Non-volatile memory and method with shared processing for an aggregate of read/write circuits

Abstract

A non-volatile memory device capable of reading and writing a large number of memory cells with multiple read/write circuits in parallel has an architecture that reduces redundancy in the multiple read/write circuits to a minimum. The multiple read/write circuits are organized into a bank of similar stacks of components. Redundant circuits such as a processor for processing data among stacks each associated with multiple memory cells are factored out. The processor is implemented with an input logic, a latch and an output logic. The input logic can transform the data received from either the sense amplifier or the data latches. The output logic further processes the transformed data to send to either the sense amplifier or the data latches or to a controller. This provides an infrastructure with maximum versatility and a minimum of components for sophisticated processing of the data sensed and the data to be input or output.

1 . A non-volatile memory device, comprising: 
 an array of memory cells;    a set of read/write stacks for operating on a group of memory cells of said array in parallel,    each read/write stacks comprising:    a sense amplifier having at least one node with sense amplifier data;    a set of data latches for latching input or output data of said each read/write circuit;    a processor coupled to said at least one node with sense amplifier data and said set of data latches for processing data therebetween; and wherein said processor further comprising:    an input logic selectively coupled to either said at least one node with sense amplifier data or said set of data latches to retrieve data therefrom, and responsive to a first set of control signals to generate first resultant data; and    an output logic responsive to a second set of control signals and said first resultant data to generate second resultant data, said processor selectively coupled to either said at least one node with sense amplifier data or said set of data latches to store said second resultant data thereto.    
   
   
       2 . A non-volatile memory device as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one node is a latch.  
   
   
       3 . A non-volatile memory device as in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one processor latch for latching said first resultant data.    
   
   
       4 . A non-volatile memory device as in  claim 1 , wherein said processor is shared by a plurality of read/write stacks.  
   
   
       5 . A non-volatile memory device as in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a controller for generating said first and second set of control signals.    
   
   
       6 . A non-volatile memory device as in  claim 1 , wherein said second resultant data from said processor is latched by said set of data latches.  
   
   
       7 . A non-volatile memory device as in  claim 1 , wherein said second resultant data from said processor is received by said at least one node with sense amplifier latch.  
   
   
       8 . A non-volatile memory device as in  claim 1 , wherein said processor retrieves data from said set of data latches.  
   
   
       9 . A non-volatile memory device as in  claim 1 , wherein said processor retrieves data from said at least one node with sense amplifier data.  
   
   
       10 . A non-volatile memory device as in  claim 1 , wherein said processor retrieves data from one portion of said set of data latches and stores said second resultant data to another portion of said set of data latches.  
   
   
       11 . A non-volatile memory device as in  claim 1 , wherein said processor outputs a status responsive to a predetermined data condition.  
   
   
       12 . A non-volatile memory device as in  claim 1 , wherein said output logic comprises: 
 at least one pull-up circuit controlled by PMOS transistors.    
   
   
       13 . A non-volatile memory device as in  claim 1 , wherein said output logic comprises: 
 at least one pull-down circuit controlled by NMOS transistors.    
   
   
       14 . A non-volatile memory device as in any one of claims  1 - 13 , wherein each memory cell stores one bit of data.  
   
   
       15 . A non-volatile memory device as in any one of claims  1 - 13 , wherein each memory cell stores more than one bit of data.  
   
   
       16 . A method of processing data for non-volatile memory among a set of sense amplifiers and data latches, comprising: 
 retrieving data from either one of said sense amplifiers or one of said data latches;    transforming the retrieved data according to a set of control signals dependent the current operating state; and    sending the transformed data to either one of said sense amplifier or one of said data latch.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said non-volatile memory includes an array of memory cells and each memory cell stores one bit of data.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said non-volatile memory includes an array of memory cells and each memory cell stores more than one bit of data.