Memory Read Threshold Reuse for Selective Valley Tracking

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing memory systems inefficiently perform read threshold voltage computations for every memory component portion, leading to degraded performance and resource waste due to repetitive valley track processes.

Innovation Solution

A memory controller selectively performs valley track operations based on the physical proximity and temporal proximity of memory component portions, using previously computed read threshold voltages for adjacent or similarly timed portions to optimize performance and reduce redundant computations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If valley track operations are performed for every memory component portion, then read data accuracy is improved, but processing time and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveread data accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of memory component portions based on their characteristics. Instead of uniformly applying valley track operations to all portions, the system identifies portions that require valley track operations (e.g., those with different program times or temperatures) and applies the operation only to those specific local areas, while using pre-computed read threshold voltages for portions that do not require it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-computing read threshold voltages for memory component portions before they are needed for data reading. The system performs valley track operations in advance for portions that will be read soon or are likely to require it, storing the computed read threshold voltages for later use. This eliminates the need to perform expensive valley track operations at the moment of reading for all portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If valley track operations are performed for every memory component portion, then read data accuracy is improved, but computational resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveread data accuracyVSAvoidcomputational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of memory component portions based on their characteristics. Instead of uniformly applying valley track operations to all portions, the system identifies portions that require valley track operations (e.g., those with different program times or temperatures) and applies the operation only to those specific local areas, while using pre-computed read threshold voltages for portions that do not require it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-computing read threshold voltages for memory component portions before they are needed for data reading. The system performs valley track operations in advance for portions that will be read soon or are likely to require it, storing the computed read threshold voltages for later use. This eliminates the need to perform expensive valley track operations at the moment of reading for all portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If read threshold voltages are recomputed for each portion, then data reading reliability is improved, but operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata reading reliabilityVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of memory component portions based on their characteristics. Instead of uniformly applying valley track operations to all portions, the system identifies portions that require valley track operations (e.g., those with different program times or temperatures) and applies the operation only to those specific local areas, while using pre-computed read threshold voltages for portions that do not require it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-computing read threshold voltages for memory component portions before they are needed for data reading. The system performs valley track operations in advance for portions that will be read soon or are likely to require it, storing the computed read threshold voltages for later use. This eliminates the need to perform expensive valley track operations at the moment of reading for all portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12585388B2Selectively enabling valley track for reading data

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure configure a memory sub-system controller to read data from a first portion of a memory based on read levels previously established while reading a second portion of the memory. The controller receives a request to read data from a first portion of a set of memory components. The controller identifies a second portion of the set of memory components that has been programmed with data within a threshold period of time of programming the data in the first portion. The controller retrieves a set of read threshold levels that have been previously computed in association with reading the data from the second portion. The controller reads the data from the first portion using the set of read threshold levels that have been previously computed in association with reading the data from the second portion.