Controller Word Line Grouping for Program Time Deviation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deviations in program time among word lines in semiconductor memory devices lead to performance degradation during programming operations, as the time required to program data varies significantly across different word lines, affecting overall program efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A controller with a word line grouping circuit that groups word lines based on program time information, and a super page configuration circuit that configures super pages using these groups to minimize deviations in program time, with the option to designate dummy word lines and select replacement word lines to optimize performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If word lines are programmed without grouping by program time, then the programming operation can proceed straightforwardly, but program performance degrades due to significant variations in program time among different word lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the plurality of word lines into multiple groups based on their program time characteristics. Each group contains word lines with similar program times, allowing independent programming operations within each group. This segmentation eliminates the performance degradation caused by mixing word lines with vastly different program times in a single programming operation.
2Productivity
If word lines are grouped by program time information, then program performance is improved by minimizing time variations, but the system complexity increases due to additional grouping and super page configuration circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs word line grouping and super page configuration in advance, before actual programming operations. The controller pre-processes program time information to create optimized groupings and configurations, so that during normal operation, the system can simply execute pre-determined programming sequences without real-time decision-making complexity.
3Productivity
If dummy word lines are used to fill super pages, then programming efficiency is improved by optimizing pulse counts, but additional overhead is introduced in managing dummy word lines and their configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of program pulse count for dummy word lines, applying fewer pulses compared to regular word lines. By identifying which word lines will serve as dummy lines during super page configuration, the system optimizes the programming process by reducing unnecessary programming operations on lines that will not be actively used, thereby improving overall programming efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a storage device, a controller and a method for operating a controller. The controller described in embodiments of the disclosure may include a word line grouping circuit configured to group a plurality of word lines in a semiconductor memory device into a plurality of word line groups based on program time information on program times of the respective word lines. Also, the controller may include a super page configuration circuit configured to configure a plurality of super pages including some of the word lines, based on word line group information on the word line groups. Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a storage device, a controller and a method for operating a controller, capable of minimizing program performance degradation that may occur due to deviations in program time among word lines.