Method and apparatus for increasing data retention capability of a non-volatile memory

摘要

Semi-volatile NAND flash memory systems, apparatuses, and methods for use are described herein. According to various embodiments, a semi-volatile NAND flash memory may be partitioned into various retention regions. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
writing data in a first memory block of a non-volatile memory; subsequent to writing the data in the first memory block, determining that the data written in the first memory block needs to be refreshed; and based on determining that the data written in the first memory block needs to be refreshed,
(i) if the first memory block has endured at least a threshold number of erase/write cycles, relocating the data from the first memory block to a second memory block of the non-volatile memory, and(ii) if the first memory block has endured less than the threshold number of erase/write cycles, refreshing the data in the first memory block of the non-volatile memory.