# Patent

## Title
Memory block testing

## Abstract

A memory device is tested by programming a plurality of pages of a memory block of the memory device, determining a programming time for each page, determining a total programming time for the memory block, passing the memory block if the total programming time for the memory block is less than or equal to a first predetermined time, and failing the memory block if the total programming time for the memory block exceeds the first predetermined time or the programming time for any one of the pages exceeds a second predetermined time.

## Background
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to memory devices and in particular the present invention relates to memory block testing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Memory devices, such as NAND or NOR flash memory devices, dynamic random access memory devices (DRAMs), static random access memory device (SRAMs), or the like, are generally fabricated on semiconductor wafers. Each of these wafers typically contains a number of individual integrated circuit memory devices formed in rectangular areas known as dies. After fabrication, each die is separated, or diced, then packaged in a format suitable for the end user.
Before or after dicing and packaging, a manufacturer may test its integrated circuit devices as part of a quality program to improve end-use reliability. Such tests are generally performed on highly-specialized testing systems or tester hardware. Prior to dicing, tests may be performed by the testing system on each die of a semiconductor wafer in pattern. The tester hardware may test each die individually or it may test multiple dies concurrently. Subsequent to dicing, tests may be performed by the testing system on multiple packaged components in pattern. The tester hardware may test each component individually or it may test multiple components concurrently.
A typical NAND flash memory comprises a memory array that includes a large number of memory cells arranged in row and column fashion. Each of the memory cells includes a floating-gate field-effect transistor capable of holding a charge. The cells are usually grouped into blocks, e.g., 2048 blocks. Each block includes a number of rows, e.g., 32 rows, and each row may include one or more pages, e.g., two pages. Each of the cells within a block can be electrically programmed on an individual basis by charging the floating gate. The charge can be removed from the floating gate by a block erase operation. The data in a cell is determined by the presence or absence of the charge on the floating gate.
To guarantee the programming speed of a memory device to a customer, typical test methods usually involve determining a time it takes to program each page and comparing that time to a predetermined acceptable programming time for a page. For some conventional test methods, if the programming time for any one of the pages is longer than the predetermined acceptable programming time, the entire block is failed and is repaired. That is, an entire block may be failed and subsequently repaired for just one slow block. Such repairs increase manufacturing times that result in reduced yields. Moreover, the frequency of the repairs is highly dependent on variations in the fabrication process.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for alternative test methods for determining programming speeds.
SUMMARY
The above-mentioned problems with test methods for determining programming speeds and other problems are addressed by the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.
For one embodiment, the invention provides a method of testing a memory device, including programming a plurality of pages of a memory block, determining a programming time for each page, determining a total programming time for the memory block, passing the memory block if the total programming time for the memory block is less than or equal to a first predetermined time, and failing the memory block if the total programming time for the memory block exceeds the first predetermined time or the programming time for any one of the pages exceeds a second predetermined time.
Further embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatus of varying scope.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a memory device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates a layout of memory array, according to another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates a memory block, according to another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic of a NAND memory array in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a test method, according to another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary plots of program status signals, according to an embodiment of the invention.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a memory device 102 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The memory device 102 may be fabricated as an integrated circuit or semiconductor device on a semiconductor die of a semiconductor wafer. FIG. 1 further shows that the memory device 102 may be coupled to a processor 120 to form part of an electronic system 100. Examples of electronic systems 100 include such systems as computer systems, peripheral devices, cellular and wireless devices, digital cameras, audio recorders, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and test equipment. For one embodiment, the processor 120 may be part of a testing system or tester hardware with the memory device 102 being the device under test. For this embodiment, the processor 120 provides address signals, data signals, and control signals to the memory device 102 through multiple leads acting as address lines, data lines, and control lines. Regardless of whether the memory device 102 is an active component of the electronic system 100 or a device under test in the electronic system 100, the processor 120 may be coupled to more than one memory device 102.
For one embodiment memory device 102 may be a NAND memory device or the like that includes an array of flash memory cells 104, e.g., floating-gate memory cells, an address decoder 106, row access circuitry 108, column access circuitry 110, Input/Output (I/O) circuitry 114, and an address buffer 116. Command execution logic 111 is provided to control the basic operations of the memory device 102 in response to control signals received via control signal connections 122. A state machine 113 may also be provided to control specific operations performed on the memory array and the memory cells. The command execution logic 111 and/or state machine 113 can be generally referred to as control circuitry 112 to control read, write, erase, and other memory operations. The memory device 102 receives control signals from the processor 120 over a control link 122. The memory cells are used to store data that are accessed via a data (DQ) link 124. Address signals are received via an address link 126 that are decoded at address decoder 106 to access the memory array 104. Address buffer circuit 116 latches the address signals. The memory cells are accessed in response to the control signals and the address signals. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additional circuitry and control signals can be provided, and that the memory device of FIG. 1 has been simplified to help focus on the invention.
For one embodiment, command execution logic 111 includes trim circuitry (not shown) that may include fusible elements, such as fuses and/or anti-fuses, and/or other non-volatile storage elements adapted to store control parameter values used by state machine 113 for controlling operations on memory blocks of memory array 104. Such control parameters may include, for example, parameters for adjusting the magnitude and duration of voltage pulses applied to the memory blocks, or portions thereof, for carrying out programming and erasing operations.
For another embodiment, processor 120 is adapted to perform methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention in response to computer-readable instructions. These computer-readable instructions are stored on a computer-usable media and may be in the form of software, firmware, or hardware. In a hardware solution, the instructions are hard coded as part of processor 120, e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. In a software or firmware solution, the instructions are stored for retrieval by processor 120. Some additional examples of computer-usable media include static or dynamic random access memory (SRAM or DRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically-erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM or flash memory), magnetic media and optical media, whether permanent or removable.
FIG. 2 illustrates a layout of memory array 104, according to another embodiment of the invention. Memory array 104 includes memory blocks 200. Each of memory blocks 200 includes rows 300 of memory cells, as shown in FIG. 3, according to another embodiment of the invention. For one embodiment, each row 300 may include one or more pages 310.
FIG. 4 illustrates a NAND memory array 400 as a portion of a memory block 200 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the memory array 400 includes word lines 4021 to 402N and intersecting local bit lines 4041 to 404M. For ease of addressing in the digital environment, the number of word lines 402 and the number of bit lines 404 are each some power of two, e.g., 256 word lines 402 by 4,096 bit lines 404. The local bit lines 404 are coupled to global bit lines (not shown) in a many-to-one relationship.
Memory array 400 includes NAND strings 4061 to 406M. Each NAND string includes floating-gate transistors 4081 to 408N, each located at an intersection of a word line 402 and a local bit line 404. The floating-gate transistors 408 represent non-volatile memory cells for storage of data. The floating-gate transistors 408 of each NAND string 406 are connected in series, source to drain, between a source select line 414 and a drain select line 415. Source select line 414 includes a source select gate 410, e.g., a field-effect transistor (FET), at each intersection between a NAND string 406 and source select line 414, and drain select line 415 includes a drain select gate 412, e.g., a field-effect transistor (FET), at each intersection between a NAND string 406 and drain select line 415. In this way, the floating-gate transistors 408 of each NAND string 406 are connected between a source select gate 410 and a drain select gate 412.
A source of each source select gate 410 is connected to a common source line 416. The drain of each source select gate 410 is connected to the source of the first floating-gate transistor 408 of the corresponding NAND string 406. For example, the drain of source select gate 4101 is connected to the source of floating-gate transistor 4081 of the corresponding NAND string 4061. Each source select gate 410 includes a control gate 420.
The drain of each drain select gate 412 is connected to the local bit line 404 for the corresponding NAND string at a drain contact 428. For example, the drain of drain select gate 4121 is connected to the local bit line 4041 for the corresponding NAND string 4061 at drain contact 4281. The source of each drain select gate 412 is connected to the drain of the last floating-gate transistor 408N of the corresponding NAND string 406. For example, the source of drain select gate 4121 is connected to the drain of floating-gate transistor 408N of the corresponding NAND string 4061.
Typical construction of floating-gate transistors 408 includes a source 430 and a drain 432, a floating gate 434, and a control gate 436, as shown in FIG. 4. Floating-gate transistors 408 have their control gates 436 coupled to a word line 402. A column of memory array 400 includes a NAND string 406 and the source and drain select gates connected thereto. A row of the floating-gate transistors 408 are those transistors commonly coupled to a given word line 402.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a test method 500, according to another embodiment of the invention, for determining a programming time for a memory block, such as a memory block 200 of FIGS. 2 and 3 of a memory device, such as memory device 102 of FIG. 1. For one embodiment, processor 120, as part of a testing system or tester hardware, may perform test method 500. For another embodiment, prior to performing test method 500, memory blocks of the memory device are programmed based on calculated corrected values of the control parameters stored in the trim circuitry of the memory device. After this programming step, the memory blocks are fully erased, and any memory blocks that could not be erased are repaired or marked.
At block 510, each page of a memory block is programmed using one or more programming cycles that may include applying a programming voltage and subsequently performing a program verify to determine whether the page is programmed correctly. After programming the pages of the memory block, a programming time for each page is determined at block 520, and a total programming time for the memory block is determined at block 530. For one embodiment, the programming time for each page and the total programming time for the memory block each correspond to a number of programming cycles. If the total programming time (or total number of programming cycles) for the memory block is less that or equal to a first predetermined time (or number of programming cycles), the memory block is passed at block 540. If the total programming time for the memory block exceeds the first predetermined time (or number of programming cycles) or a programming time (or number of programming cycles) for any one of the pages exceeds a second predetermined time (or number of programming cycles), the memory block is failed at block 550.
FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary plots of program status signals 6101-610L respectively for the programming of pages 3101-310L of FIG. 3. Program status signals 610 are received at processor 120 over data (DQ) link 124 (FIG. 1) during a programming test performed on memory device 102, according to an embodiment of the invention. For one embodiment, when a status signal 610 transitions from a first logic level, e.g., a logic high level (H) (or a logic 1) to a second logic level, e.g., a logic low level (L) (or a logic 0), a programming operation on a corresponding page 310 is activated, and when the status signal 610 transitions from the second logic level to the first logic level, the corresponding page 310 is programmed.
For another embodiment, a time period Δt between successive times t, such as Δt0-1=t1-t0, Δt1-2=t2-t1, etc., may correspond to a time duration, e.g., about 75 to about 100 microseconds, of a programming pulse applied to a page 310, according to the parameter values stored in the trim circuitry of commend execution logic 111 of FIG. 1. For one embodiment, the duration of a programming pulse is about 77 to about 95 microseconds.
For some embodiments, processor 120 checks the logic level of status signals 610 after a first number R1 of programming pulses, e.g., about four pulses, to determine whether any of the pages are programmed. For example, pages 3102, 3104, 3105, and 3106 of FIG. 3, as respectively indicated by signals 6102, 6104, 6105, and 6106 of FIG. 6, are programmed by the first number R1 of programming pulses, and correspond to a programming time of ΔT4-0=t4-t0 (FIG. 6). Note that pages may be programmed with fewer than the first number R1 of programming pulses, and the corresponding status signals transition from the low to high logic level when the pages are programmed. However, processor 120 may not check the status until the first number R1 of programming pulses is reached, so that any pages programmed in fewer than the first number R1 are taken to be programmed in the first number R1 or in a programming time of ΔT4-0. Note that a program-verify may be performed after each programming pulse to determine whether the pages are programmed. For one embodiment, one page is programmed and tested at a time. Once the page is programmed, another page is programmed and tested, etc.
If a page is not programmed by the first number R1 of programming pulses, i.e., in a programming time of ΔT4-0, another programming pulse is applied to the page, and processor 120 checks the logic level of status signals 610 after a second number R2(=R1+1) of programming pulses, e.g., about five pulses, to determine whether any of the pages are programmed. For example, pages 3101 and 310L of FIG. 3, as respectively indicated by signals 6101 and 610L of FIG. 6, have been programmed by the second number R2 of programming pulses, corresponding to a programming time of ΔT5-0=t5-t0 (FIG. 6).
If a page is not programmed by the second number R2 of programming pulses, i.e., in a programming time of ΔT5-0, another programming pulse is applied to the page, and processor 120 checks the logic level of status signals 610 after a third number R3(=R2+1) of programming pulses, e.g., about six pulses, to determine whether any of the pages are programmed. For example, page 3103 of FIG. 3, as indicated by signal 6103 of FIG. 6, is programmed by the third number R3 of programming pulses, corresponding to a programming time of ΔT6-0=t6-t0 (FIG. 6). For one embodiment, if a page is not programmed by the third number R3 of programming pulses or less, i.e., in a programming time of ΔT5-0 or less, the memory block is failed. Note that page 310L-1 of FIG. 3, as indicated by signal 610L-1 of FIG. 6, is programmed by a fourth number of programming pulses that is greater than the third number R3 of programming pulses, corresponding to a programming time that is greater than ΔT6-0. However, such an occurrence will cause processor 120 to fail the memory block.
For another embodiment, if the number of pages programmed in a programming time of ΔT5-0 (or R2 programming pulses) exceeds a first predetermined number, the corresponding block is failed, or the number of pages programmed in a programming time of ΔT6-0 (or R3 programming pulses) exceeds a second predetermined number, the corresponding block is failed. This means that a block can pass with a first number of pages programmed in a programming time of ΔT5-0, a second number of pages programmed in a programming time of ΔT6-0, and the remaining pages programmed in a programming time of ΔT4-0 (or R1 programming pulses) or less. For example, for one embodiment, the first number of pages may be up to about five, the second number of pages may be up to about two, and the remaining number of pages may be no less than about 59. Conventional programming schemes typically fail a block if a single page exceeds a single fixed programming time, whereas embodiments of the present invention pass a block having a few slower pages, while relying on the faster pages to compensate for the slower pages to generate an acceptable programming speed. This can help to increase yields during manufacturing.
CONCLUSION
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. Many adaptations of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention. It is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.

## Claims

1. A method of testing a memory device, comprising:
programming a plurality of pages of a memory block;
determining a number of programming cycles applied to each page and failing the memory block when the number of programming cycles applied to any one of the pages exceeds a first predetermined number prior to that page being programmed;
if each page is programmed when the number of programming cycles applied to that page is the first predetermined number or less, then:
determining a total number of programming cycles required to program the memory block;
passing the memory block if the total number of programming cycles required to program the memory block is less than or equal to a second predetermined number; and
failing the memory block if the total number of programming cycles required to program the memory block exceeds the second predetermined number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein passing the memory block comprises allowing a first number of pages to be programmed with a first number of programming cycles and at least a second number of pages to be programmed with a second number of programming cycles that is greater than the first number of programming cycles.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein passing the memory block further comprises allowing a third number of pages to be programmed with a third number of programming cycles that is greater than the second number of programming cycles.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first number of pages programmed with the first number of programming cycles, the second number of pages programmed with the second number of programming cycles, and the third number of pages programmed with the third number of programming cycles are selected so that the total number of programming cycles required to program the memory block is less than or equal to the second predetermined number of programming cycles.

5. An electronic system, comprising:
a processor; and
one or more memory devices coupled to the processor, each of the one or more memory devices comprising a plurality of memory blocks, wherein the processor is configured to perform a method of testing each memory block, the method comprising:
programming a plurality of pages of the memory block;
determining a number of programming cycles applied to each page and failing the memory block when the number of programming cycles applied to any one of the pages exceeds a first predetermined number prior to that page being programmed;
if each page is programmed when the number of programming cycles applied to that page is the first predetermined number or less, then:
determining a total number of programming cycles required to program the memory block;
passing the memory block if the total number of programming cycles required to program the memory block is less than or equal to a second predetermined number; and
failing the memory block if the total number of programming cycles required to program the memory block exceeds the second predetermined number.

6. The electronic system of claim 5, wherein, in the method, passing the memory block comprises allowing a first number of pages to be programmed with a first number of programming cycles and at least a second number of pages to be programmed with a second number of programming cycles that is greater than the first number of programming cycles.

7. The electronic system of claim 6, wherein, in the method, passing the memory block further comprises allowing a third number of pages to be programmed with a third number of programming cycles that is greater than the second number of programming cycles.

8. The electronic system of claim 7, wherein, in the method, the first number of pages programmed with the first number of programming cycles, the second number of pages programmed with the second number of programming cycles, and the third number of pages programmed with the third number of programming cycles are selected so that the total number of programming cycles required to program the memory block is less than or equal to the second predetermined number of programming cycles.

9. The electronic system of claim 5, wherein the processor is a part of a testing system or tester hardware.

10. The electronic system of claim 5, wherein the method is performed in response to the processor receiving computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-usable media.

11. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein computer-usable media is selected from the group consisting of hardware, software, and firmware.