Patents by Inventor Juan Carlos Lee

Juan Carlos Lee 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: 9595338
    Abstract: In NAND Flash memory, bit line precharge/discharge times can be a main component in determining program, erase and read performance. In a conventional arrangement bit line levels are set by the sense amps and bit lines are discharged to a source line level is through the sense amplifier path. Under this arrangement, precharge/discharge times are dominated by the far-side (relative to the sense amps) based on the bit lines' RC constant. Reduction of bit line precharge/discharge times, therefore, improves NAND Flash performance and subsequently the overall system performance. To addresses this, an additional path is introduced between bit lines to the common source level through the use of dummy NAND strings. In an exemplary 3D-NAND (BiCS) based embodiment, the dummy NAND strings are taken from dummy blocks, where the dummy blocks can be placed throughout the array to evenly distribute the discharging current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Lee, Hao Nguyen, Man Mui, Tien-chien Kuo, Yuki Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20160086671
    Abstract: In NAND Flash memory, bit line precharge/discharge times can be a main component in determining program, erase and read performance. In a conventional arrangement bit line levels are set by the sense amps and bit lines are discharged to a source line level is through the sense amplifier path. Under this arrangement, precharge/discharge times are dominated by the far-side (relative to the sense amps) based on the bit lines' RC constant. Reduction of bit line precharge/discharge times, therefore, improves NAND Flash performance and subsequently the overall system performance. To addresses this, an additional path is introduced between bit lines to the common source level through the use of dummy NAND strings. In an exemplary 3D-NAND (BiCS) based embodiment, the dummy NAND strings are taken from dummy blocks, where the dummy blocks can be placed throughout the array to evenly distribute the discharging current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Lee, Hao Nguyen, Man Mui, Tien-chien Kuo, Yuki Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9293195
    Abstract: A compact and versatile high speed sense amplifier suitable for use in non-volatile memory circuits is presented. The sense amp includes a latch, which is connected to a data bus, and bit line selection circuitry by which it can selectively be connected to one or more bit lines. The sense amp also includes some intermediate circuitry having a first node connectable to a selected bit line through the bit line selection circuitry and a second node that is connectable to the latch circuit. The sense amp can include switches where the second node can be connected to either the value held in the latch or the inverse of the value held in the latch. The sense amp can also include a switch where an internal node of the sense amp can be connected directly to a voltage supply level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Man Lung Mui, Jongmin Park, Hao Thai Nguyen, Juan Carlos Lee, Seungpil Lee, Alexander Tsang-nam Chu
  • Patent number: 8842471
    Abstract: In non-volatile memory devices, a write typically consists of an alternating set of pulse and verify operations. At the end of a pulse, the device must be biased properly for an accurate verify, after which the device is re-biased for the next pulse. The intervals between the pulse and verify phases are considered. For the interval after a pulse, but before establishing the verify conditions, the source, bit line, and, optionally, the well levels can be equalized and then regulated at a desired DC level. After a verify phase, but before applying the biasing the memory for the next pulse, the source and bit line levels can be equalized to a DC level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Thai Nguyen, Juan Carlos Lee, Seungpil Lee, Masahide Matsumoto, Jongmin Park, Man Lung Mui, Sung-En Wang
  • Patent number: 8811075
    Abstract: In non-volatile memory devices, a write typically consists of an alternating set of pulse and verify operations. At the end of a pulse, the device must be biased properly for an accurate verify, after which the device is re-biased for the next pulse. The intervals between the pulse and verify phases are considered. For the interval after a pulse, but before establishing the verify conditions, the source, bit line, and, optionally, the well levels can be equalized and then regulated at a desired DC level. After a verify phase, but before applying the biasing the memory for the next pulse, the source and bit line levels can be equalized to a DC level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Thai Nguyen, Juan Carlos Lee, Seungpil Lee, Jongmin Park, Man Lung Mui
  • Patent number: 8737132
    Abstract: In non-volatile memory devices, a write typically consists of an alternating set of pulse and verify operations. At the end of a pulse, the device must be biased properly for an accurate verify, after which the device is re-biased for the next pulse. In some cases a non-volatile memory is programmed by an alternating set of pulses, but, for at least some pulses without any intervening verify operations. After a one pulse, but before biasing the memory for the next pulse without an intervening very, the source and bit line levels can be left to float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Thai Nguyen, Juan Carlos Lee, Seungpil Lee, Jongmin Park, Man Lung Mui
  • Publication number: 20140003153
    Abstract: A compact and versatile high speed sense amplifier suitable for use in non-volatile memory circuits is presented. The sense amp includes a latch, which is connected to a data bus, and bit line selection circuitry by which it can selectively be connected to one or more bit lines. The sense amp also includes some intermediate circuitry having a first node connectable to a selected bit line through the bit line selection circuitry and a second node that is connectable to the latch circuit. The sense amp can include switches where the second node can be connected to either the value held in the latch or the inverse of the value held in the latch. The sense amp can also include a switch where an internal node of the sense amp can be connected directly to a voltage supply level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Man Lung Mui, Jongmin Park, Hao Thai Nguyen, Juan Carlos Lee, Seungpil Lee, Alexander Tsang-nam Chu
  • Publication number: 20130176777
    Abstract: In non-volatile memory devices, a write typically consists of an alternating set of pulse and verify operations. At the end of a pulse, the device must be biased properly for an accurate verify, after which the device is re-biased for the next pulse. The intervals between the pulse and verify phases are considered. For the interval after a pulse, but before establishing the verify conditions, the source, bit line, and, optionally, the well levels can be equalized and then regulated at a desired DC level. After a verify phase, but before applying the biasing the memory for the next pulse, the source and bit line levels can be equalized to a DC level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Hao Thai Nguyen, Juan Carlos Lee, Seungpil Lee, Jongmin Park, Man Lung Mui
  • Publication number: 20130176790
    Abstract: In non-volatile memory devices, a write typically consists of an alternating set of pulse and verify operations. At the end of a pulse, the device must be biased properly for an accurate verify, after which the device is re-biased for the next pulse. In some cases a non-volatile memory is programmed by an alternating set of pulses, but, for at least some pulses without any intervening verify operations. After a one pulse, but before biasing the memory for the next pulse without an intervening very, the source and bit line levels can be left to float.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Hao Thai Nguyen, Juan Carlos Lee, Seungpil Lee, Jungmin Park, Man Lung Mui
  • Publication number: 20130176776
    Abstract: In non-volatile memory devices, a write typically consists of an alternating set of pulse and verify operations. At the end of a pulse, the device must be biased properly for an accurate verify, after which the device is re-biased for the next pulse. The intervals between the pulse and verify phases are considered. For the interval after a pulse, but before establishing the verify conditions, the source, bit line, and, optionally, the well levels can be equalized and then regulated at a desired DC level. After a verify phase, but before applying the biasing the memory for the next pulse, the source and bit line levels can be equalized to a DC level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Hao Thai Nguyen, Juan Carlos Lee, Seungpil Lee, Masahide Matsumoto, Jongmin Park, Man Lung Mui, Sung-En Wang