Patents Assigned to Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
  • Patent number: 11984163
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a first resistive memory element, a second resistive memory element electrically coupled with the first resistive memory element at a common node, and a switching element comprising an input terminal electrically coupled with the common node, the switching element comprising a driver configured to float during one or more operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Deepak Chandra Sekar, Gary Bela Bronner, Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 11967374
    Abstract: Circuits and methods are disclosed for voltage-mode bit line precharge for random-access memory cells. A circuit includes an array of random access memory cells; a low-impedance voltage source configured to provide a precharge voltage; and a control circuit configured to precharge a bit line of one of the random access memory cells to the precharge voltage using the low-impedance voltage source prior to reading the one of the random access memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventor: Danut Manea
  • Patent number: 11963465
    Abstract: Disclosed is a resistive random access memory (RRAM). The RRAM includes a bottom electrode made of tungsten and a switching layer made of hafnium oxide disposed above the bottom electrode, wherein the switching layer includes a filament and one or more lateral regions including a doping material that are between a top region and a bottom region of the switching layer. The RRAM further includes a top electrode disposed above the switching layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Zhichao Lu, Gary Bela Bronner
  • Patent number: 11950519
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell includes a bottom electrode, a top electrode having a conductive material, a resistive layer interposed between the bottom electrode and the top electrode, and side portions covering sides of the top electrode and the resistive layer. The side portions contain an oxide of the conductive material. The non-volatile memory cell further includes a contact wire disposed on the top electrode. A width of the contact wire is less than a width between lateral outer surfaces of the side portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Wei, Zhichao Lu
  • Patent number: 11908515
    Abstract: Provided are a device comprising a bit cell tile including at least two memory cells, each of the at least two memory cells including a resistive memory element, and methods of operating an array of the memory cells, each memory cell including a resistive memory element electrically coupled in series to a corresponding first transistor and to a corresponding second transistor, the first transistor including a first gate coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of first word lines and the second transistor including a second gate coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of second word lines, each memory cell coupled between a corresponding one of a plurality of bit lines and a corresponding one of a plurality of source lines. The methods may include applying voltages to the first word line, second word line, source line, and bit line of a memory cell selected for an operation, and resetting the resistive memory element of the memory cell in response to setting the selected bit line to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Deepak Chandra Sekar, Wayne Frederick Ellis, Brent Steven Haukness, Gary Bela Bronner, Thomas Vogelsang
  • Patent number: 11887645
    Abstract: Dual-precision analog memory cells and arrays are provided. In some embodiments, a memory cell, comprises a non-volatile memory element having an input terminal and at least one output terminal; and a volatile memory element having a plurality of input terminals and an output terminal, wherein the output terminal of the volatile memory element is coupled to the input terminal of the non-volatile memory element, and wherein the volatile memory element comprises: a first transistor coupled between a first supply and a common node, and a second transistor coupled between a second supply and the common node; wherein the common node is coupled to the output terminal of the volatile memory element; and wherein gates of the first and second transistors are coupled to respective ones of the plurality of input terminals of the volatile memory element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Zhichao Lu, Liang Zhao
  • Patent number: 11848050
    Abstract: The gate of the access transistor of a 1 transistor 1 resistor (1T1R) type RRAM cell is biased relative to the source of the access transistor using a current mirror. Under the influence of a voltage applied across the 1T1R cell (e.g., via the bit line), the RRAM memory element switches from a higher resistance to a lower resistance. As the RRAM memory element switches from the higher resistance to the lower resistance, the current through the RRAM cell switches from being substantially determined by the higher resistance of the RRAM device (while the access transistor is operating in the linear region) to being substantially determined by the saturation region operating point of the access transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventor: Brent Steven Haukness
  • Patent number: 11765914
    Abstract: A memory cell including a two-terminal re-writeable non-volatile memory element having at least two layers of conductive metal oxide (CMO), which, in turn, can include a first layer of CMO including mobile oxygen ions, and a second layer of CMO formed in contact with the first layer of CMO to cooperate with the first layer of CMO to form an ion obstruction barrier. The ion obstruction barrier is configured to inhibit transport or diffusion of a subset of mobile ion to enhance, among other things, memory effects and cycling endurance of memory cells. At least one layer of an insulating metal oxide that is an electrolyte to the mobile oxygen ions and configured as a tunnel barrier is formed in contact with the second layer of CMO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Jian Wu, Rene Meyer
  • Patent number: 11735262
    Abstract: A method and related apparatus for using an indication of RRAM cell resistance to determine a write condition are disclosed. A cell characteristic of an RRAM cell may be determined to a higher bit resolution than a data read value. A write condition may be selected for the RRAM cell, based on the cell characteristic. The RRAM cell may be written to, using the selected write condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Brent Haukness, Zhichao Lu
  • Patent number: 11694744
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix, a plurality of word lines extended in a row direction, and a plurality of bit lines extended in a column direction. Each of the memory cells is coupled to one of the word lines and one of the bit lines. The memory device further includes a word-line control circuit coupled to and configured to control the word lines, a first bit-line control circuit configured to control the bit lines and sense the memory cells in a digital mode, and a second bit-line control circuit configured to bias the bit lines and sense the memory cells in an analog mode. The first bit-line control circuit is coupled to a first end of each of the bit lines. The second bit-line control circuit is coupled to a second end of each of the bit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Liang Zhao, Zhichao Lu
  • Patent number: 11682457
    Abstract: A resistive random access memory (RRAM) circuit and related method limits current, or ramp voltage, applied to a source line or bitline of an RRAM array. The RRAM array has one or more source lines and one or more bitlines. A control circuit sets an RRAM cell to a low resistance state in a set operation, and resets the RRAM cell to a high resistance state in a reset operation. A voltage applied to a bitline or source line is ramped during a first time interval, held to a maximum voltage value during a second interval, and ceased after the second time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Brent Haukness, Zhichao Lu
  • Patent number: 11672189
    Abstract: A memory using mixed valence conductive oxides is disclosed. The memory includes a mixed valence conductive oxide that is less conductive in its oxygen deficient state and a mixed electronic ionic conductor that is an electrolyte to oxygen and promotes an electric filed to cause oxygen ionic motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Darrell Rinerson, Christophe J. Chevallier, Wayne Kinney, Roy Lambertson, John E. Sanchez, Jr., Lawrence Schloss, Philip Swab, Edmond Ward
  • Patent number: 11653580
    Abstract: Disclosed is a resistive random access memory (RRAM). The RRAM includes a bottom electrode made of tungsten and a switching layer made of hafnium oxide disposed above the bottom electrode, wherein the switching layer includes a filament and one or more lateral regions including a doping material that are between a top region and a bottom region of the switching layer. The RRAM further includes a top electrode disposed above the switching layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Zhichao Lu, Gary Bela Bronner
  • Patent number: 11651820
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a first resistive memory element, a second resistive memory element electrically coupled with the first resistive memory element at a common node, and a switching element comprising an input terminal electrically coupled with the common node, the switching element comprising a driver configured to float during one or more operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Deepak Chandra Sekar, Gary Bela Bronner, Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 11568929
    Abstract: Provided are a device comprising a bit cell tile including at least two memory cells, each of the at least two memory cells including a resistive memory element, and methods of operating an array of the memory cells, each memory cell including a resistive memory element electrically coupled in series to a corresponding first transistor and to a corresponding second transistor, the first transistor including a first gate coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of first word lines and the second transistor including a second gate coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of second word lines, each memory cell coupled between a corresponding one of a plurality of bit lines and a corresponding one of a plurality of source lines. The methods may include applying voltages to the first word line, second word line, source line, and bit line of a memory cell selected for an operation, and resetting the resistive memory element of the memory cell in response to setting the selected bit line to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Deepak Chandra Sekar, Wayne Frederick Ellis, Brent Steven Haukness, Gary Bela Bronner, Thomas Vogelsang
  • Patent number: 11557264
    Abstract: Circuitry for adjusting luminance of a display device is provided. The circuitry includes a non-volatile memory array having a plurality memory cells configured to store luminance data of the display device, and a luminance adjusting circuit configured to receive image data to be displayed on the display device. The luminance adjusting circuit is coupled directly to the non-volatile memory array to receive the luminance data of the display device from the non-volatile memory array and adjust the image data based on the luminance data of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Liang Zhao, Zhichao Lu, Zhigang Han
  • Patent number: 11551739
    Abstract: Dual-precision analog memory cells and arrays are provided. In some embodiments, a memory cell, comprises a non-volatile memory element having an input terminal and at least one output terminal; and a volatile memory element having a plurality of input terminals and an output terminal, wherein the output terminal of the volatile memory element is coupled to the input terminal of the non-volatile memory element, and wherein the volatile memory element comprises: a first transistor coupled between a first supply and a common node, and a second transistor coupled between a second supply and the common node; wherein the common node is coupled to the output terminal of the volatile memory element; and wherein gates of the first and second transistors are coupled to respective ones of the plurality of input terminals of the volatile memory element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Zhichao Lu, Liang Zhao
  • Patent number: 11502249
    Abstract: A re-writeable non-volatile memory device including a re-writeable non-volatile two-terminal memory element (ME) having tantalum. The ME including a first terminal, a second terminal, a first layer of a conductive metal oxide (CMO), and a second layer in direct contact with the first layer. The second layer and the first layer being operative to store at least one-bit of data as a plurality of resistive states, and the first and second layer are electrically in series with each other and with the first and second terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Christophe J. Chevallier, Steve Kuo-Ren Hsia, Wayne Kinney, Steven Longcor, Darrell Rinerson, John Sanchez, Philip F. S. Swab, Edmond R. Ward
  • Patent number: 11489116
    Abstract: Thermal field controlled electrical conductivity change devices and applications therefore are provided. In some embodiments, a thermal switch, comprises: a metal-insulator-transition (MIT) material; first and second terminals electrically coupled to the MIT material; and a heater disposed near the MIT material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventors: Liang Zhao, Zhichao Lu
  • Patent number: 11482281
    Abstract: Circuits and methods are disclosed for voltage-mode bit line precharge for random-access memory cells. A circuit includes an array of random access memory cells; a low-impedance voltage source configured to provide a precharge voltage; and a control circuit configured to precharge a bit line of one of the random access memory cells to the precharge voltage using the low-impedance voltage source prior to reading the one of the random access memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Hefei Reliance Memory Limited
    Inventor: Danut Manea