Patents Examined by Son T. Dinh
  • Patent number: 11978519
    Abstract: A storage device performs a read operation, based on a temperature measured in a program operation or an erase operation. The storage device includes: a memory device including a plurality of memory blocks, the memory device measuring a temperature in a program operation or an erase operation; and a memory controller for setting an area in which the measured temperature is to be stored in the memory device, and controlling a read operation to be performed in the memory device. When a read command for a selected page among a plurality of pages included in each of the plurality of memory blocks is received from the memory controller, the memory device determines a read voltage and a pass voltage based on a temperature corresponding to the selected page and performs a read operation on the selected page by using the read voltage and the pass voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Ae Kim, Jee Yul Kim
  • Patent number: 11978510
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to memory devices and methods of forming the same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to resistive random-access (ReRAM) memory devices incorporating reference cells for achieving high sensing yield. The present disclosure provides a memory device including a main cell structure including a switching element arranged between a pair of conductors, and a reference cell structure electrically coupled to the main cell structure. The reference cell structure includes a switching element arranged between a pair of conductors, in which the switching element of the reference cell structure has a dimension that is different from a dimension of the switching element of the main cell structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Curtis Chun-I Hsieh, Wei-Hui Hsu, Wanbing Yi, Yi Jiang, Kai Kang, Juan Boon Tan
  • Patent number: 11972810
    Abstract: A memory apparatus and method of operation are provided. The apparatus includes memory cells connected word lines. The memory cells are disposed in strings and configured to retain a threshold voltage. A control means is configured to apply a program voltage to selected ones of the word lines while applying pass voltages to unselected ones of the word lines and ramp down both the selected ones of the plurality of word lines and the unselected ones of the word lines to a recovery voltage at a start of a verify phase of each of a plurality of program loops and apply a targeted word line bias to each of the word lines during the verify phase. The control means is also configured to adjust the recovery voltage based on the targeted word line bias applied to each of the plurality of word lines during the verify phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Han-Ping Chen, Wei Zhao, Henry Chin
  • Patent number: 11972837
    Abstract: A data sampling circuit may include a pattern detection circuit configured to generate a slow signal by detecting a pattern of multibit data including input data, and a sampling circuit configured to sample the input data during an activation period of a sampling clock and having an operating speed of the sampling circuit reduced when the slow signal is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Inseok Kong, Jaehyeong Hong, Min Su Kim
  • Patent number: 11972803
    Abstract: A memory device that uses different programming parameters base on the word line(s) to be programmed is described. The programming parameter PROGSRC_PCH provides a pre-charge voltage to physical word lines. In some instances, the PROGSRC_PCH voltage is decoupled, and a new PROGSRC_PCH represents an adjusted (e.g., increased) pre-charge voltage for a certain physical word line or word line zone (i.e., predetermined group of word lines). Using different PROGSRC_PCH voltages can limit or prevent Vt distribution window degradation, particularly for relatively low physical word lines. Additionally, the overall programming time and average current consumed can also be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yu-Chung Lien, Fanqi Wu, Jiahui Yuan
  • Patent number: 11961556
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices supporting a socket design for a memory device are described. A die may include one or more memory arrays, which each may include any number of word lines and any number of bit lines. The word lines and the bit lines may be oriented in different directions, and memory cells may be located at the intersections of word lines and bit lines. Sockets may couple the word lines and bit lines to associated drivers, and the sockets may be located such that memory cells farther from a corresponding word line socket are nearer a corresponding bit line socket, and vice versa. For example, sockets may be disposed in rows or regions that are parallel to one another, and which may be non-orthogonal to the corresponding word lines and bit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Amitava Majumdar, Radhakrishna Kotti, Rajasekhar Venigalla
  • Patent number: 11963456
    Abstract: Embodiments of present invention provide a method of improving yield of making MRAM arrays. More specifically, the method includes receiving an MRAM array; identifying a weak MRAM cell from the MRAM array wherein the weak MRAM cell includes an access transistor; and modifying the access transistor. In one embodiment, modifying the access transistor includes performing a hot carrier injection into a gate dielectric layer of the access transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dimitri Houssameddine, Kangguo Cheng, Julien Frougier, Ruilong Xie
  • Patent number: 11961553
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of memory cells that have a first state and a second state different from each other. A method of searching a read voltage of the nonvolatile memory device includes determining a number n that represents a number of times a data read operation is performed, selecting n read voltage levels of the read voltage such that a number of read voltage levels is equal to the number of times the data read operation, where the n read voltage levels differ from each other, generating n cell count values by performing n data read operations on the plurality of memory cells using all of the n read voltage levels, and generating an optimal read voltage level of the read voltage by performing a regression analysis based on a first-order polynomial using the n read voltage levels and the n cell count values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wijik Lee, Kwanwoo Noh, Hyeonjong Song
  • Patent number: 11955166
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include signal processing methods to precondition signals for transmission on a high speed bus. A preconditioning circuit is configured to receive a serialized data signal at an input node and to precondition the serialized output data signal to provide a preconditioned output signal at an output node. The pre-conditioning circuit may include a feedback circuit coupled between the input node and the output node that is configured to independently control both of a propagation delay between the output node and the input node and a magnitude of emphasis/de-emphasis applied to a signal at the output node for provision to the input node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Mamba, Tetsuya Arai, Guangcan Chen
  • Patent number: 11955182
    Abstract: Adaptive and dynamic control of the duration of a pre-program pulse based on a number of planes selected for the pre-program operation is disclosed. A value for a pre-program time increment parameter may be selected based on the number of planes for which the pre-program operation will be performed or determined based on a predefined association with the number of planes. A pre-program voltage pulse may then be applied for a duration that is equal to a default duration for a single-plane pre-program operation incremented by the time increment parameter value. This approach solves the technical problem of Vt downshift for multi-plane pre-program operations, and thus, ensures that the success rate of secure erase operations does not diminish as the number of planes increases. This, in turn, allows for pre-program operations to be consistently performed on a multi-plane basis, which produces the technical effect of improved system performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Long Pham, Sai Gautham Thoppa
  • Patent number: 11948640
    Abstract: A memory includes first and second select gate transistors, memory cells, a source line, a bit line, a selected word line which is connected to a selected memory cell as a target of a verify reading, a non-selected word line which is connected to a non-selected memory cell except the selected memory cell, a potential generating circuit for generating a selected read potential which is supplied to the selected word line, and generating a non-selected read potential larger than the selected read potential, which is supplied to the non-selected word line, and a control circuit which classifies a threshold voltage of the selected memory cell to one of three groups by verifying which area among three area which are isolated by two values does a cell current of the selected memory cell belong, when the selected read potential is a first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Iwai, Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11942155
    Abstract: A memory system includes a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells. Each of the memory cells includes a first programming transistor, a second programming transistor, a first reading transistor coupled to the first programming transistor in series, and a second reading transistor coupled to the second programming transistor in series. The memory system includes an authentication circuit operatively coupled to the memory array. The authentication circuit is configured to generate a Physically Unclonable Function (PUF) signature based on respective logic states of the plurality of memory cells. The logic state of each of the plurality of memory cells is determined based on a preceding breakdown of either the corresponding first programming transistor or second programming transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Meng-Sheng Chang, Chia-En Huang, Yih Wang
  • Patent number: 11942145
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for memory cell placement. The method can include placing a memory cell region in a layout area and placing a well pick-up region and a first power supply routing region along a first side of the memory cell region. The method also includes placing a second power supply routing region and a bitline jumper routing region along a second side of the memory cell region, where the second side is on an opposite side to that of the first side. The method further includes placing a device region along the second side of the memory cell region, where the bitline jumper routing region is between the second power supply routing region and the device region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Chuan Yang, Jui-Wen Chang, Feng-Ming Chang, Kian-Long Lim, Kuo-Hsiu Hsu, Lien Jung Hung, Ping-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 11935609
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a linked XOR flash data protection scheme for data storage devices. In particular, the embodiments described herein provide a data storage controller with a memory space efficient XOR-based flash data protection/recovery algorithm with minimal flash block space overhead and support of recovery from full plane failure with neighbor planes disturb (NPD) in a single word line. Additionally, the embodiments described herein provide a reduced flash block space dedicated for XOR parity buffers storage by a factor of a number of planes per die without losing the capability to recover from NPD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Oleg Kragel, Vijay Sivasankaran, Man Lung Mui, Sahil Sharma
  • Patent number: 11935579
    Abstract: A protection circuit can be applied in a chip, and include: a first protection unit and a first element to be protected, wherein the first protection unit is configured to receive a first input signal and a control signal, and is configured to output a first output signal, the first element to be protected includes a first P-type transistor, and a gate of the P-type transistor is configured to receive the first output signal. When the chip enters a burn-in test, the first output signal is a high-level signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Geyan Liu, Yinchuan Gu
  • Patent number: 11935590
    Abstract: The invention is notably directed to a device for performing a matrix-vector multiplication of a matrix with a vector. The device comprises a memory crossbar array comprising a plurality of row lines, a plurality of column lines and a plurality of junctions arranged between the plurality of row lines and the plurality of column lines. Each junction comprises a programmable resistive element and an access element for accessing the programmable resistive element. The device further comprises a readout circuit configured to perform read operations by applying positive read voltages of one or more first amplitudes and negative read voltages of one or more second amplitudes corresponding to the one or more first amplitudes. The one or more first amplitudes and the corresponding one or more second amplitudes are different from each other, thereby correcting polarity dependent current asymmetricities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ghazi Sarwat Syed, Manuel Le Gallo-Bourdeau, Abu Sebastian
  • Patent number: 11937418
    Abstract: A memory device includes pages arranged in columns and each constituted by a plurality of memory cells on a substrate, voltages applied to a first gate conductor layer, a second gate conductor layer, a first impurity layer, and a second impurity layer in each memory cell included in each of the pages are controlled to perform a page write operation of retaining, inside a channel semiconductor layer, a group of positive holes generated by an impact ionization phenomenon or by a gate-induced drain leakage current, and the voltages applied to the first gate conductor layer, the second gate conductor layer, the first impurity layer, and the second impurity layer are controlled to perform a page erase operation of discharging the group of positive holes from inside the channel semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Sakui, Nozomu Harada
  • Patent number: 11935615
    Abstract: A sample and hold scheme for temperature measurements for non-volatile memory can enable significant reduction in temperature readout latency. In one example thermometer circuits are enabled at a refresh rate to cause the temperature to be sensed and latched at regular intervals. By performing the temperature readings in the background at a refresh rate instead of on-demand, the temperature is available to service commands with almost no latency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaojiang Guo, Weihua Shi
  • Patent number: 11929105
    Abstract: The present application makes public a magnetic memory and a reading/writing method thereof, which magnetic memory comprises at least one cell layer, and the cell layer includes a plurality of parallel second wires that are disposed in a second plane, the first plane being parallel to the second plane, and projections of the second wires onto the first plane intercrossing the first wires; a plurality of storage elements that are disposed between the first plane and the second plane, the storage elements including magnetic tunnel junctions and bi-directional gating components connected in series along a direction perpendicular to the first plane, the magnetic tunnel junctions being connected to the first wires, the bi-directional gating components being connected to the second wires, and the bi-directional gating components being configured to be conductive upon application of a threshold voltage and/or a threshold current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Baolei Wu, Xiaoguang Wang, Yulei Wu
  • Patent number: 11929133
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided, comprising a controller, a plurality of memory devices operably connected to the controller, circuitry configured to measure a performance metric for each of the plurality of memory devices, and circuitry configured to select, based upon the measured performance metric, a subset of the plurality of memory devices to disable in response to a recovery command. Information corresponding to the selected subset cam be stored in a mode register of the apparatus, and the apparatus can further comprise circuitry configured, in response to a recovery command, to disable the subset of the plurality of memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rachael Skreen