimated distortion. The second analog values are processed using the error correction metrics in an ECC decoding process, so as to reconstruct the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: Anobit Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofir Shalvi, Naftali Sommer, Ariel Maislos, Dotan Sokolov
  • Publication number: 20120246443
    Abstract: A data storage method includes identifying, in a set of data items associated with respective logical addresses for storage in a memory, a first subset of the logical addresses associated with the data items containing application data, and a second subset of the logical addresses associated with the data items containing parity information that has been calculated over the application data. The data items associated with the first identified subset are stored in one or more first physical memory areas of the memory, and the data items associated with the second identified subset are stored in one or more second physical memory areas of the memory, different from the first physical memory areas. A memory management task is performed independently in the first physical memory areas and in the second physical memory areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: ANOBIT TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Avraham Meir, Oren Golov, Naftali Sommer, Moshe Neerman
  • Patent number: 8151166
    Abstract: A method for operating a memory that includes multiple analog memory cells includes storing data in the memory by writing first storage values to the cells, so as to cause the cells to hold respective electrical charge levels. After storing the data, second storage values are read from at least some of the cells, including at least one interfered cell that belongs to a group of cells. A Back Pattern Dependency (BPD) distortion caused by the electrical charge levels of one or more interfering cells in the group to at least one of the second storage values read from the at least one interfered cell is detected and canceled. The second storage values, including the at least one of the second storage values in which the BPD distortion was canceled, are processed so as to reconstruct the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Anobit Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofir Shalvi, Zeev Cohen
  • Patent number: 7924613
    Abstract: A method for data storage includes storing first data in analog memory cells using a first programming operation, which writes to the memory cells respective analog values representing respective bit values of the first data. Second data is stored in the analog memory cells in addition to the first data using a second programming operation, which modifies the respective analog values of the memory cells so as to represent bit value combinations of the first and second data. The first and second programming operations are defined such that, at all times during the second programming operation, the analog value of each memory cell remains unambiguously indicative of the respective bit value of the first data stored in that memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Anobit Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Naftali Sommer, Shai Winter, Ofir Shalvi
  • Patent number: 8151163
    Abstract: A method for storing data in a memory (28) that includes analog memory cells (32) includes identifying one or more defective memory cells in a group of the analog memory cells. An Error Correction Code (ECC) is selected responsively to a characteristic of the identified defective memory cells. The data is encoded using the selected ECC and the encoded data is stored in the group of the analog memory cells. In an alternative method, an identification of one or more defective memory cells among the analog memory cells is generated. Analog values are read from the analog memory cells in which the encoded data were stored, including at least one of the defective memory cells. The analog values are processed using an ECC decoding process responsively to the identification of the at least one of the defective memory cells, so as to reconstruct the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Anobit Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofir Shalvi, Dotan Sokolov
  • Patent number: 8156403
    Abstract: A method for operating a memory device (24) includes encoding data using an Error Correction Code (ECC) and storing the encoded data as first analog values in respective analog memory cells (32) of the memory device. After storing the encoded data, second analog values are read from the respective memory cells of the memory device in which the encoded data were stored. At least some of the second analog values differ from the respective first analog values. A distortion that is present in the second analog values is estimated. Error correction metrics are computed with respect to the second analog values responsively to the estimated distortion. The second analog values are processed using the error correction metrics in an ECC decoding process, so as to reconstruct the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Anobit Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofir Shalvi, Naftali Sommer, Ariel Maislos, Dotan Sokolov
  • Patent number: 8174905
    Abstract: A method for data storage includes predefining an order of programming a plurality of analog memory cells that are arranged in rows. The order specifies that for a given row having neighboring rows on first and second sides, the memory cells in the given row are programmed only while the memory cells in the neighboring rows on at least one of the sides are in an erased state, and that the memory cells in the given row are programmed to assume a highest programming level, which corresponds to a largest analog value among the programming levels of the cells, only after programming all the memory cells in the given row to assume the programming levels other than the highest level. Data is stored in the memory cells by programming the memory cells in accordance with the predefined order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Anobit Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofir Shalvi, Eyal Gurgi, Uri Perlmutter, Oren Golov
  • Patent number: 7706182
    Abstract: A method for storing data in a memory that includes a plurality of analog memory cells includes mapping the data to programming values, which are selected from a set of nominal programming values. The set of nominal programming values includes at least a first nominal programming value and a second nominal programming value, which is higher than the first nominal programming value. A part of the data is stored in the analog memory cells by programming at least a first group of the cells using the first nominal programming value. A statistical characteristic of the first group of the cells is measured after programming the first group of the cells using the first nominal programming value. The second nominal programming value is modified responsively to the statistical characteristic, and at least a second group of the cells is programmed using the modified second nominal programming value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Anobit Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofir Shalvi, Zeev Cohen, Dotan Sokolov
  • Patent number: 7975192
    Abstract: A method for operating a memory (28) includes storing data, which is encoded with an Error Correction Code (ECC), in analog memory cells (32) of the memory by writing respective analog input values selected from a set of nominal values to the analog memory cells. The stored data is read by performing multiple read operations that compare analog output values of the analog memory cells to different, respective read thresholds so as to produce multiple comparison results for each of the analog memory cells. At least two of the read thresholds are positioned between a pair of the nominal values that are adjacent to one another in the set of the nominal values. Soft metrics are computed responsively to the multiple comparison results. The ECC is decoded using the soft metrics, so as to extract the data stored in the analog memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Anobit Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Naftali Sommer, Ofir Shalvi, Dotan Sokolov
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