Patents Assigned to Innovative Silicon S.A.
  • Patent number: 7359229
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a memory device and technique of reading data from and writing data into memory cells of the memory device. In this regard, in one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the memory device and technique for operating that device that minimizes, reduces and/or eliminates the debilitating affects of the charge pumping phenomenon. This embodiment of the present invention employs control signals that minimize, reduce and/or eliminate transitions of the amplitudes and/or polarities. In another embodiment, the present invention is a semiconductor memory device including a memory array comprising a plurality of semiconductor dynamic random access memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Richard Ferrant, Serguei Okhonin, Eric Carman, Michel Bron
  • Patent number: 7355916
    Abstract: There are many inventions disclosed herein. In one aspect, the present inventions are directed to methods and circuitry to control, adjust, determine and/or modify the absolute and/or relative positioning or location (i.e., absolute or relative amount) of reference current which is employed by sensing circuitry to sense the data state of a memory cell during a read operation of one or more memory cells. The control, adjustment, determination and/or modification of the reference current levels may be implemented using many different, distinct and/or diverse techniques and circuitry, including both analog and digital techniques and circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventor: Philippe Bauser
  • Patent number: 7342842
    Abstract: A data storage device such as a DRAM memory having a plurality of data storage cells 10 is disclosed. Each data storage cell 10 has a physical parameter which varies with time and represents one of two binary logic states. A selection circuit 16, writing circuits 18 and a refreshing circuit 22 apply input signals to the data storage cells to reverse the variation of the physical parameter with time of at least those cells representing one of the binary logic states by causing a different variation in the physical parameter of cells in one of said states than in the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon, S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 7335934
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to integrated circuit device including SOI logic transistors and SOI memory transistors, and method for fabricating such a device. In one embodiment, integrated circuit device includes memory portion having, for example, PD or FD SOI memory cells, and logic portion having, for example, high performance transistors, such as Fin-FET, multiple gate transistors, and/or non-high performance transistors (such as single gate transistors that do not possess the performance characteristics of the high performance transistors).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre Fazan
  • Patent number: 7301838
    Abstract: A technique of, and circuitry for sampling, sensing, reading and/or determining the data state of a memory cell of a memory cell array (for example, a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells which consist of an electrically floating body transistor). In one embodiment, sense amplifier circuitry is relatively compact and pitched to the array of memory cells such that a row of data may be read, sampled and/or sensed during a read operation. In this regard, an entire row of memory cells may be accessed and read during one operation which, relative to at least architecture employing multiplexer circuitry, may minimize, enhance and/or improve read latency and read access time, memory cell disturbance and/or simplify the control of the sense amplifier circuitry and access thereof. The sense amplifier circuitry may include write back circuitry to modify or “re-store” the data read, sampled and/or sensed during a read operation and/or a refresh operation in the context of a DRAM array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: William Kenneth Waller, Eric Carman
  • Patent number: 7301803
    Abstract: A method and a device for the coding and decoding of an information symbol for transmission over a transmission channel or a received signal value is described and illustrated, whereby a channel symbol used for coding is selected from at least two available channel symbols by means of a pre-calculated expected received signal value. The pre-calculation is achieved, based on the echo properties of the transmission channel and transmission values already sent. A pre-coding method with low receiver-side calculation requirement is thus prepared, whereby the information symbol can be transmitted by means of various channel symbols and thus various transmission values can also be transmitted. The possible selections may be used for minimization of the transmission energy and/or to achieve a minimal disturbance or even a constructive effect through the inter-symbol interference occurring on transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Serguei Okhonin, Mikhail Nagoga
  • Patent number: 7280399
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a memory device or radiation detector, is disclosed, in which data storage cells are formed on a substrate. Each of the data storage cells includes a field effect transistor having a source, drain, and gate, and a body arranged between the source and drain for storing electrical charge generated in the body. The magnitude of the net electrical charge in the body can be adjusted by input signals applied to the transistor, and the adjustment of the net electrical charge by the input signals can be at least partially cancelled by applying electrical voltage signals between the gate and the drain and between the source and the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 7251164
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device comprising a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells wherein each memory cell includes at least one electrically floating body transistor having source, drain and a body regions, wherein the body region is electrically floating and disposed between the source and drain regions; a gate is disposed over the body region. Each memory cell includes a first data state representative of a first charge in the body region and a second data state representative of a second charge in the body region. The integrated circuit device further includes operating characteristics adjustment circuitry, coupled to the memory cell array, to adjust one or more operating or response characteristics of one or more memory cells to improve the uniformity of operation/response characteristics of the memory cells of the memory cell array relative to the other memory cells of the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Serguei Okhonin, Mikhail Nagoga
  • Patent number: 7239549
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a memory device or radiation detector, is disclosed, in which data storage cells are formed on a substrate. Each of the data storage cells includes a field effect transistor having a source, drain, and gate, and a body arranged between the source and drain for storing electrical charge generated in the body. The magnitude of the net electrical charge in the body can be adjusted by input signals applied to the transistor, and the adjustment of the net electrical charge by the input signals can be at least partially cancelled by applying electrical voltage signals between the gate and the drain and between the source and the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 7187581
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a memory device and technique of reading data from and writing data into memory cells of the memory device. In this regard, in one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the memory device and technique for operating that device that minimizes, reduces and/or eliminates the debilitating affects of the charge pumping phenomenon. This embodiment of the present invention employs control signals that minimize, reduce and/or eliminate transitions of the amplitudes and/or polarities. In another embodiment, the present invention is a semiconductor memory device including a memory array comprising a plurality of semiconductor dynamic random access memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Richard Ferrant, Serguei Okhonin, Eric Carman, Michel Bron
  • Patent number: 7184298
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a memory cell, architecture, and/or array and/or technique of writing or programming data into the memory cell (for example, a technique to write or program a logic low or State “0” in a memory cell employing an electrically floating body transistor. In this regard, the present invention programs a logic low or State “0” in the memory cell while the electrically floating body transistor is in the “OFF” state or substantially “OFF” state (for example, when the device has no (or practically no) channel and/or channel current between the source and drain). In this way, the memory cell may be programmed whereby there is little to no current/power consumption by the electrically floating body transistor and/or from memory array having a plurality of electrically floating body transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 7177175
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a memory cell, architecture, and/or array and/or technique of writing or programming data into the memory cell (for example, a technique to write or program a logic low or State “0” in a memory cell employing an electrically floating body transistor. In this regard, the present invention programs a logic low or State “0” in the memory cell while the electrically floating body transistor is in the “OFF” state or substantially “OFF” state (for example, when the device has no (or practically no) channel and/or channel current between the source and drain). In this way, the memory cell may be programmed whereby there is little to no current/power consumption by the electrically floating body transistor and/or from memory array having a plurality of electrically floating body transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 7170807
    Abstract: A data storage device such as a DRAM memory having a plurality of data storage cells 10 is disclosed. Each data storage cell 10 has a physical parameter which varies with time and represents one of two binary logic states. A selection circuit 16, writing circuits 18 and a refreshing circuit 22 apply input signals to the data storage cells to reverse the variation of the physical parameter with time of at least those cells representing one of the binary logic states by causing a different variation in the physical parameter of cells in one of said states than in the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 7085153
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a memory cell and technique of reading data from and writing data into that memory cell. In this regard, in one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the memory cell includes two transistors which store complementary data states. That is, the two-transistor memory cell includes a first transistor that maintains a complementary state relative to the second transistor. As such, when programmed, one of the transistors of the memory cell stores a logic low (a binary “0”) and the other transistor of the memory cell stores a logic high (a binary “1”). The data state of the two-transistor complementary memory cell may be read and/or determined by sampling, sensing measuring and/or detecting the polarity of the logic states stored in each transistor of complementary memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Richard Ferrant, Serguei Okhonin, Eric Carman, Michel Bron
  • Patent number: 7085156
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a memory device and technique of reading data from and writing data into memory cells of the memory device. In this regard, in one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the memory device and technique for operating that device that minimizes, reduces and/or eliminates the debilitating affects of the charge pumping phenomenon. This embodiment of the present invention employs control signals that minimize, reduce and/or eliminate transitions of the amplitudes and/or polarities. In another embodiment, the present invention is a semiconductor memory device including a memory array comprising a plurality of semiconductor dynamic random access memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Richard Ferrant, Serguei Okhonin, Eric Carman, Michel Bron
  • Patent number: 7061050
    Abstract: A semiconductor device such as a DPAM memory device is disclosed. A, Substrate (12) of semiconductor material is provided with energy band modifying means in the form of a box region (38) and is covered by an insulating layer (14). A semi-conductor layer (16) has source (18) and drain (20) regions formed therein to define bodies (22) of respective field effect transistors. The box region (38) is more heavily doped than the adjacent body (22), but less highly doped than the corresponding source (18) and drain (20), and modifies the valence and/or conduction band of the body (22) to increase the amount of electrical charge which can be stored in the body (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 6980461
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In a first aspect, the present invention is a technique and circuitry for reading data that is stored in memory cells. In one embodiment of this aspect, the present invention is a technique and circuitry for generating a reference current that is used, in conjunction with a sense amplifier, to read data that is stored in memory cells of a DRAM device. The technique and circuitry for generating a reference current may be implemented using an analog configuration, a digital configuration, and/or combinations of analog and digital configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Lionel Portmann, Maher Kayal, Marc Pastre, Marija Blagojevic, Michel Declercq
  • Patent number: 6937516
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a memory device or radiation detector, is disclosed, in which data storage cells are formed on a substrate. Each of the data storage cells includes a field effect transistor having a source, drain, and gate, and a body arranged between the source and drain for storing electrical charge generated in the body. The magnitude of the net electrical charge in the body can be adjusted by input signals applied to the transistor, and the adjustment of the net electrical charge by the input signals can be at least partially cancelled by applying electrical voltage signals between the gate and the drain and between the source and the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 6934186
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a memory device or radiation detector, is disclosed, in which data storage cells are formed on a substrate. Each of the data storage cells includes a field effect transistor having a source, drain, and gate, and a body arranged between the source and drain for storing electrical charge generated in the body. The magnitude of the net electrical charge in the body can be adjusted by input signals applied to the transistor, and the adjustment of the net electrical charge by the input signals can be at least partially cancelled by applying electrical voltage signals between the gate and the drain and between the source and the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 6930918
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a memory device or radiation detector, is disclosed, in which data storage cells are formed on a substrate. Each of the data storage cells includes a field effect transistor having a source, drain, and gate, and a body arranged between the source and drain for storing electrical charge generated in the body. The magnitude of the net electrical charge in the body can be adjusted by input signals applied to the transistor, and the adjustment of the net electrical charge by the input signals can be at least partially cancelled by applying electrical voltage signals between the gate and the drain and between the source and the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Innovative Silicon S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Fazan, Serguei Okhonin