Patents Examined by Hoai V. Ho
  • Patent number: 11972802
    Abstract: A communication line is connected to first and second chips, and held at a first signal level. A monitor circuit changes a signal level of the communication line from the first signal to a second signal level while one of the first and second chips uses a current larger than a reference current. When the signal level of the communication line is the second signal level, the other of the first and second chips is controlled to a wait state that does not transfer to an operating state of using a current larger than the reference current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Shibata, Hiroshi Sukegawa
  • Patent number: 11968820
    Abstract: A novel semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a driver circuit and a first transistor layer to a third transistor layer. The first transistor layer includes a first memory cell including a first transistor and a first capacitor. The second transistor layer includes a second memory cell including a second transistor and a second capacitor. The third transistor layer includes a switching circuit and an amplifier circuit. The first transistor is electrically connected to a first local bit line. The second transistor is electrically connected to a second local bit line. The switching circuit has a function of selecting the first local bit line or the second local bit line and electrically connecting the selected local bit line to the amplifier circuit. The first transistor layer to the third transistor layer are provided over the silicon substrate. The third transistor layer is provided between the first transistor layer and the second transistor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Onuki, Yuto Yakubo, Seiya Saito
  • Patent number: 11960418
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory system includes a first semiconductor memory die and a second semiconductor memory die. The first semiconductor memory die includes a primary data interface to receive an input data stream during write operations and to deserialize the input data stream into a first plurality of data streams, and also includes a secondary data interface, coupled to the primary data interface, to transmit the first plurality of data streams. The second semiconductor memory die includes a secondary data interface, coupled to the secondary data interface of the first semiconductor memory die, to receive the first plurality of data streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Amir Amirkhany, Suresh Rajan, Mohammad Hekmat, Dinesh Patil
  • Patent number: 11955202
    Abstract: A multilevel content addressable memory, a multilevel coding method and a multilevel searching method are provided. The multilevel coding method includes the following steps. A highest decimal value of a multilevel-bit binary data is obtained. A length of a digital string data is set as being the highest decimal value of the multilevel-bit binary data. The multilevel-bit binary data is converted into the digital string data. If a content of the multilevel-bit binary data is an exact value, a number of an indicating bit in the digital string data is the exact value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Hsiu Lee, Po-Hao Tseng
  • Patent number: 11955200
    Abstract: Memory controllers, devices, modules, systems and associated methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) memory controller is disclosed. The IC memory controller includes a first controller command/address (C/A) interface to transmit first and second read commands for first and second read data to a first memory C/A interface of a first bank group of memory. A second command/address (C/A) interface transmits third and fourth read commands for third and fourth read data to a second memory C/A interface of a second bank group of memory. Receiver circuitry receives the first and second read data via a first data link interface and the third and fourth read data via the second data link interface. For a first operating mode, the first and second read data are received after respective first delays following transmission of the first and second read commands and at a first serialization ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 11948649
    Abstract: An anti-fuse memory cell and a data read-write circuit thereof. The anti-fuse memory cell comprises a base, the base is provided with an N-well and a non-N-well region; the non-N-well region is provided with a first NMOS transistor; a gate of the first NMOS transistor is used for inputting a first selection signal; the N-well is provided with a PMOS transistor and a varactor; a gate of the PMOS transistor and a gate of the varactor are both connected to a drain of the first NMOS transistor; and a drain, a source and a substrate of the PMOS transistor and a drain, a source, and a substrate of the varactor are all connected to a controllable power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: NANJING QINHENG MICROELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chunhua Wang
  • Patent number: 11948623
    Abstract: A method for writing a mode register in a semiconductor device, the method includes receiving a mode register command and a mode signal; generating a first mode register setting signal; delaying the first mode register setting signal in a first latency shifter to provide a second mode register setting signal; receiving a data signal in synchronization with the second mode register setting signal; and writing the mode signal to the mode register only if the received data signal has a first logic level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Longitude Licensing Limited
    Inventor: Chikara Kondo
  • Patent number: 11948628
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to a memory system and a method of operating the memory system. In one aspect, resistances of a first memory cell, a second memory cell, a third memory cell, and a fourth memory cell are individually set. In one aspect, the first memory cell and the second memory cell are coupled to each other in series between a first line and a second line, and the third memory cell and the fourth memory cell are coupled to each other in series between the second line and a third line. In one aspect, current through the second line according to a parallel resistance of i) a first series resistance of the first memory cell and the second memory cell, and ii) a second series resistance of the third memory cell and the fourth memory cell is sensed. According to the sensed current, multi-level data can be read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventor: Shih-Lien Linus Lu
  • Patent number: 11935618
    Abstract: An area efficient input terminated readable and resettable configuration memory latch is disclosed. A pull-up network and a pair of pull-down networks operate to set the value of an internal node based, in part, on the state of the input terminated bit line and a word line write input. The internal node is inverted to form the output of the configuration memory latch. A reset line operates to reset the latch and a reset cycle is initiated prior to each write cycle. In some embodiments, the configuration memory latch includes a scan mode input, which, when asserted, facilitates automated testing of a programmable logic device that includes the configuration memory latch. Asserting the scan mode input enables Design for Test functionality. A sensing block is configured to sense the state of the bit when a word line read signal and a read enable signal are both asserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: QUICKLOGIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ket Chong Yap, Chihhung Liao, Shieh Huan Yen
  • Patent number: 11935588
    Abstract: A memory device according to the present invention may comprise: a memory cell array in which memory cells of a latch structure are connected in matrix form to word lines and bit line pairs composed of bit lines and inverted bit lines; and a driving circuit which, during an ON period in which the word lines activate first memory cells connected to the corresponding word lines, continuously programs or reads n (n is a natural number of 2 or more) second memory cells among the first memory cells through n first bit line pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventors: Young Seung Kim, Seung Moon Yoo, Min Chul Jung
  • Patent number: 11935611
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a memory test circuit having repair information maintaining mechanism. A repairing control circuit controls a MBISR circuit to perform a self-repair procedure on a memory circuit and includes a remapping storage circuit and a latch storage circuit. The remapping storage circuit receives and stores repairing information generated by the MBISR circuit after the self-repair procedure finishes. The latch storage circuit is electrically coupled between the remapping storage circuit and a remapping circuit corresponding to the memory circuit to receive and store the repairing information from the remapping storage circuit such that the remapping circuit accesses the repairing information therefrom when a scan test is performed on the remapping storage circuit based on a scan chain to perform remapping and repairing on the memory circuit based on the repairing information and a redundant structure of the memory circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sheng-Lin Lin, Shih-Chieh Lin
  • Patent number: 11935617
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for non-destructive pattern identification at a memory device are described. A memory device may perform pattern identification within the memory device and output a flag indicating whether a first data pattern matches with a second data pattern. The memory device may access one or more memory cells, via a word line, and latch the second data pattern of the memory cells to a sense amplifier. The memory device may deactivate the word line, which may result in isolating the memory cells from potential destruction of data. The memory device may write a first data pattern to the sense amplifier and compare the first data pattern and second data pattern at the sense amplifier. The memory device may output a signal indicating whether the data patterns match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan He, Takamasa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11929113
    Abstract: A memory device includes an array of memory cells, a bit line connected to the memory cells, and a power supply voltage input terminal configured to receive a power supply voltage at a first voltage level to operate the memory cells at the first voltage level. A bit line precharge circuit has an input terminal configured to receive the power supply voltage at the first voltage level, and the bit line precharge circuit is configured to precharge the bit lines to a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Atul Katoch, Adrian Earle
  • Patent number: 11922984
    Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate including first and second regions, the first region having first wordlines and first bitlines, and the second region having second wordlines and second bitlines, a first memory cell array including first memory cells in the first region, the first memory cell array having volatility, and each of the first memory cells including a cell switch having a first channel region adjacent to a corresponding first wordline of the first wordlines, and a capacitor connected to the cell switch, and a second memory cell array including second memory cells in the second region, the second memory cell array having non-volatility, and each of the second memory cells including a second channel region adjacent to a corresponding second wordline of the second wordlines, and a ferroelectric layer between the corresponding second wordline of the second wordlines and the second channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minhee Cho, Woobin Song, Hyunmog Park, Sangkil Lee
  • Patent number: 11923002
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for varying-polarity read operations for polarity-written memory cells are described. Memory cells may be programmed to store different logic values based on applying write voltages of different polarities to the memory cells. A memory device may read the logic values based on applying read voltages to the memory cells, and the polarity of the read voltages may vary such that at least some read voltages have one polarity and at least some read voltages have another polarity. The read voltage polarity may vary randomly or according to a pattern and may be controlled by the memory device or by a host device for the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Innocenzo Tortorelli, Hari Giduturi, Fabio Pellizzer
  • Patent number: 11922988
    Abstract: Disclosed are a DRAM device capable of storing charges for a long time and an operating method thereof. According to an embodiment, a DRAM device includes a channel region formed on a substrate, a gate insulating film region formed on the channel region, a floating gate region formed on the gate insulating film region, a transition layer region formed on the floating gate region, and a control gate region formed on the transition layer region and generating a potential difference with the floating gate region in response to a fact that a potential that is not less than a reference potential is applied and releasing at least one charge stored in the floating gate region or storing the at least one charge into the floating gate region, by generating a transition current due to the potential difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yang-Kyu Choi, Myung-Su Kim
  • Patent number: 11923041
    Abstract: A device includes a memory array, bit line pairs, word lines, a modulation circuit and a control signal generator. The memory array has bit cells arranged in rows and columns. Each bit line pair is connected to a respective column of bit cells. Each word line is connected to a respective row of bit cells. The modulation circuit is coupled with at least one bit line pair. The control signal generator is coupled with the modulation circuit. The control signal generator includes a tracking wiring with a tracking length positively correlated with a depth distance of the word lines. The control signal generator is configured to produce a control signal, switching to a first voltage level for a first time duration in reference with the tracking length, for controlling the modulation circuit. A method of controlling aforesaid device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., TSMC NANJING COMPANY LIMITED, TSMC CHINA COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiu-Li Yang, He-Zhou Wan, Mu-Yang Ye, Lu-Ping Kong, Ming-Hung Chang
  • Patent number: 11922994
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device that includes an access control circuit generating an internal command based on a verification result signal and an external command. The external command indicates at least one of a first command that enables the access control circuit to access a first circuit and a second command that enables the access control circuit not to access the first circuit or enables the access control circuit to maintain a current state of the first circuit. The access control circuit, when the verification result signal indicates a first logic level, generates the internal command based on the external command. The access control circuit, when the verification result signal indicates a second logic level, generates the internal command that corresponds to a second command even if the external command indicates a first command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Longitude Licensing Limited
    Inventor: Chikara Kondo
  • Patent number: 11923021
    Abstract: A memory sub-system to receive a request to execute a read operation associated with data of a memory unit of a memory sub-system. A time after program associated with the data is determined. A temperature level associated with the memory unit is determined. Based on the time after program and the temperature level, a set of read offset values to apply in executing the read operation is determined. The read operation is executed using the set of read offset values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Larry J. Koudele
  • Patent number: 11915759
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a semiconductor memory and a controller. The semiconductor memory includes: first memory cells, first word lines, a first row decoder, and a driver circuit. The first row decoder includes first transistors capable of coupling the first word lines to first signal lines, and a first block decoder supplying a first block selection signal to the first transistors. When the controller issues a data read command, the first block decoder asserts the first block selection signal to allow the first transistors to transfer a first voltage to a selected first word line, and a second voltage to unselected other first word lines. After data is read, the first block decoder continues asserting the first block selection signal, and the driver circuit transfers a third voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanobu Shirakawa, Marie Takada, Tsukasa Tokutomi, Yoshihisa Kojima, Kiichi Tachi