Patents by Inventor Andrew Bicksler

Andrew Bicksler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8390051
    Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor device structures are disclosed. One method comprises forming a plurality of loops of a conductive material. Each loop of the plurality of loops comprises a uniform pattern. In one embodiment, a portion of the conductive material is removed from at least one location in each loop of the plurality of loops. Contacts are formed to the conductive material. A semiconductor device structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Bicksler
  • Publication number: 20130001671
    Abstract: Methods of forming memory and memory devices are disclosed, such as a memory device having a memory cell with a floating gate formed from a first conductor, a control gate formed from a second conductor, and a dielectric interposed between the floating gate and the control gate. For example, a select gate may be coupled in series with the memory cell and has a first control gate portion formed from the first conductor and a second control gate portion formed from a third conductor. A contact may be formed from the third conductor and coupled in series with the select gate. Other methods and devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Andrew BICKSLER
  • Publication number: 20120281474
    Abstract: Methods for programming a memory device, memory devices configured to perform the disclosed programming methods, and memory systems having a memory device configured to perform the disclosed programming methods are provided. According to at least one such method, multiple pages of memory cells are inhibited during a programming operation such that memory cells enabled for programming are separated by two or more inhibited memory cells of the same row of memory cells regardless of the intended pattern of data states to be programmed into that row of memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventor: Andrew Bicksler
  • Patent number: 8304309
    Abstract: Methods of forming memory and memory devices are disclosed, such as a memory device having a memory cell with a floating gate formed from a first conductor, a control gate formed from a second conductor, and a dielectric interposed between the floating gate and the control gate. For example, a select gate may be coupled in series with the memory cell and has a first control gate portion formed from the first conductor and a second control gate portion formed from a third conductor. A contact may be formed from the third conductor and coupled in series with the select gate. Other methods and devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Bicksler
  • Patent number: 8243522
    Abstract: A method of applying an inhibit bias to an unselected word line when programming a NAND memory device is provided. The method may include ramping the inhibit bias to the unselected word line to a first predetermined voltage and ramping the inhibit bias to the unselected word line to a second predetermined voltage. Ramping of the inhibit bias to the unselected word line to a first predetermined voltage may occur until a boosted channel reaches a leakage limited saturation potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Bicksler
  • Patent number: 8228735
    Abstract: Memories and their memory arrays are disclosed. One such memory array has a string of series-coupled memory cells, a non-programmable select gate coupled in series to a first end of the string of series-coupled memory cells, and a programmable select gate coupled in series to a second end of the string of series-coupled memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Giuseppina Puzzilli, Andrew Bicksler, Akira Goda
  • Patent number: 8223561
    Abstract: Methods for programming a memory device, memory devices configured to perform the disclosed programming methods, and memory systems having a memory device configured to perform the disclosed programming methods are provided. According to at least one such method, multiple pages of memory cells are inhibited during a programming operation such that memory cells enabled for programming are separated by two or more inhibited memory cells of the same row of memory cells regardless of the intended pattern of data states to be programmed into that row of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Bicksler
  • Publication number: 20120117306
    Abstract: Memory devices, methods for programming sense flags, methods for sensing flags, and memory systems are disclosed. In one such memory device, the odd bit lines of a flag memory cell array are connected with a short circuit to a dynamic data cache. The even bit lines of the flag memory cell array are disconnected from the dynamic data cache. When an even page of a main memory cell array is read, the odd flag memory cells, comprising flag data, are read at the same time so that it can be determined whether the odd page of the main memory cell array has been programmed. If the flag data indicates that the odd page has not been programmed, threshold voltage windows can be adjusted to determine the states of the sensed even memory cell page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Shafqat Ahmed, Khaled Hasnat, Pranav Kalavade, Krishna Parat, Aaron Yip, Mark A. Helm, Andrew Bicksler
  • Publication number: 20120049245
    Abstract: Memory arrays and their formation are disclosed. One such memory array has first and second memory cells over a semiconductor, an air gap between the first and second memory cells, and an isolation region within the semiconductor and under the air gap so that the isolation region is aligned with the air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Andrew Bicksler, Chris Larsen
  • Publication number: 20120025402
    Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor device structures are disclosed. One method comprises forming a plurality of loops of a conductive material. Each loop of the plurality of loops comprises a uniform pattern. In one embodiment, a portion of the conductive material is removed from at least one location in each loop of the plurality of loops. Contacts are formed to the conductive material. A semiconductor device structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew Bicksler
  • Publication number: 20110261624
    Abstract: Methods for programming a memory device, memory devices configured to perform the disclosed programming methods, and memory systems having a memory device configured to perform the disclosed programming methods are provided. According to at least one such method, multiple pages of memory cells are inhibited during a programming operation such that memory cells enabled for programming are separated by two or more inhibited memory cells of the same row of memory cells regardless of the intended pattern of data states to be programmed into that row of memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Andrew Bicksler
  • Publication number: 20110199827
    Abstract: Memories and their memory arrays are disclosed. One such memory array has a string of series-coupled memory cells, a non-programmable select gate coupled in series to a first end of the string of series-coupled memory cells, and a programmable select gate coupled in series to a second end of the string of series-coupled memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Giuseppina Puzzilli, Andrew Bicksler, Akira Goda
  • Patent number: 7978511
    Abstract: Methods for programming a memory device, memory devices configured to perform the disclosed programming methods, and memory systems having a memory device configured to perform the disclosed programming methods are provided. According to at least one such method, multiple pages of memory cells are inhibited during a programming operation such that memory cells enabled for programming are separated by two or more inhibited memory cells of the same row of memory cells regardless of the intended pattern of data states to be programmed into that row of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Bicksler
  • Publication number: 20110157995
    Abstract: A method of applying an inhibit bias to an unselected word line when programming a NAND memory device is provided. The method may include ramping the inhibit bias to the unselected word line to a first predetermined voltage and ramping the inhibit bias to the unselected word line to a second predetermined voltage. Ramping of the inhibit bias to the unselected word line to a first predetermined voltage may occur until a boosted channel reaches a leakage limited saturation potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventor: Andrew Bicksler
  • Publication number: 20110101441
    Abstract: Methods of forming memory and memory devices are disclosed, such as a memory device having a memory cell with a floating gate formed from a first conductor, a control gate formed from a second conductor, and a dielectric interposed between the floating gate and the control gate. For example, a select gate may be coupled in series with the memory cell and has a first control gate portion formed from the first conductor and a second control gate portion formed from a third conductor. A contact may be formed from the third conductor and coupled in series with the select gate. Other methods and devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Andrew Bicksler
  • Publication number: 20110058424
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods are disclosed, such as devices configured to apply a first program inhibit bias to data lines during a first portion of a program operation and to apply a second program inhibit bias to data lines during a second portion of the program operation. The second program inhibit bias is greater than the first program inhibit bias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Akira Goda, Andrew Bicksler, Violante Moschiano, Giuseppina Puzzilli
  • Publication number: 20100302858
    Abstract: Methods for programming a memory device, memory devices configured to perform the disclosed programming methods, and memory systems having a memory device configured to perform the disclosed programming methods are provided. According to at least one such method, multiple pages of memory cells are inhibited during a programming operation such that memory cells enabled for programming are separated by two or more inhibited memory cells of the same row of memory cells regardless of the intended pattern of data states to be programmed into that row of memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Andrew Bicksler
  • Patent number: 7272039
    Abstract: A selected wordline that is coupled to cells for programming is biased with a programming voltage. The unselected wordlines that are adjacent to the selected wordline are biased at a first predetermined voltage. The remaining wordlines are biased at a second predetermined voltage that is greater than the first predetermined voltage. The first predetermined voltage is selected by determining what unselected, adjacent wordline bias voltage produces a minimized Vpass disturb in response to the selected wordline programming voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Rudeck, Andrei Mihnea, Andrew Bicksler
  • Patent number: 7257024
    Abstract: A selected wordline that is coupled to cells for programming is biased with a programming voltage. The unselected wordlines that are adjacent to the selected wordline are biased at a first predetermined voltage. The remaining wordlines are biased at a second predetermined voltage that is greater than the first predetermined voltage. The first predetermined voltage is selected by determining what unselected, adjacent wordline bias voltage produces a minimized Vpass disturb in response to the selected wordline programming voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Rudeck, Andrei Mihnea, Andrew Bicksler
  • Patent number: 7212435
    Abstract: A selected wordline that is coupled to cells for programming is biased with a programming voltage. The unselected wordlines that are adjacent to the selected wordline are biased at a first predetermined voltage. The remaining wordlines are biased at a second predetermined voltage that is greater than the first predetermined voltage. The first predetermined voltage is selected by determining what unselected, adjacent wordline bias voltage produces a minimized Vpass disturb in response to the selected wordline programming voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Rudeck, Andrei Mihnea, Andrew Bicksler