First-Pass Dynamic Program Targeting for Memory Cell Error Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional memory systems face challenges in reducing errors during multi-pass programming operations due to level misplacement errors, which occur when errors in the first programming pass are not corrected before the second pass, leading to increased error rates and reliability issues.

Innovation Solution

Implementing first-pass Dynamic Program Targeting (DPT) and continuous Read Level Calibration (cRLC) operations, which sample and adjust program-verify targets and read level thresholds during the first programming pass to minimize errors and optimize the memory system's performance by continually tracking and correcting errors between programming passes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional multi-pass programming operations are performed without dynamic adjustment, then the programming process is simpler and faster, but level misplacement errors increase and reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror rateVSAvoidprogramming operation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs read level calibration and program targeting operations during idle periods between programming passes, preparing corrected parameters in advance for the next pass. This preliminary action ensures that error correction is ready before it's needed, improving reliability without adding complexity to the main programming flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors programming results and uses feedback from read operations to dynamically adjust program verify targets and read level thresholds. This closed-loop feedback mechanism corrects level misplacement errors by comparing actual programming outcomes with expected results and adjusting parameters accordingly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 3:

The system transitions from static programming parameters to dynamic adjustment of program verify targets and read level thresholds. By making parameters adaptive and changeable between passes, the system can respond to actual programming conditions and reduce errors while maintaining operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If first-pass DPT and cRLC operations are implemented to correct errors between passes, then reliability improves, but processing time and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory component qualityVSAvoidprogramming operation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs calibration and correction operations periodically between programming passes rather than continuously. This periodic action allows error correction to occur during natural idle periods in the programming process, improving reliability without adding continuous overhead that would extend total programming time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous improvement of programming parameters by performing calibration operations during every available window between passes. This continuous refinement of read levels and program targets ensures that each subsequent pass benefits from accumulated corrections, improving reliability efficiently over multiple passes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Manufacturing precision

If program verify targets are dynamically adjusted between passes, then manufacturing precision improves, but measurement and detection difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogram target placement accuracyVSAvoidprogramming distribution measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs calibration on a representative sample of memory blocks rather than every single block. This partial action provides sufficient statistical data to determine optimal program verify targets without the excessive measurement burden of analyzing every block, achieving good precision while managing measurement complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces intermediate calibration blocks that serve as test subjects for determining optimal program verify targets. These intermediary blocks are programmed and read to measure programming distributions, and the results are used to set targets for production blocks, simplifying the measurement process while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11651828B2First-pass dynamic program targeting (DPT)

Publication Date: 2023.05.16 MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Described herein are embodiments related to first-pass dynamic program targeting (DPT) operations on memory cells of memory systems. A method includes determining that a first programming pass of a programming operation has been performed on a memory cell of the memory component, and performing a dynamic program targeting (DPT) operation on the memory cell to calibrate a first program-verify (PV) target value that results in an adjustment to a placement of a first first-pass programming distribution and a second PV target value that results in an adjustment to a placement of a second first-pass programming distribution before a second programming pass of the programming operation is performed on the memory cell.