Patents Examined by Richard Elms
  • Patent number: 11183249
    Abstract: To program in a nonvolatile memory device, a memory block is provided with a plurality of sub blocks disposed in a vertical direction where the memory block includes a plurality of cell strings each including a plurality of memory cells connected in series and disposed in the vertical direction. A plurality of intermediate switching transistors are disposed in a boundary portion between two adjacent sub blocks in the vertical direction. Each of the plurality of intermediate switching transistors is selectively activated based on a program address during a program operation. The selectively activating each of the plurality of intermediate switching transistors includes selectively turning on one or more intermediate switching transistors in a selected cell string based on the program address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang-Yeon Yu, Kui-Han Ko, Il-Han Park, June-Hong Park, Joo-Yong Park, Joon-Young Park, Bong-Soon Lim
  • Patent number: 11177274
    Abstract: Provided is a vertical non-volatile memory device having a metal source line. The vertical non-volatile memory device includes cell string units that are formed on first portions of a semiconductor substrate and are vertically arranged with respect to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, impurity regions formed on second portions of the semiconductor substrate between the cell string units, conductive lines formed on the impurity regions, and spacers that are formed on the sidewalls of the cell string units and insulate the conductive lines from the cells string units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Min Hwang, Han-Soo Kim, Won-Seok Cho, Jae-Hoon Jang
  • Patent number: 11133044
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a first memory device and a second memory device arranged over a substrate. The first memory device is coupled to a first bit-line. The second memory device is coupled to a second bit-line. A shared control element is arranged within the substrate and is configured to provide access to the first memory device and to separately provide access to the second memory device. The shared control element includes one or more control devices sharing one or more components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katherine Chiang, Chung-Te Lin, Min Cao, Randy Osborne
  • Patent number: 11074957
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a period signal generation circuit and an interruption signal generation circuit. The period signal generation circuit generates a period signal in response to a refresh pulse and an end pulse. The interruption signal generation circuit generates an interruption signal for controlling an operation that an address is set as a target address, if the address having the same logic level combination as the target address is inputted while the period signal is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Dae Suk Kim, Jae Il Kim
  • Patent number: 11062747
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a first circuit configured to generate a first enable signal based on a first clock signal and a first command signal, a second circuit configured to generate a second enable signal based on the first clock signal and a second command signal, a third circuit configured to generate a second clock signal based on the first clock signal when the first enable signal is activated, a fourth circuit configured to generate a third clock signal based on the first clock signal when the second enable signal is activated, a first latch circuit configured to latch the second command signal in response to the second clock signal to generate a third command signal, and a second latch circuit configured to latch the third command signal in response to the third clock signal to generate a fourth command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Atsuko Momma
  • Patent number: 11056187
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, each of the plurality of memory cells having a switch element, and a data storage element connected to the switch element and containing a phase-change material; and a memory controller for obtaining first read voltages from the plurality of memory cells, inputting a first write current to the plurality of memory cells, and then, obtaining second read voltages from the plurality of memory cells, wherein the memory controller compares the first read voltage of a first memory cell of the plurality of memory cells to the second read voltage of the first memory cell to determine a state of the first memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Hui Na, Mu Hui Park, Kwang Jin Lee, Yong Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 11048652
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for in data path compute operations. An example apparatus includes an array of memory cells. Sensing circuitry is selectably coupled to the array. A plurality of shared input/output (I/O) lines provides a data path. The plurality of shared I/O lines selectably couples a first subrow of a row of the array via the sensing circuitry to a first compute component in the data path to move a first data value from the first subrow to the first compute component and a second subrow of the respective row via the sensing circuitry to a second compute component to move a second data value from the second subrow to the second compute component. An operation is performed on the first data value from the first subrow using the first compute component substantially simultaneously with movement of the second data value from the second subrow to the second compute component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Perry V. Lea
  • Patent number: 11031051
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a sense amplifier; a branched line selectively connectable to the sense amplifier; a recycling arrangement selectively connectable to the branched line; an array of memory cells; an array of bit lines connected to corresponding memory cells in the array of memory cells; a multiplexer configured to selectively connect the branched line to a selected one in the array of memory cells through a corresponding line amongst the array of bit lines; and a controller configured to control the recycling arrangement and the multiplexer to perform intra-sense-amplifier recycling of a gleaned amount of charge (gleaned charge) recovered from a first read operation to a second read operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Chang Yu, Ta-Ching Yeh
  • Patent number: 11024361
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing coincident memory bank access. One embodiment is a memory device comprising a first bank, a second bank, a first bank resource, and a second bank resource. The first bank has a first set of bitlines for accessing a first set of rows in a first memory cell array. The second bank has a second set of bitlines for accessing a second set of rows in a second memory cell array. The first bank resource and the second bank resource are selectively connected to the first set of bitlines or the second set of bitlines via a cross-connect switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Yanru Li, Dexter Chun, Jungwon Suh
  • Patent number: 11024375
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor storage device including N word lines, M bit lines, multiple memory cells, and a read circuit. N is an integer of four or greater. M is an integer of two or greater. The M bit lines intersect with the word lines. The multiple memory cells are placed at positions where the word lines and the bit lines intersect. The memory cell stores binary data. The read circuit is connected to the M bit lines. The read circuit is able to detect levels of a multi-ary signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11011237
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of conductive layers, a semiconductor layer, and charge accumulating sections; and a control circuit that executes an erase operation. The erase operation includes an erase mode that executes a first erase flow. The first erase flow includes: a first write operation in which a first program voltage is applied to the plurality of conductive layers; a first erase operation that is executed after the first write operation, and in which, while a first voltage is applied to a first conductive layer, a voltage higher than the first voltage is applied to the second conductive layer; and a second erase operation that is executed after the first erase operation, and in which, while the first voltage is applied to a second conductive layer, a voltage higher than the first voltage is applied to the first conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventor: Muneyuki Tsuda
  • Patent number: 11004510
    Abstract: The apparatuses and methods described herein may operate to measure a voltage difference between a selected access line and a selected sense line associated with a selected cell of a plurality of memory cells of a memory array. The voltage difference may be compared with a reference voltage specified for a memory operation. A selection voltage(s) applied to the selected cell for the memory operation may be adjusted responsive to the comparison, such as to dynamically compensate for parasitic voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zengtao T. Liu, Kirk D. Prall
  • Patent number: 10998027
    Abstract: Some memory circuitry comprises a stack of multiple tiers individually comprising memory cells individually comprising an elevationally-extending transistor. The tiers individually comprise multiple access lines that individually electrically couple together a row of the memory cells in that individual tier. The tiers individually comprise access-line-driver circuitry comprising an elevationally-extending transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Charles L. Ingalls, Tae H. Kim
  • Patent number: 10978151
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell unit, word lines, a driver circuit, and first transistors. The word lines are connected to the control gates of 0-th to N-th memory cells. The (N+1) number of first transistors transfer the voltage to the word lines respectively. Above one of the first transistors which transfers the voltage to an i-th (i is a natural number in the range of 0 to N) word line, M (M<N) of the word lines close to the i-th word line pass through a region above the gate electrode by a first level interconnection without passing over the impurity diffuse layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takatoshi Minamoto, Toshiki Hisada, Dai Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10971208
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first die connected to a first channel, the first die comprising a first memory chip; and a second die connected to a second channel, the second die comprising a second memory chip, the first and second channels being independent of each other and a storage capacity and a physical size of the second die being the same as those of the first die. The first and second dies are disposed in one package, and the package includes an interconnection circuit disposed between the first die and the second die to transfer signals between the first memory chip and the second memory chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaehyung Lee, JungSik Kim, Youngdae Lee, Duyeul Kim, Sungmin Yim, Kwangil Park, Chulsung Park
  • Patent number: 10957364
    Abstract: Memory devices may have internal circuitry that employs voltages higher and/or lower than voltages provided by an external power source. Charge pumps are DC/DC converters that may be used to generate the higher voltages internally. The number of available charge pumps in a memory device may be conservatively dimensioned to be high, in some systems to protect yields. Some of the available charge pumps may be disabled during manufacturing or testing to reduce the number of active charge pumps. The testing process may employ dedicated logic in the memory device and the disabling may employ fuse circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian N. Mohr, John E. Riley
  • Patent number: 10957854
    Abstract: A tunable resistive element, comprising a first terminal, a second terminal, a dielectric layer and an intercalation layer. The dielectric layer and the intercalation layer is arranged between the first terminal and the second terminal. The dielectric layer is configured to form conductive filaments of oxygen vacancies on application of an electric field. The intercalation layer is configured to undergo a topotactic transition comprising an oxygen intercalation in combination with a change in the resistivity of the intercalation layer. A related memory device and a related neuromorphic network comprise resistive memory elements as memory cells and synapses respectively and a corresponding design structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Fompeyrine, Stefan Abel, Veeresh Vidyadhar Deshpande
  • Patent number: 10950617
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of word lines spaced from one another in a first direction, a first insulating film provided between adjacent word lines, a plurality of select gates located above the plurality of word lines in the first direction, a first intermediate electrode provided between the plurality of word lines and the select gates, a second insulating film provided between the first intermediate electrode and the select gates, a semiconductor pillar extending through the plurality of word lines, the first insulating film, the first intermediate electrode, the second insulating film, and the select gates, and extending in the first direction, and a charge retention film located between each of the plurality of word lines and the semiconductor pillar, wherein the second insulating film has a second thickness in the first direction that is greater than a first thickness of the first insulating film in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideto Takekida
  • Patent number: 10950300
    Abstract: A flash controller for managing at least one MLC non-volatile memory module and at least one SLC non-volatile memory module. The flash controller is adapted to determine if a range of addresses listed by an entry and mapped to said at least one MLC non-volatile memory module fails a data integrity test. In the event of such a failure, the controller remaps said entry to an equivalent range of addresses of said at least one SLC non-volatile memory module. The flash controller is further adapted to determine which of the blocks in the MLC and SLC non-volatile memory modules are accessed most frequently and allocating those blocks that receive frequent writes to the SLC non-volatile memory module and those blocks that receive infrequent writes to the MLC non-volatile memory module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Vervain, LLC
    Inventor: G. R. Mohan Rao
  • Patent number: 10950309
    Abstract: Semiconductor memory devices and methods include a flash memory cell array fabricated in a well, with memory cells in the same column connected to each other in series and connected to a respective bit line. The memory devices also include a column decoder, a data register buffer unit, a row decoder, an erase control unit, and an input/output buffer unit. In one or more embodiments, the erase control unit applies voltages to the well to erase the memory cells in a manner that avoids breaking down p-n junctions formed by transistors fabricated in the well. In another embodiment, high voltage transistors are used to selectively isolate the bit lines from and couple the bit lines to a peripheral circuit in pairs so that each high voltage transistor is shared by two bit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yamada, Tomoharu Tanaka