A memory device comprises a memory array and a memory control unit. The memory includes multi-level memory cells. The memory control unit is configured to: initiate programming of memory cells of the memory array using a first pass programming operation, wherein the first pass programming operation places programming data using a first and second voltage threshold distributions; read programmed memory cells using a first read voltage level on word lines of the memory cells; read the programmed memory cells using a second read voltage level on the word lines of the memory cells; determine a number of the programmed memory cells with a voltage threshold placed between the first and second voltage threshold distributions by the programming; and suspend second pass programming of the memory cells in response to the determined number of cells exceeding a specified threshold number, and initiate a second pass programming operation otherwise.
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