Data Storage Device and Data Maintenance Method

Abstract

A data storage device including a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory includes a plurality of pages and a plurality of word lines, wherein each of the word lines controls at least two of the pages. The controller reads a first page of the pages in response to a read command, wherein the first page is controlled by a first word line of the word lines, and the controller further writes dummy data into the pages controlled by the first word line other than the first page when a predetermined condition is satisfied, wherein the predetermined condition includes that the first word line is not close.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This Application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 104132975, filed on Oct. 7, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a data maintenance method, and in particular to a data maintenance method related to data reading.[0004]Description of the Related Art[0005]Flash memory is considered a non-volatile data-storage device that uses electrical methods to erase and program itself. NAND Flash, for example, is often used in memory cards, USB flash devices, solid state devices, eMMCs, and other memory devices.[0006]Flash memory such as NAND Flash uses a multiple-block structure to store data, wherein the flash memory uses floating gate transistors. The floating gates of the floating gate transistor may catch electronic charges for storing data. However, the floating gates may lose their electronic charges due to var...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a data storage device and a method for maintaining data in the device's flash memory. The device includes a controller that can read and write data to the multiple pages in the flash memory. The method involves performing a read command to read the first page, which is controlled by a specific word line. If there is no close relationship between the first word line and the page being read, dummy data is written into the pages controlled by the first word line to avoid accessing unnecessary data. This reduces the time and resources required for the device to perform data maintenance.

Problems solved by technology

However, the floating gates may lose their electronic charges due to various operations and the various environmental parameters of the flash memory, which can lead to the problem of data retention.

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