Patents by Inventor Daniele Vimercati

Daniele Vimercati 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: 11978493
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for deck-level shunting in a memory device are described. A memory device may include memory arrays arranged in a stack of decks over a substrate, and a combination of deck selection circuitry and shunting circuitry may be distributed among the decks to leverage common substrate-based circuitry, such as logic or addressing circuitry. For example, each memory array of a stack may include a set of digit lines and deck selection circuitry, such as deck selection transistors or other switching circuitry, operable to couple the set of digit lines with a column decoder that may be shared among multiple decks. Each memory array of a stack also may include shunting circuitry, such as shunting transistors or other switching circuitry operable to couple the set of digit lines with a plate node, thereby equalizing a voltage across the memory cells of the respective memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Patent number: 11956970
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for deck selection layouts in a memory device are described. In some implementations, a tile of a memory array may be associated with a level above a substrate, and may include a set of memory cells, a set of digit lines, and a set of word lines. Selection transistors associated with a tile of memory cells may be operable for coupling digit lines of the tile with circuitry outside the tile, and may be activated by various configurations of one or more access lines, where the various configurations may be implemented to trade off or otherwise support design and performance characteristics such as power consumption, layout complexity, operational complexity, and other characteristics. Such techniques may be implemented for other aspects of tile operations, including memory cell shunting or equalization, tile selection using transistors of a different level, or signal development, or various combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Patent number: 11930643
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for thin film transistor deck selection in a memory device are described. A memory device may include memory arrays arranged in a stack of decks formed over a substrate, and deck selection components distributed among the layers to leverage common substrate-based circuitry. For example, each memory array of the stack may include a set of digit lines of a corresponding deck, and deck selection circuitry operable to couple the set of digit lines with a column decoder that is shared among multiple decks. To access memory cells of a selected memory array on one deck, the deck selection circuitry corresponding to the memory array may each be activated, while the deck selection circuitry corresponding to a non-selected memory array on another deck may be deactivated. The deck selection circuitry, such as transistors, may leverage thin-film manufacturing techniques, such as various techniques for forming vertical transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniele Vimercati, Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege
  • Patent number: 11917833
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for thin film transistor deck selection in a memory device are described. A memory device may include memory arrays arranged in a stack of decks formed over a substrate, and deck selection components distributed among the layers to leverage common substrate-based circuitry. For example, each memory array of the stack may include a set of digit lines of a corresponding deck, and deck selection circuitry operable to couple the set of digit lines with a column decoder that is shared among multiple decks. To access memory cells of a selected memory array on one deck, the deck selection circuitry corresponding to the memory array may each be activated, while the deck selection circuitry corresponding to a non-selected memory array on another deck may be deactivated. The deck selection circuitry, such as transistors, may leverage thin-film manufacturing techniques, such as various techniques for forming vertical transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Patent number: 11917809
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for thin film transistor deck selection in a memory device are described. A memory device may include memory arrays arranged in a stack of decks formed over a substrate, and deck selection components distributed among the layers to leverage common substrate-based circuitry. For example, each memory array of the stack may include a set of digit lines of a corresponding deck, and deck selection circuitry operable to couple the set of digit lines with a column decoder that is shared among multiple decks. To access memory cells of a selected memory array on one deck, the deck selection circuitry corresponding to the memory array may each be activated, while the deck selection circuitry corresponding to a non-selected memory array on another deck may be deactivated. The deck selection circuitry, such as transistors, may leverage thin-film manufacturing techniques, such as various techniques for forming vertical transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Publication number: 20240055056
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for storing bits, such as N?1 bits, with cells, such as N cells, in a memory device are described. A memory device may generate a first sensing voltage that is based on a first voltage of a first digit line and a second voltage of a second digit line. The memory device may also generate a second sensing voltage that is based on a third voltage of a third digit line and a fourth voltage of a fourth digit line. The memory device may then determine a bit value based at least in part on a difference between the first sensing voltage and the second sensing voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Patent number: 11887690
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for signal development circuitry layouts in a memory device are described. A memory device may include signal development circuitry that is positioned in multiple levels of a memory die relative to a substrate. For example, a set of first transistors used for developing access signals may be located on a first level of a memory die, and a set of second transistors used for developing the access signals may be located on a second level of the memory die. Formation of the set of first transistors and the set of second transistors may involve processing operations that are common with the formation of other transistors on a respective level, such as cell selection transistors, deck selection transistors, shunting transistors, and other transistors of the respective level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Publication number: 20230410871
    Abstract: Systems and methods related to a memory device that includes a command interface configured to receive read commands and write commands to invoke read and write operations. The memory device also includes a memory bank having multiple memory cells implemented using ferroelectric layers between plate lines and digit lines. The memory device also includes bank control circuitry configured to control operation of the memory bank. The operation of the memory bank includes programming both high and low logic values as a write back to the multiple memory cells during a read and write phase where the read and write operations are performed after sensing values from the multiple memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Daniele Vimercati, Giovanni Mazzeo
  • Patent number: 11837269
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for deck-level signal development cascodes are described. A memory device may include transistors that support both a signal development and decoding functionality. In a first operating condition (e.g., an open-circuit condition), a transistor may be operable to isolate first and second portions of an access line based on a first voltage applied to a gate of the transistor. In a second operating condition (e.g., a signal development condition), the transistor may be operable to couple the first and second portions of the access line and generate an access signal based on a second voltage applied to the gate of the transistor. In a third operating condition (e.g., a closed-circuit condition), the transistor may be operable to couple the first and second portions of the access line based on applying a third voltage greater than the second voltage to the gate of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Publication number: 20230386545
    Abstract: Systems and methods are related to a memory device including a plate line. The memory device also includes a pair of ferroelectric layers implementing a pair of memory cells and coupled to opposite sides of the plate line. The memory device further includes a pair of digit lines each coupled to a respective ferroelectric layer of the pair of ferroelectric layers. The memory device also includes a sense amplifier coupled to the pair of digit lines and configured to sense and amplify voltages received at the digit lines from the respective memory cells. The sense amplifier includes a threshold voltage compensated latch that includes multiple p-channel transistors and is configured to compensate for process, voltage, or temperature variation mismatches between the threshold voltages of the multiple p-channel transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Tong Liu, Daniele Vimercati
  • Publication number: 20230368831
    Abstract: A method of performing a memory cell operation can include maintaining a plate voltage at a first access line of a memory cell during at least a first operation and a second operation of the memory cell. The method can further include charging a second access line to a first voltage greater than zero and greater than a threshold voltage of a selector device of the memory cell during the first operation on the memory cell. The method can further include, subsequent to the first operation, charging the second access line to a second voltage greater than the plate voltage plus the threshold voltage of the selector device to perform the second operation of the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Makoto Kitagawa, Daniele Vimercati
  • Publication number: 20230352080
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for sense amplifier with digit line multiplexing are described. A method includes precharging an input and an output of an amplifier stage of a sense component to a first voltage based on a read operation associated with a memory cell. The method includes precharging a first side and a second side of a latch stage of the sense component to the first voltage based on precharging the output of the amplifier stage to the first voltage, the latch stage coupled with the amplifier stage. The method may also include coupling a second voltage from a digit line associated with the memory cell to the input of the amplifier stage, the amplifier stage generating a third voltage on the output based on coupling the second voltage to the input, and the latch stage latching a logic value associated with the memory cell based on the third voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Eric Carman, Daniele Vimercati
  • Publication number: 20230350582
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for data masking for memory are described. A memory device may set multiple data masking flags for associated memory array(s) at power-up. Each data masking flag may be associated with a respective page of memory cells and may indicate whether the data stored in the respective page is masked data, or whether the data is new, unmasked data. Data existing at a previous power-down may be masked until an initial write or activate command has been performed on the page after power-up, where the initial write or activate command may result in writing masked data, write data, or a combination thereof to the page. After previously stored data is overwritten to a page, the flag associated with the page may be reset, which may indicate that data stored at the page is available to be read.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Angelo Visconti, Jahanshir Javanifard, Daniele Vimercati
  • Patent number: 11763871
    Abstract: Memory cells are described that include two reference voltages that may store and sense three distinct memory states by compensating for undesired intrinsic charges affecting a memory cell. Although embodiments described herein refer to three memory states, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the memory cell may store or sense more than three charge distributions using the described methods and techniques. In a first memory state, a programming voltage or a sensed voltage may be higher than a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage. In a second memory state, the applied voltage or the sensed voltage may be between the first and the second reference voltages. In a third memory state, the applied voltage or the sensed voltage may be lower than the first and the second reference voltages. As such, the memory cell may store and retrieve three memory states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Patent number: 11763870
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for ferroelectric memory (FeRAM) cell operation. An FeRAM cell may have different charge regions it can operate across. Some regions, such as dielectric regions, may operate faster, but with reduced signal on a coupled digit line. To improve the performance while maintaining increased speed, two digit lines may be coupled to the same sense amplifier, so that the FeRAM cells coupled to both digit lines contribute signal to the sense amplifier. For example a first digit line in a first deck of the memory and a second digit line in a second deck of the memory may both be coupled to the sense amplifier. In some embodiments, additional digit lines may be used as shields (e.g., by coupling the shield digit lines to a ground voltage) to further improve the signal-to-noise ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Publication number: 20230292527
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for deck selection layouts in a memory device are described. In some implementations, a tile of a memory array may be associated with a level above a substrate, and may include a set of memory cells, a set of digit lines, and a set of word lines. Selection transistors associated with a tile of memory cells may be operable for coupling digit lines of the tile with circuitry outside the tile, and may be activated by various configurations of one or more access lines, where the various configurations may be implemented to trade off or otherwise support design and performance characteristics such as power consumption, layout complexity, operational complexity, and other characteristics. Such techniques may be implemented for other aspects of tile operations, including memory cell shunting or equalization, tile selection using transistors of a different level, or signal development, or various combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Patent number: 11751386
    Abstract: Field-effect transistors, and integrated circuit devices containing such field-effect transistors, might include a semiconductor material having a first conductivity type, a first source/drain region having a second conductivity type, a second source/drain region having the second conductivity type, a first contact connected to the first source/drain region, a conductor overlying an active area of the semiconductor material and having an annular portion surrounding the first contact and a spur portion extending from an outer perimeter of the annular portion of the conductor, a second contact connected to the second source/drain region outside the annular portion of the conductor, a dielectric between the conductor and the active area, and a third contact overlying the active area and connected to the spur portion of the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Publication number: 20230267977
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for signal development circuitry layouts in a memory device are described. A memory device may include signal development circuitry that is positioned in multiple levels of a memory die relative to a substrate. For example, a set of first transistors used for developing access signals may be located on a first level of a memory die, and a set of second transistors used for developing the access signals may be located on a second level of the memory die. Formation of the set of first transistors and the set of second transistors may involve processing operations that are common with the formation of other transistors on a respective level, such as cell selection transistors, deck selection transistors, shunting transistors, and other transistors of the respective level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Patent number: 11735234
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for differential amplifier schemes for sensing memory cells are described. In one example, an apparatus may include a memory cell, a differential amplifier having a first input node, a second input node, and an output node that is coupled with the first input node via a first capacitor, and a second capacitor coupled with the first input node. The apparatus may include a controller configured to cause the apparatus to bias the first capacitor, couple the memory cell with the first input node, and generate, at the output node, a sense signal based at least in part on biasing the first capacitor and coupling the memory cell with the first input node. The apparatus may also include a sense component configured to determine a logic state stored by the memory cell based at least in part on the sense signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniele Vimercati, Xinwei Guo
  • Patent number: 11735249
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for sensing techniques for differential memory cells are described. A method may include selecting a pair of memory cells that comprise a first memory cell coupled with a first digit line and a second memory cell coupled with a second digit line for a read operation, the pair of memory cells storing one bit of information. The method may further include applying a first voltage to a plate line coupled with the first memory cell and the second memory cell and applying a second voltage to a select line to couple the first digit line and the second digit line with a sense amplifier. The amplifier may sense a logic state of the pair of memory cells based on a difference between a third voltage of the first digit line and a fourth voltage of the second digit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati