Patents by Inventor Michael Sadd

Michael Sadd 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: 20230368859
    Abstract: Memory built-in self-test (MBIST) circuitry for a disruptive memory includes an address sequencer configured to select an address with the disruptive memory as a test location, and control circuitry configured to direct a test sequence including a plurality of test operations on the test location. The control circuitry includes a first fault counter and a second fault counter, in which the control circuitry is configured to, after each test operation of the test sequence, determine whether to selectively update a first fault counter and whether to selectively update a second fault counter. The address sequencer, after completion of the test sequence, selects a next address within the disruptive memory as a next test location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy Strauss, Jon Scott Choy, Michael A. Sadd
  • Patent number: 11404118
    Abstract: A memory includes a pair of sense amplifiers where the pair of sense amplifiers perform a multiphase memory operation to read data from two memory cells. Each sense amplifier includes two current paths. During a first phase of the memory read operation, one of the two sense amplifiers provides current through both a first memory cell and a first reference cell and the other sense amplifier of the two provides current through both a second memory cell and a second reference cell. The reference cells each have different resistance values. During a second phase of the memory read operation, one of the sense amplifiers provides current through both of the first memory cell and the second reference cell and the second sense amplifier provides current through the second memory cell and the first reference cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Sadd, Jon Scott Choy
  • Publication number: 20220238153
    Abstract: A memory includes a pair of sense amplifiers where the pair of sense amplifiers perform a multiphase memory operation to read data from two memory cells. Each sense amplifier includes two current paths. During a first phase of the memory read operation, one of the two sense amplifiers provides current through both a first memory cell and a first reference cell and the other sense amplifier of the two provides current through both a second memory cell and a second reference cell. The reference cells each have different resistance values. During a second phase of the memory read operation, one of the sense amplifiers provides current through both of the first memory cell and the second reference cell and the second sense amplifier provides current through the second memory cell and the first reference cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Michael A. Sadd, Jon Scott Choy
  • Patent number: 10410705
    Abstract: A memory includes a first memory cell; and a second memory cell. A selectable current path is coupled between the first memory cell and the second memory cell. The selectable current path includes a first transistor. A first amplifier is coupled in a first feedback arrangement between the first memory cell and the first transistor. During a read operation of the first memory cell, a current through the first memory cell is substantially equal to a current through the second memory cell. The memory cell may include a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce L. Morton, Michael A. Sadd
  • Patent number: 10297314
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first plurality of flip flops; a first bank of resistive memory cells, wherein each flip flop of the first plurality of flip flops uniquely corresponds to a resistive memory cell of the first bank of resistive memory cells; write circuitry configured to store data from the first plurality of flip flops to the first bank of resistive memory cells; and read circuitry configured to read data from the first bank of resistive memory cells and provide the data from the first bank for storage into the first plurality of flip flops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Anirban Roy, Michael A. Sadd
  • Patent number: 10224088
    Abstract: A memory includes a global reference circuit for generating a signal that controls the resistance of a plurality of reference devices used to read data in memory cells by sense amplifiers of the memory. The signal is generated by an output of an operational amplifier of the global reference circuit. The operational amplifier includes a first input whose voltage is set by flowing current through a reference circuit and a second input whose voltage is set by flowing current through a master reference device. The signal controls the resistance of the master reference device such that the voltages of the inputs of the operational amplifier match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Jon Scott Choy, Michael Garrett Neaves, Michael A. Sadd
  • Patent number: 9935616
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides circuit and method embodiments for calibrating a signal of an integrated circuit. A programmable resistive element is coupled in series with a node of the integrated circuit, where at least part of the integrated circuit is formed in at least one front end of line (FEOL) device level. The programmable resistive element is formed in at least one back end of line (BEOL) wiring level, and the programmable resistive element is in a non-volatile resistive state that is variable across a plurality of non-volatile resistive states in response to a program signal applied to the programmable resistive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Sadd, Anirban Roy
  • Patent number: 9923553
    Abstract: A non-volatile flip flop integrated circuit includes a master latch circuit, a slave latch circuit coupled to the master latch circuit, and a non-volatile memory array coupled to the slave latch circuit. The non-volatile memory array includes a first pair of memory cells coupled to the slave latch circuit, and a second pair of memory cells coupled to the slave latch circuit in parallel with the first pair of memory cells. The first and second pair of memory cells are configured to store data from the slave latch circuit, and to restore data to the slave latch circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Anirban Roy, Michael A. Sadd
  • Publication number: 20180019735
    Abstract: A non-volatile flip flop integrated circuit includes a master latch circuit, a slave latch circuit coupled to the master latch circuit, and a non-volatile memory array coupled to the slave latch circuit. The non-volatile memory array includes a first pair of memory cells coupled to the slave latch circuit, and a second pair of memory cells coupled to the slave latch circuit in parallel with the first pair of memory cells. The first and second pair of memory cells are configured to store data from the slave latch circuit, and to restore data to the slave latch circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: ANIRBAN ROY, MICHAEL A. SADD
  • Patent number: 9847127
    Abstract: A memory device includes a sense amplifier coupled to a first read voltage during a first phase of a read operation and a second read voltage during a second phase of the read operation. A first and second bias voltages are based on the first and second read voltages and corresponding current on a bit line. A first capacitor includes a terminal coupled to the first and second bias voltages. A first amplifier includes an input coupled to another terminal of the first capacitor and another input coupled to a common mode voltage during the first phase and to a reference voltage during the second phase. A second capacitor includes a terminal coupled to an output of the first amplifier. A second amplifier includes an inverting input coupled to another terminal of the second capacitor and another input coupled to a common mode voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Anirban Roy, Michael A. Sadd
  • Publication number: 20170345491
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first plurality of flip flops; a first bank of resistive memory cells, wherein each flip flop of the first plurality of flip flops uniquely corresponds to a resistive memory cell of the first bank of resistive memory cells; write circuitry configured to store data from the first plurality of flip flops to the first bank of resistive memory cells; and read circuitry configured to read data from the first bank of resistive memory cells and provide the data from the first bank for storage into the first plurality of flip flops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Anirban ROY, Michael A. SADD
  • Publication number: 20170337960
    Abstract: A memory includes a first memory cell; and a second memory cell. A selectable current path is coupled between the first memory cell and the second memory cell. The selectable current path includes a first transistor. A first amplifier is coupled in a first feedback arrangement between the first memory cell and the first transistor. During a read operation of the first memory cell, a current through the first memory cell is substantially equal to a current through the second memory cell. The memory cell may include a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce L. Morton, Michael A. Sadd
  • Patent number: 9823874
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments for methods and memory devices. One embodiment of a memory device includes a first volatile memory cell having a first volatile access transistor with a current electrode coupled with a first volatile bit line; a first non-volatile memory cell having a first non-volatile access transistor with a current electrode coupled with a first non-volatile bit line; and a transfer circuit coupled between the first volatile bit line and the first non-volatile bit line. The transfer circuit is configured to: couple data latched from the first volatile bit line with the first non-volatile bit line during a store operation, and couple the first volatile bit line with the first non-volatile bit line during a restore operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Sadd, Anirban Roy
  • Patent number: 9779795
    Abstract: A memory device includes a first line coupled to a first terminal of a first memory cell, a second bit line coupled to a first terminal of a second memory cell, a sense amplifier coupled to a second end of the first bit line and a second end of the second bit line, a capacitor including a first terminal coupled to a first input of the sense amplifier and a second terminal coupled to a switch. The switch couples the second terminal of the capacitor to the second bit line during a calibration phase of a read operation and to the first bit line during a sense phase of the read operation. A current/voltage source drives current on the first bit line while the second line is floating during the calibration phase, and drives current on the second bit line while the first bit line is floating during the sense phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Sadd, Anirban Roy
  • Patent number: 9773537
    Abstract: A memory includes a first memory cell; and a second memory cell. A selectable current path is coupled between the first memory cell and the second memory cell. The selectable current path includes a first transistor. A first amplifier is coupled in a first feedback arrangement between the first memory cell and the first transistor. During a read operation of the first memory cell, a current through the first memory cell is substantially equal to a current through the second memory cell. The memory cell may include a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce L. Morton, Michael A. Sadd
  • Patent number: 9741417
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sense amplifier circuit includes two current paths. Each path includes a transistor configured as a current source during a memory read operation and a second transistor. During the first phase of a memory read operation, the first current path is coupled to one cell and the second current path is coupled to a second cell. The sense amplifier circuit includes a capacitor that during a first phase of a memory read operation, is coupled between two corresponding nodes of the two paths to store a voltage difference between the two nodes. During the second phase, the cell/current path couplings are swapped and the capacitor is coupled to the control terminal of one of the second transistors to control the conductivity of the transistor for adjusting a voltage of an output node to indicate the value of the data being read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Sadd, Jon Scott Choy, Michael Garrett Neaves
  • Patent number: 9741435
    Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit includes a sampling capacitor coupled to the input of an inverting amplifier. The output of the inverting amplifier is coupled to a transistor that includes a current terminal. The memory read operation includes two phases. During a first phase, a terminal of the capacitor is coupled to a first cell. During a second phase, the terminal of the capacitor is coupled a second cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Jon Scott Choy, Michael A. Sadd, Michael Garrett Neaves
  • Patent number: 9697897
    Abstract: A memory device includes a volatile memory cell, a non-volatile memory cell, and a transfer system connected between the volatile memory cell and the non-volatile memory cell. The transfer circuit allows data transfer from the volatile memory cell to the non-volatile memory cell when the memory device is operating in a first mode, and from the non-volatile memory cell to the volatile memory cell when the memory device is operating in a second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A Sadd, Anirban Roy
  • Patent number: 9672911
    Abstract: A memory device includes a volatile memory cell and a non-volatile memory cell. The non-volatile memory cell includes a first resistive element having a first terminal and a second terminal and a second resistive element having a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the first resistive element is coupled to the first terminal of the second resistive element at a first node. The second terminal of the first resistive element is coupled to a first source line voltage. The second terminal of the second resistive element is coupled to a second source line voltage. A first transistor includes a first current electrode coupled to a first data storage node of the volatile memory cell, a second current electrode coupled to a supply voltage, and a control gate coupled to the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Anirban Roy, Michael A. Sadd
  • Patent number: 9659623
    Abstract: A resistive non-volatile memory (NVMN) cell has three select transistors connected together in series. A first resistive element has a first terminal connected between first and second select transistors and a second terminal. A second resistive element has a first terminal connected between second and third transistors. In a first embodiment, the second terminals of the first and second resistive elements are connected to bit lines. In a second embodiment, the second terminals of the first and second resistive elements are connected to source lines. In the first embodiment, when the center select transistor is conductive, the first and second resistive elements become a resistor-divider. Each of the first and second resistive elements include a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Sadd, Anirban Roy