Memory Device Program Loop Recovery Pulse for Charge Detrapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Memory devices face challenges in maintaining program loop integrity and data retention due to charge detrapping during suspension, leading to threshold voltage distribution degradation.
Innovation Solution
A memory device and method that allow for suspending and resuming program loops with a recovery pulse apply operation to compensate for charges detrapped from the channel area of selected memory cells, preventing threshold voltage distribution degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a program operation is suspended during a program loop, then the memory device can perform other operations (improving adaptability), but charge detrapping occurs in the channel area causing threshold voltage distribution degradation (worsening reliability)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a recovery pulse operation before resuming the program loop after suspension. This recovery pulse compensates for charge detrapping that occurred during the suspension period, preventing threshold voltage distribution degradation before it can affect program integrity. The recovery pulse is applied in advance to restore charge conditions to what they would have been had continuous programming occurred.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of charge detrapping during suspension into a beneficial process by using the suspension period to perform a recovery pulse operation. The charge detrapping that would normally degrade threshold voltage distribution is instead compensated for through the recovery pulse, transforming the potential harm into an opportunity for charge restoration and maintaining program loop integrity.
2Reliability
If recovery pulse operations are performed to compensate for charge detrapping, then threshold voltage distribution integrity is maintained (improving reliability), but additional operation time is required (worsening productivity)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by inserting the recovery pulse operation at specific periodic intervals - namely, at the resumption point after suspension. Rather than continuously applying recovery pulses or performing them at every program step, the recovery pulse is applied periodically only when needed - at the transition from suspended to resumed state. This periodic application maintains threshold voltage integrity while minimizing the total time overhead compared to continuous correction approaches.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively resumes program loops after charge compensation, maintaining data integrity and preventing threshold voltage distribution shifts, thus enhancing program performance and data retention.
Implementation Method 1
compensating for charges detrapped from a channel area of the selected memory cells
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein is a memory device and a method of operating the same. The memory device may include a plurality of memory cells, a peripheral circuit, and a control logic. The peripheral circuit may be configured to perform a plurality of program loops, each including a program pulse apply operation and a program verify operation, on selected memory cells of the plurality of memory cells. The control logic may be configured to control, in response to a suspend command, the peripheral circuit to suspend an n-th program loop of the plurality of program loops, where n is a natural number of 1 or more, and configured to control, in response to a resume command, the peripheral circuit to resume the suspended n-th program loop after performing a recovery pulse apply operation compensating for charges detrapped from a channel area of the selected memory cells.