Patents by Inventor Daniel B. Penney

Daniel B. Penney 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).

  • Publication number: 20200294576
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for scheduling targeted refreshes in a memory device. Memory cells in a memory device may be volatile and may need to be periodically refreshed as part of an auto-refresh operation. In addition, certain rows may experience faster degradation, and may need to undergo targeted refresh operations, where a specific targeted refresh address is provided and refreshed. The rate at which targeted refresh operations need to occur may be based on the rate at which memory cells are accessed. The memory device may monitor accesses to a bank of the memory, and may use a count of the accesses to determine if an auto-refresh address or a targeted refresh address will be refreshed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jason M. Brown, Daniel B. Penney
  • Publication number: 20200219553
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to performing logic operations. An example apparatus comprises sensing circuitry including a sense amplifier and a compute component. A controller is coupled to the sensing circuitry and is configured to cause storing of a first operand in a first compute component storage location, transfer of the first operand to a second compute component storage location, and performance of a logical operation between the first operand in the second compute component storage location and a second operand sensed by the sense amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Harish N. Venkata, Daniel B. Penney
  • Patent number: 10685696
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for scheduling targeted refreshes in a memory device. Memory cells in a memory device may be volatile and may need to be periodically refreshed as part of an auto-refresh operation. In addition, certain rows may experience faster degradation, and may need to undergo targeted refresh operations, where a specific targeted refresh address is provided and refreshed. The rate at which targeted refresh operations need to occur may be based on the rate at which memory cells are accessed. The memory device may monitor accesses to a bank of the memory, and may use a count of the accesses to determine if an auto-refresh address or a targeted refresh address will be refreshed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason M. Brown, Daniel B. Penney
  • Patent number: 10672441
    Abstract: Method and devices include a shifter that is configured to receive a write command for a memory device and is configured to produce multiple shifted write commands from the write command. Multiple flip-flops that are configured to receive a subset of the multiple shifted write commands from the shifter. The multiple flip-flops also are configured to output an indicator of whether subsequent write commands of the subset of write commands is asserted when the write command has completed shifting through the shifter as a write start signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Penney, Liang Chen, David R. Brown
  • Patent number: 10664173
    Abstract: Techniques provided herein compensate for an internal and external timing skew between a data strobe (DQS) and a clock (CLK), by: executing at least one write leveling initialization procedure (WLInit) that uses a mode-register-write (MRW) command to synchronize a timing between a data strobe (DQS) with a clock (CLK) based upon capture of an internal write command. Internal and external timing skew is identified based upon the WLInit. The internal timing skew is skew caused internal to a memory device and the external timing skew is skew caused external to the memory device. A timing between the DQS and the CLK is adjusted based upon the internal and external timing skew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Howe, Liang Chen, Daniel B. Penney
  • Patent number: 10643679
    Abstract: Devices and methods include utilizing memory including a group of storage elements, such as memory banks. A command interface is configured to receive a write command to write data to the memory. A data strobe is received to assist in writing the data to the memory. Phase division circuitry is configured to divide the data strobe into a plurality of phases to be used in writing the data to the memory. Arbiter circuitry is configured to detect which phase of the plurality of phases captures a write start signal for the write command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel B. Penney
  • Publication number: 20200135263
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for scheduling targeted refreshes in a memory device. Memory cells in a memory device may be volatile and may need to be periodically refreshed as part of an auto-refresh operation. In addition, certain rows may experience faster degradation, and may need to undergo targeted refresh operations, where a specific targeted refresh address is provided and refreshed. The rate at which targeted refresh operations need to occur may be based on the rate at which memory cells are accessed. The memory device may monitor accesses to a bank of the memory, and may use a count of the accesses to determine if an auto-refresh address or a targeted refresh address will be refreshed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jason M. Brown, Daniel B. Penney
  • Patent number: 10600473
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to performing logic operations. An example apparatus comprises sensing circuitry including a sense amplifier and a compute component. A controller is coupled to the sensing circuitry and is configured to cause storing of a first operand in a first compute component storage location, transfer of the first operand to a second compute component storage location, and performance of a logical operation between the first operand in the second compute component storage location and a second operand sensed by the sense amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Harish N. Venkata, Daniel B. Penney
  • Publication number: 20200090732
    Abstract: A memory device includes a data write circuitry. The data write circuitry is configured to capture a first write command received via an external input/output (I/O) interface. The data write circuitry is further configured to generate a first internal write start (InternalWrStart) in a data strobe (DQS) domain after capture of the first write command. The data write circuitry is additionally configured to write a first one or more data bits into at least one memory bank based on the first InternalWrStart, wherein the first InternalWrStart is generated internally in the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel B. Penney, David R. Brown, Gary L. Howe
  • Publication number: 20200082856
    Abstract: Methods and devices include an input buffer configured to receive data. Decision feedback equalizer (DFE) circuitry includes a DFE configured to interpret levels of the data from the input buffer and a DFE buffer that stores previous values to control the DFE based on the previous values. Moreover, the DFE circuitry also includes reset circuitry configured to reset the DFE buffer to an initial state. Furthermore, the DFE circuitry includes suppression circuitry configured to suppress resets using the reset circuitry for an interval between write operations to the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel B. Penney, Liang Chen, David R. Brown
  • Patent number: 10535387
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods include receiving data at an input buffer and outputting serial data. The serial shift data is passed toward a serial shift register that shifts its stored data into a data write bus in a parallel format. Serial shift register loading circuitry controls loading of a serial shift register. The serial shift register loading circuitry is configured to receive a data strobe signal and provide the data strobe to the serial shift register to cause the serial shift register to shift in the serial data during a write operation. The serial register loading circuitry includes gating circuitry that is configured to cutoff provision of the data strobe from the serial register loading circuitry based at least in part on a load signal that indicates that the data write bus has been loaded with the serial data in a parallel format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Penney, Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 10534553
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for memory array accessibility can include an apparatus with an array of memory cells. The array can include a first portion accessible by a controller of the array and inaccessible to devices external to the apparatus. The array can include a second portion accessible to the devices external to the apparatus. The array can include a number of registers that store row address that indicate which portion of the array is the first portion. The apparatus can include the controller configured to access the number of registers to allow access to the second portion by the devices external to the apparatus based on the stored row addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Penney, Gary L. Howe
  • Patent number: 10529409
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to performing logic operations. An example apparatus comprises sensing circuitry including a sense amplifier and a compute component. A controller is coupled to the sensing circuitry and is configured to cause storing of a first operand in a first compute component storage location, transfer of the first operand to a second compute component storage location, and performance of a logical operation between the first operand in the second compute component storage location and a second operand sensed by the sense amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Harish N. Venkata, Daniel B. Penney
  • Publication number: 20190391763
    Abstract: A host device and memory device function together to perform internal write leveling of a data strobe with a write command within the memory device. The memory device includes a command interface configured to receive write commands from the host device. The memory device also includes an input-output interface configured to receive the data strobe from the host device. The memory device also includes internal write circuitry configured to launch an internal write signal based at least in part on the write commands. The launch of the internal write signal is based at least in part on an indication from the host device that indicates when to launch the internal write signal relative to a cas write latency (CWL) for the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel B. Penney, Liang Chen
  • Publication number: 20190392888
    Abstract: Systems and methods include capture circuitry configured to capture a write signal from a host device using a data strobe signal from the host device and to output one or more indications of capture of the write signal. Calculation circuitry is configured to receive the data strobe signal, receive the one or more indications of capture, and determine a delay between a first edge of the data strobe signal and receipt of the one or more indications of capture. The systems and methods also include transmission and control circuitry configured to launch subsequent write signals at a time based at least in part on the delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Ming-Bo Liu, Daniel B. Penney
  • Publication number: 20190384512
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for memory array accessibility can include an apparatus with an array of memory cells. The array can include a first portion accessible by a controller of the array and inaccessible to devices external to the apparatus. The array can include a second portion accessible to the devices external to the apparatus. The array can include a number of registers that store row address that indicate which portion of the array is the first portion. The apparatus can include the controller configured to access the number of registers to allow access to the second portion by the devices external to the apparatus based on the stored row addresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel B. Penney, Gary L. Howe
  • Patent number: 10510398
    Abstract: A memory device includes a data write circuitry. The data write circuitry is configured to capture a first write command received via an external input/output (I/O) interface. The data write circuitry is further configured to generate a first internal write start (InternalWrStart) in a data strobe (DQS) domain after capture of the first write command. The data write circuitry is additionally configured to write a first one or more data bits into at least one memory bank based on the first InternalWrStart, wherein the first InternalWrStart is generated internally in the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Penney, David R. Brown, Gary L. Howe
  • Publication number: 20190378557
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to performing logic operations. An example apparatus comprises sensing circuitry including a sense amplifier and a compute component. A controller is coupled to the sensing circuitry and is configured to cause storing of a first operand in a first compute component storage location, transfer of the first operand to a second compute component storage location, and performance of a logical operation between the first operand in the second compute component storage location and a second operand sensed by the sense amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Harish N. Venkata, Daniel B. Penney
  • Publication number: 20190369872
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods to transfer data between banks of memory cells. An example includes a plurality of banks of memory cells and a controller coupled to the plurality of subarrays configured to cause transfer of data between the plurality of banks of memory cells via internal data path operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Thanh K. Mai, Gary L. Howe, Daniel B. Penney
  • Publication number: 20190370165
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to shifting data. An example apparatus comprises a cache coupled to an array of memory cells and a controller. The controller is configured to perform a first operation beginning at a first address to transfer data from the array of memory cells to the cache, and perform a second operation concurrently with the first operation, the second operation beginning at a second address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel B. Penney, Gary L. Howe