Patents by Inventor Myeong-o Kim

Myeong-o Kim 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: 10635531
    Abstract: An error correction circuit of a semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array includes an error correction code (ECC) memory that stores an ECC and an ECC engine. The ECC is represented by a generation matrix. The ECC engine generates first parity data based on main data using the ECC, and corrects at least one error bit in the main data read from the memory cell array using the first parity data. The main data includes a plurality of data bits divided into a plurality of sub codeword groups. The ECC includes a plurality of column vectors divided into a plurality of code groups corresponding to the sub codeword groups. The column vectors have elements configured to restrict a location of a sub codeword group in which a mis-corrected bit occurs, in which the mis-corrected bit is generated due to error bits in the main data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Uhn Cha, Myeong-O Kim
  • Patent number: 10503589
    Abstract: Semiconductor memory device may include a memory cell array, an error correction circuit, an input/output (I/O) gating circuit and a control logic circuit. The control logic circuit may, in a first write operation mode, control the I/O gating circuit to select a sub-page, read a first unit of data including a first sub unit of data, a second sub unit of data and a first parity data from the sub-page, and provide the first unit of data to the error correction circuit. The control logic circuit may also control the error correction circuit to perform an error-correcting code decoding on the first unit of data to generate syndrome data, generate second parity data based on a portion of the first unit of data and generate third parity data based on a write parity data, the second parity data and the syndrome data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Uhn Cha, Myeong-O Kim, In-Woo Jun
  • Publication number: 20190146870
    Abstract: Semiconductor memory device may include a memory cell array, an error correction circuit, an input/output (I/O) gating circuit and a control logic circuit. The control logic circuit may, in a first write operation mode, control the I/O gating circuit to select a sub-page, read a first unit of data including a first sub unit of data, a second sub unit of data and a first parity data from the sub-page, and provide the first unit of data to the error correction circuit. The control logic circuit may also control the error correction circuit to perform an error-correcting code decoding on the first unit of data to generate syndrome data, generate second parity data based on a portion of the first unit of data and generate third parity data based on a write parity data, the second parity data and the syndrome data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Uhn CHA, Myeong-O KIM, In-Woo JUN
  • Publication number: 20190012229
    Abstract: An error correction circuit of a semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array includes an error correction code (ECC) memory that stores an ECC and an ECC engine. The ECC is represented by a generation matrix. The ECC engine generates first parity data based on main data using the ECC, and corrects at least one error bit in the main data read from. the memory cell array using the first parity data. The main data includes a plurality of data bits divided into a plurality of sub codeword groups. The ECC includes a plurality of column vectors divided into a plurality of code groups corresponding to the sub codeword groups. The column vectors have elements configured to restrict a location of a sub codeword group in which a mis-corrected bit occurs, in which the mis-corrected bit is generated due to error bits in the main data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: SANG-UHN CHA, Myeong-O KIM
  • Patent number: 9508452
    Abstract: A partial chip and a system including the partial chip are provided. The partial chip includes a memory cell array and a signal control circuit. The memory cell array includes a pass region and a fail region. The signal control circuit is configured to generate second data corresponding to first data to be output from the fail region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Seok Ryu, Myeong O Kim
  • Patent number: 9460766
    Abstract: A memory device may include a pre-charge control circuit, an active control circuit, and a driver circuit. The pre-charge control circuit may be configured to receive an active command after receiving a pre-charge command for a first bank, determine whether or not a pre-charge operation for the first bank has ended when receiving the active command, and generate an active instruction signal according to a result of the determination. The active control circuit may be configured to generate an active control signal for an active operation according to the active instruction signal. The driver circuit may be configured to control an active operation according to the active control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae-Yoon Lee, Myeong-O Kim, Kyo-Min Sohn, Sang-Joon Hwang
  • Publication number: 20160071561
    Abstract: A memory device may include a pre-charge control circuit, an active control circuit, and a driver circuit. The pre-charge control circuit may be configured to receive an active command after receiving a pre-charge command for a first bank, determine whether or not a pre-charge operation for the first bank has ended when receiving the active command, and generate an active instruction signal according to a result of the determination. The active control circuit may be configured to generate an active control signal for an active operation according to the active instruction signal. The driver circuit may be configured to control an active operation according to the active control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Tae-Yoon LEE, Myeong-O KIM, Kyo-Min SOHN, Sang-Joon HWANG
  • Patent number: 9171605
    Abstract: Provided is a method of detecting a concentrated address of a semiconductor device using an n-bit address. The method includes dividing the n-bit address into k groups, wherein each of n and k is an integer equal to or greater than 2, for each group of the k groups, detecting one or more concentrated sub addresses corresponding to the group, and generating at least one concentrated address by combining the one or more concentrated sub addresses for the k groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Sik Kim, Won-Il Bae, Myeong-O Kim, Min-Soo Kim, Ho-Seok Seol, Min-Sang Park, Kyo-Min Sohn, Chi-Hwan Lee, Sang-Joon Hwang
  • Publication number: 20150206573
    Abstract: A partial chip and a system including the partial chip are provided. The partial chip includes a memory cell array and a signal control circuit. The memory cell array includes a pass region and a fail region. The signal control circuit is configured to generate second data corresponding to first data to be output from the fail region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: YOUNG SEOK RYU, Myeong O Kim
  • Patent number: 8416632
    Abstract: A bitline precharge voltage generator comprises a leakage trimming unit and a bitline precharge voltage providing unit. The leakage trimming unit applies a leakage current to an output node to place a bitline precharge voltage at an edge of a dead zone. The bitline precharge voltage providing unit provides the bitline precharge voltage to the output node, and sets the bitline precharge voltage to a target level. The bitline precharge voltage generator generates the bitline precharge voltage having a distribution including the dead zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-Heung Kim, Seong-Jin Jang, Myeong-O Kim, Hong-Jun Lee, Tae-Yoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8107308
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device is provided. A memory cell array has a plurality of memory cells connected between a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit-line pairs. A sense amplifier unit has a plurality of sense amplifiers connected with the bit-line pairs respectively and amplifies data of the bit-line pairs to a sensing voltage level. A command decoder decodes a command applied from the outside and outputs the decoded command. A plurality of input/output (I/O) gates electrically connects the bit-line pairs with corresponding I/O line pairs in response to a voltage level applied through a plurality of corresponding column selection lines. A column decoder decodes a column address and drives at least one of the column selection lines to a plurality of different voltages levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myeong-O Kim, Jae-Won Ko, Reum Oh
  • Publication number: 20110122711
    Abstract: A bitline precharge voltage generator comprises a leakage trimming unit and a bitline precharge voltage providing unit. The leakage trimming unit applies a leakage current to an output node to place a bitline precharge voltage at an edge of a dead zone. The bitline precharge voltage providing unit provides the bitline precharge voltage to the output node, and sets the bitline precharge voltage to a target level. The bitline precharge voltage generator generates the bitline precharge voltage having a distribution including the dead zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-Heung KIM, Seong-Jin JANG, Myeong-O KIM, Hong-Jun LEE, Tae-Yoon LEE
  • Patent number: 7872932
    Abstract: A method and semiconductor memory device for precharging a local input/output line. The semiconductor memory device, which may have an open bit line structure, transmits data through local input/output lines that are coupled to bit lines of first to n-th memory cell array blocks (n being a natural number). The semiconductor memory device may include a precharge unit configured to generate a plurality of precharge signals and a controller configured to control precharging of the at least one local input/output line responsive to block information corresponding to activation of at least one of the memory cell array blocks and responsive to at least one of the precharge signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myeong-O Kim, Byung-Chul Kim, Yong-Gyu Chu
  • Publication number: 20100177582
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device is provided. A memory cell array has a plurality of memory cells connected between a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit-line pairs. A sense amplifier unit has a plurality of sense amplifiers connected with the bit-line pairs respectively and amplifies data of the bit-line pairs to a sensing voltage level. A command decoder decodes a command applied from the outside and outputs the decoded command. A plurality of input/output (I/O) gates electrically connects the bit-line pairs with corresponding I/O line pairs in response to a voltage level applied through a plurality of corresponding column selection lines. A column decoder decodes a column address and drives at least one of the column selection lines to a plurality of different voltages levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Myeong-O Kim, Jae-Won Ko, Reum Oh
  • Patent number: 7652942
    Abstract: A sense amplifier includes a reference signal providing unit and an internal sense amplification unit. The reference signal providing unit provides a reference bit line signal in response to a reference control signal. The internal sense amplification unit receives the reference bit line signal and data signals that correspond to the data. The received signals are provided through bit lines connected to the memory cell array. The internal sense amplification unit senses the received reference bit line signal and the data signals and amplifies the sensed signals. The sense amplifier senses data stored in memory cells connected to dummy bit lines of the outmost memory cell array of a semiconductor memory device such that the memory cells that are not used can be used. Accordingly, the design area and cost of the semiconductor memory device can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myeong-o Kim, Yun-sang Lee
  • Patent number: 7643364
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device including a bit line sense amplifier for amplifying a voltage corresponding to a charge stored in a capacitor of a memory cell and outputting an amplified voltage and an I/O sense amplifier for receiving the output of the bit line sense amplifier, amplifying a voltage level of the output and outputting an amplified voltage level is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Cheol Lee, Myeong-O Kim
  • Patent number: 7570529
    Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit of a semiconductor memory device and a method of operating the same, in which the sense amplifier circuit includes a bit line sense amplifier connected with a bit line to sense and amplify a signal of the bit line, and a calibration circuit calibrating a voltage level of the bit line based on a logic threshold value of the bit line sense amplifier. The bit line sense amplifier senses and amplifies the signal of the bit line after the voltage level of the bit line is calibrated. The bit line sense amplifier may include a 2-stage cascade latch, which includes a first inverter having an input terminal connected with the bit line; and a second inverter which has an input terminal connected with an output terminal of the first inverter and an output terminal connected with the bit line and is enabled/disabled in response to a sensing control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myeong-O Kim, Soo-Hwan Kim, Jong-Cheol Lee
  • Publication number: 20090040853
    Abstract: A method and semiconductor memory device for precharging a local input/output line. The semiconductor memory device, which may have an open bit line structure, transmits data through local input/output lines that are coupled to bit lines of first to n-th memory cell array blocks (n being a natural number). The semiconductor memory device may include a precharge unit configured to generate a plurality of precharge signals and a controller configured to control precharging of the at least one local input/output line responsive to block information corresponding to activation of at least one of the memory cell array blocks and responsive to at least one of the precharge signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Myeong-O KIM, Byung-Chul KIM, Yong-Gyu CHU
  • Publication number: 20080159037
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device including a bit line sense amplifier for amplifying a voltage corresponding to a charge stored in a capacitor of a memory cell and outputting an amplified voltage and an I/O sense amplifier for receiving the output of the bit line sense amplifier, amplifying a voltage level of the output and outputting an amplified voltage level is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Cheol Lee, Myeong-O Kim
  • Publication number: 20080151664
    Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit of a semiconductor memory device and a method of operating the same, in which the sense amplifier circuit includes a bit line sense amplifier connected with a bit line to sense and amplify a signal of the bit line, and a calibration circuit calibrating a voltage level of the bit line based on a logic threshold value of the bit line sense amplifier. The bit line sense amplifier senses and amplifies the signal of the bit line after the voltage level of the bit line is calibrated. The bit line sense amplifier may include a 2-stage cascade latch, which includes a first inverter having an input terminal connected with the bit line; and a second inverter which has an input terminal connected with an output terminal of the first inverter and an output terminal connected with the bit line and is enabled/disabled in response to a sensing control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Myeong-O Kim, Soo-Hwan Kim, Jong-Cheol Lee