Semiconductor Storage Device Redundancy Region Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor storage devices with nonvolatile memory arrays require specialized circuitry for reading redundancy data, increasing manufacturing costs and complicating the testing process, and are inflexible in arranging redundancy regions.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor storage device configuration where user and redundancy regions are composed of interchangeable page units, allowing the same circuitry to read both user and redundancy data without specialized circuits, and enabling flexible positioning of the redundancy region through an I/O portion and controller with a redundancy address offset register.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized circuitry is provided for reading redundancy data from redundancy regions, then reading redundancy data becomes possible, but manufacturing costs increase and testing becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling the same memory array circuitry to perform multiple functions: reading both user data from user regions and redundancy data from redundancy regions. The memory array is organized with page units that can be configured as either user regions or redundancy regions, allowing a single set of read circuits to serve both purposes without requiring specialized dedicated circuitry for redundancy data reading.
2Reliability
If redundancy regions are fixed in specific positions, then error correction can be performed, but the memory areas cannot be flexibly used according to variations among individual memory arrays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the redundancy region position variable rather than fixed. The memory array is divided into page units that can be dynamically assigned as either user regions or redundancy regions based on the specific characteristics of each memory array. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt to variations among individual memory arrays while maintaining error correction capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the memory array into discrete page units that can be independently configured. Each page unit can be assigned as a user region or a redundancy region, allowing flexible arrangement of redundancy regions in appropriate positions according to variations among individual memory arrays while maintaining the ability to perform error correction.
3Ease of manufacture
If memory areas are dedicated to specific functions (user region or redundancy region), then data organization is simplified, but it becomes impossible to locate redundancy regions in appropriate positions according to variations among individual memory arrays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the memory areas to change their function based on configuration needs. The same physical memory locations can be assigned as user regions during normal operation or reconfigured as redundancy regions when error correction is needed, allowing the system to adapt to variations among individual memory arrays without complicating the manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a semiconductor storage device that requires no specialized circuit or the like for reading redundancy data from a redundancy region, and that is capable of freely changing the arrangement of the redundancy region in the memory array area. A semiconductor storage device of the present invention includes a memory array configured as shown below. The memory array includes a user region which is composed of given page units and where user data is stored, and a redundancy region which is composed of the same given page units and where redundancy data is stored. The area in the memory array can be used either as the user region or as the redundancy region.