Patents Examined by Son Dinh
  • Patent number: 10269436
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a non-volatile semiconductor storage device including a non-volatile memory, a monitoring section, a determining section, and a notification processing section. The non-volatile memory includes a plurality of memory cells driven by word lines and a voltage generating section that generates a read voltage to be applied to the word lines. The monitoring section monitors a change in a threshold distribution of the plurality of memory cells upon performing a read processing to read data from the plurality of memory cells by applying the read voltage to the word lines. The determining section determines a degree of deterioration of the non-volatile memory in accordance with a monitoring result by the monitoring section. The notification processing section notifies a life of the non-volatile memory in accordance with a determining result by the determining section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10269397
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for providing active an inactive clock signals are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an input clock buffer and a clock divider circuit. The input clock buffer includes a receiver circuit configured to receive first and second clock signals or first and second constant voltages. The receiver circuit is further configured to provide first and second output signals based on the complementary clock signals or the first and second constant voltages. The first and second clock signals are complementary and the second constant voltage is less than the first constant voltage. The clock divider circuit is configured to receive the first and second output signals and provide multiphase clock signals based on the first and second output signals from the input clock buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hyun Yoo Lee
  • Patent number: 10262699
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cell groups with a corresponding plurality of independent channels, and the device and an operating method thereof perform an internal data processing operation for the memory cell groups. The memory device includes an internal command generator configured to generate one or more internal commands in order to perform an internal data processing operation in response to a reception of a command, and an internal common bus for a common internal processing channel which is disposed to be shared by the plurality of memory cell groups and configured to form a transmission path of data between the plurality of memory cell groups when the internal data processing operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Reum Oh, Je-Min Ryu, Pavan Kumar Kasibhatla
  • Patent number: 10254977
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for technology that reads a lower page, one or more intermediate pages and a last page from a set of multi-level non-volatile memory (NVM) cells, wherein one or more of a lower read time associated with the lower page or a last read time associated with the last page is substantially similar to an intermediate read time associated with the one or more intermediate pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anand S. Ramalingam, Pranav Kalavade
  • Patent number: 10236038
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for bank to bank data transfer. An example apparatus includes a plurality of banks of memory cells, an internal bus configured to transfer data between the plurality of banks and an external bus interface, and a bank-to-bank transfer bus configured to transfer data between the plurality of banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Perry V. Lea, Troy A. Manning
  • Patent number: 10229900
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory structure including a first integrated circuit chip and a plurality of second integrated circuit chips stacked on each other, the first integrated circuit chip is interposed between a pair of the plurality of second integrated circuit chips, an interface unit disposed on the first integrated circuit chip, the memory structure is connected to a third circuit through the interface unit, and the interface unit transfers operation signals to the first integrated circuit chip and the plurality of second integrated circuit chips, at least one inter-chip interconnector connected with the interface unit and the first integrated circuit chip and the plurality of second integrated circuit chips, and an external interconnector connected with the interface unit and the third circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-Wan Kim, Sung-Chul Park, Won-Il Bae
  • Patent number: 10224072
    Abstract: A memory system includes a memory device, a command clock (CK_t clock) that provides a first clock signal at a first frequency, and a data path clock (WCK_t clock) that provides a second clock signal at a second frequency different than the first frequency. Data path circuitry is synchronized with the WCK_t clock and provides an error detection code (EDC) hold pattern during an idle state. EDC hold pattern synchronization logic synchronizes a start of transmission of the EDC hold pattern synchronous to the CK_t clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Dietrich
  • Patent number: 10224960
    Abstract: A memory device that checks an error of a memory cell and a memory module including the same are disclosed. The memory module includes a first memory device and a second memory device. The first memory device includes a first area in which normal data are stored, and a second area in which error check data are stored. The second memory device stores reliability information about the normal data that is stored in the first area of the first memory device. The first memory device outputs a result of comparing the normal data read from the first area of the first memory device to the error check data read from the second area of the first memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Won-Hyung Song
  • Patent number: 10217525
    Abstract: Apparatuses for memory repair for a memory device are described. An example apparatus includes: a non-volatile storage element that stores information; a storage latch circuit coupled to the non-volatile storage element and stores latch information; and a control circuit that, in a first repair mode, receives first repair address information, provides the first repair address information to the non-volatile storage element, and further transmits the first repair address information from the non-volatile storage element to the storage latch circuit. The control circuit, in a second repair mode, receives second repair address information and provides the second repair address information to the storage latch circuit and disables storing the second address information into the non-volatile storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Imc.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Yoko
  • Patent number: 10210940
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed, including a method that raises an electrical potential of a plurality of access lines to a raised electrical potential, where each access line is associated with a respective charge storage device of a string of charge storage devices. The electrical potential of a selected one of the access lines is lowered, and a data state of the charge storage device associated with the selected access line is sensed while the electrical potential of the selected access line is being lowered. Additional apparatus and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Toru Tanzawa
  • Patent number: 10204692
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes first and second memory cells, a first word line, first and second sense amplifiers, first and second bit lines, a controller. The first and second sense amplifiers each include first and second transistors. The first bit line is connected between the first memory cell and the first transistor. The second bit line is connected between the second memory cell and the second transistor. In the read operation, the controller is configured to apply a kick voltage to the first word line before applying the read voltage to the first word line, and to apply a first voltage to a gate of the first transistor and a second voltage to a gate of the second transistor while applying the kick voltage to the first word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kamata, Naofumi Abiko
  • Patent number: 10199077
    Abstract: A memory arrangement and method to arrange memories are disclosed. The memory arrangement comprises at least two memory chips (M1, M2) arranged on a Printed Circuit Board, PCB. A first memory chip (M1) is arranged on a first surface of the PCB, a second memory chip (M2) is arranged on a second surface of the PCB. The second memory chip (M2) is placed back to back to the first memory chip (M1) and oriented such that respective pins having the same function on the first memory chip (M1) and the second memory chip (M2) are placed opposite to each other and connected by vias to respective signal traces arranged between the first and second surfaces of the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Axis AB
    Inventor: Henrik Hovmoller
  • Patent number: 10199096
    Abstract: There is provided, for example, a write assist circuit for controlling the voltage level of a memory cell power supply line coupled to an SRAM memory cell to be written in the write operation. The write assist circuit reduces the voltage level of the memory cell power supply line to a predetermined voltage level, in response to a write assist enable signal that is enabled in the write operation. At the same time, the write assist circuit controls the reduction speed of the voltage level of the memory cell power supply line, according to the pulse width of a write assist pulse signal. The pulse width of the write assist pulse signal is defined in such a way that the greater the number of rows (or the longer the length of the memory cell power supply line), the greater the pulse width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto Yabuuchi
  • Patent number: 10176862
    Abstract: Methods and devices for gating an internal data strobe from an input buffer of a memory device. The gating function occurs after a write operation ceases but before an external controller stops driving an external data strobe that is used to generate the internal data strobe. The methods and devices use local counters to count how many pulses have occurred on the data strobe during a write operation. When the local counters indicate that an expected number of cycles for the write operation have elapsed, the local counters indicate that the write operation has completed. This indication causes gating circuitry to cut off the internal data strobe from writing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel B. Penney
  • Patent number: 10169126
    Abstract: A memory module for reporting information about a fail in chip units, an operation of a memory module, and an operation of a memory controller are provided. The memory module includes: first to Mth memory chips (where M is an integer that is equal to or greater than 2) mounted on a module board and storing data, and an (M+1)th memory chip mounted on the module board and storing a parity code for recovering data of a memory chip in which a fail in chip units occurs among the first to Mth memory chips, wherein fail bits are generated from the first to (M+1)th memory chips through an intra-chip error detection operation, and fail information is output according to a result of calculating the fail bits from the first to (M+1)th memory chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sun-young Lim, Young-jin Cho, Jang-seok Choi
  • Patent number: 10157646
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may be provided. The semiconductor device may include a latch control signal generation circuit configured to compare a count signal counted according to the number of times that a command is inputted to the latch control signal generation circuit with a random signal having a random combination to generate a latch control signal which is enabled, based on an update signal. The semiconductor device may include a storage circuit configured to latch an address to generate a latched address, based on the latch control signal. The semiconductor device may include an internal circuit configured to receive the latched address to execute an internal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Chang Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10156997
    Abstract: A data storage device includes a nonvolatile memory device including a memory region, the memory region including a plurality of memory units; and a controller suitable for monitoring an elapsed time and a write count of the memory region, and performing a wear leveling operation for at least one memory unit selected among the plurality of memory units depending on a monitoring result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Soo Hong Ahn
  • Patent number: 10157662
    Abstract: The present invention provides a memory cell. The memory cell includes a static random access memory (SRAM) cell located on a substrate. The SRAM cell includes a first storage node. At least one tunneling field-effect transistor (TFET), the gate of the tunneling field-effect transistor is electrically connected to the first storage node of the SRAM cell. A read bit line (RBL) electrically connected the drain of the TFET. A read terminal which is connected to a read port voltage (Vrp) and electrically connects to a source of the TFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Ming-Siou Wu, Tsung-Hsun Wu
  • Patent number: 10157643
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus that increase available memory or storage using active boundary areas in quilt architecture are described. A memory array may include memory cells overlying each portion of a substrate layer that includes certain types of support circuitry, such as decoders and sense amplifiers. Active boundary portions, which may be elements of the memory array having a different configuration from other portions of the memory array, may be positioned on two sides of the memory array and may increase available data in a quilt architecture memory. The active boundary portions may include support components to access both memory cells of neighboring memory portions and memory cells overlying the active boundary portions. Address scrambling may produce a uniform increase in number of available data in conjunction with the active boundary portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Christophe Vincent Antoine Laurent
  • Patent number: 10152271
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for data replication. An example apparatus includes a plurality of sensing circuitries comprising respective sense amplifiers and compute components and a controller. The controller may be configured to cause replication of a data value stored in a first compute component such that the data value is propagated to a second compute component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremiah J. Willcock