Non-volatile Memory Read While Write During Multi-Sector Erase
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional non-volatile memory devices, such as flash memory devices, face difficulties in efficiently reading data during an erase operation, allowing only status data to be read from sectors that have already been erased, while data from sectors yet to be erased cannot be accessed until all intended erase operations are completed.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a data read method that allows reading data from sectors that have not yet been erased during a multi-sector erase operation, using a Read While Write (RWW) operation, where data can be read from sectors belonging to banks with already erased sectors, and a controller configures the operations to manage these read and erase processes efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a multi-sector erase operation is performed sequentially, then data integrity is maintained during erase, but data reading capability is lost for sectors being erased or already erased
Solution Approach 1:
The memory device is divided into multiple independent banks, each capable of autonomous operation. During a multi-sector erase operation in one bank, data can be simultaneously read from sectors in other banks that have already been erased, as each bank operates independently without interfering with others
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary classification of sectors into three states (erased, erasing, unerased) and enables data reading from sectors that have already been erased during an ongoing erase operation, rather than waiting for the entire erase operation to complete
2Reliability
If data reading is disabled during erase operation, then erase operation completes successfully, but productivity decreases due to operation halting
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous data reading operations during the erase process by allowing reads from sectors that have already been erased, eliminating idle time and ensuring that the data access function remains continuously useful throughout the erase operation
Solution Approach 2:
Sectors are pre-classified into erased, erasing, and unerased states, allowing the system to identify and enable data reading from sectors that have already completed their erase operation, thereby maintaining productivity during the overall erase process
3Measurement precision
If data is read only from unerased sectors, then data accuracy is ensured, but loss of time occurs due to waiting for erase completion
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of sectors into three distinct states (erased, erasing, unerased) and enables data reading from sectors that have already been erased during an ongoing erase operation, rather than waiting for the entire erase operation to complete, thus reducing data access delay without compromising accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the memory into multiple banks and sectors with different erase states, the system can selectively read from sectors that have already been erased while the erase operation continues in other sectors, eliminating the need to wait for complete erase operation while maintaining data accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
The data read method for a non-volatile memory device includes a multi-sector erase operation and a Read While Write (RWW) operation. In the multi-sector erase operation, a plurality of sectors, which are to be erased, are sequentially erased. In the RWW operation, if a read command instructing reading of a sector that is to be read is received while the multi-sector erase operation is being performed, data of the sector that is to be read is read. In the RWW operation, data of a sector that is to be read belonging to a bank including an erased sector, from which data is already erased, is read. Related memory devices are also disclosed.