Patents by Inventor Nevil N Gajera

Nevil N Gajera 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: 20230178167
    Abstract: A memory device can include multiple memory cells and a processing device operatively coupled with the memory device to perform operations including grouping the memory cells into a groups based on a metric reflecting an electrical distance of a memory cell from a voltage source, and determining, for each group, a respective share of write operations, wherein the share of write operations is related to an aggregate value of the metric for memory cells of the group. The operations can also include distributing the write operations to each group according to the share of write operations determined for the group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Zhongyuan Lu, Karthik Sarpatwari, Nevil N. Gajera
  • Patent number: 11664073
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus to determine, in response to a command to write data into a set of memory cells, a programming mode of a set of memory cell to optimize performance in retrieving the data back from the set of memory cells. For example, based on usages of a memory region containing the memory cell set, a predictive model can be used to identify a combination of an amount of redundant information to be stored into the memory cells in the set and a programming mode of the memory cells to store the redundant information. Increasing the amount of redundant information can increase error recovery capability but increase bit error rate and/or increase time to read. The predictive model is trained to predict the combination to optimize read performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Sarpatwari, Fabio Pellizzer, Nevil N. Gajera
  • Patent number: 11664074
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus to program memory cells to an intermediate state. A first voltage pulse is applied in a first polarity across each respective memory cell among the memory cells to move its threshold voltage in the first polarity to a first voltage region representative of a first value. A second voltage pulse is then applied in a second polarity to further move its threshold voltage in the first polarity to a second voltage region representative of a second value and the intermediate state. A magnitude of the second voltage pulse applied for the memory cells is controlled by increasing the magnitude in increments until the memory cells are sensed to be conductive. Optionally, prior to the first voltage pulse, a third voltage pulse is applied in the second polarity to cancel or reduce a drift in threshold voltages of the respective memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Sarpatwari, Nevil N. Gajera, Lingming Yang, Yen Chun Lee, Jessica Chen, Francesco Douglas Verna-Ketel
  • Publication number: 20230102468
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for performing refresh operations on memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a group of memory cells and one or more additional memory cells whose data state is indicative of whether to refresh the group of memory cells, and circuitry configured to apply a first voltage pulse to the group of memory cells to sense a data state of the memory cells of the group, apply, while the first voltage pulse is applied to the group of memory cells, a second voltage pulse having a greater magnitude than the first voltage pulse to the one or more additional memory cells to sense a data state of the one or more additional memory cells, and determine whether to perform a refresh operation on the group of memory cells based on the sensed data state of the one or more additional memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Karthik Sarpatwari, Lingming Yang, Nevil N. Gajera, John Christopher M. Sancon
  • Patent number: 11615854
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus to determine a programming mode of a set of memory cells that store an indicator of the programming mode. In response to a command to read the memory cells in a memory device, a first read voltage is applied to the memory cells to identify a first subset of the memory cells that become conductive under the first read voltage. The determination of the first subset is configured as an operation common to different programming modes. Based on whether the first subset of the memory cell includes one or more predefined memory cells, the memory device determines a programming mode of memory cells. Once the programming mode is identified from the common operation, the memory device can further execute the command to determine a data item stored, via the programming mode, in the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Sarpatwari, Fabio Pellizzer, Nevil N. Gajera
  • Patent number: 11616098
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a three-dimensional (3D) memory array including a sense line and a plurality of vertical stacks. Each respective on of the vertical stacks includes a different respective portion of the sense line, a first memory cell coupled to that portion of the sense line, a second memory cell coupled to that portion of the sense line, a first access line coupled to the first memory cell and a second access line coupled to the second memory cell. The first and second access lines are perpendicular to the sense line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lingming Yang, Karthik Sarpatwari, Fabio Pellizzer, Nevil N. Gajera, Lei Wei
  • Publication number: 20230067396
    Abstract: Methods and systems include memory devices with a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells. The memory devices include a control circuit operatively coupled to the memory array and configured to receive a read request for data and to apply a plurality of read voltages to the memory array based on the read request. The control circuit is further configured to perform a data analysis for a first set of data read based on the application of the plurality of read voltages and to derive a demarcation bias voltage (VDM) based on the data analysis. The control circuit is also configured to apply the VDM to the memory array to read a second set of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Karthik Sarpatwari, Fabio Pellizzer, Nevil N. Gajera, Yen Chun Lee, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Publication number: 20230058300
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus to determine a programming mode of a set of memory cells without having bit values stored in the memory cells to include an identifier of the programming mode. During the test of which of the memory cells in the set is in a lowest voltage region, which is a common operation for reading the memory cells programmed in different mode, the statistics of the memory cells found to be in the lowest voltage region can be compared to the known, different behaviors of the memory cell set programmed in different modes. A match with the behavior of one of the modes can be used to identify the matching mode as the programming mode of the set of memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Karthik Sarpatwari, Fabio Pellizzer, Nevil N. Gajera
  • Patent number: 11587635
    Abstract: An example apparatus can include a memory array and control circuitry. The memory array can include a first portion including a first plurality of memory cells. The memory array can further include a second portion including a second plurality of memory cells. The control circuitry can be configured to designate the first portion as active responsive to a determination that the first portion passed a performance test. The control circuitry can be configured to designate the second portion as inactive responsive to a determination that the second portion failed the performance test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongmei Wang, Nevil N. Gajera, Mingdong Cui, Fabio Pellizzer
  • Publication number: 20230048450
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus to read target memory cells having an associated reference memory cell configured to be representative of drift or changes in the threshold voltages of the target memory cells. The reference cell is programmed to a predetermined threshold level when the target cells are programmed to store data. In response to a command to read the target memory cells, estimation of a drift of the threshold voltage of the reference is performed in parallel with applying an initial voltage pulse to read the target cells. Based on a result of the drift estimation, voltage pulses used to read the target cells can be modified and/or added to account for the drift estimated using the reference cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Karthik Sarpatwari, Nevil N. Gajera, Lingming Yang, John F. Schreck
  • Patent number: 11568952
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for adjustable programming pulses for a multi-level cell are described. A memory device may modify a characteristic of a programming pulse for an intermediate logic state based on a metric of reliability of associated memory cells. The modified characteristic may increase a read window and reverse a movement of a shifted threshold voltage distribution (e.g., by moving the threshold voltage distribution farther from one or more other voltage distributions). The metric of reliability may be determined by performing test writes may be a quantity of cycles of use for the memory cells, a bit error rate, and/or a quantity of reads of the first state. The information associated with the modified second pulse may be stored in fuses or memory cells, or may be implemented by a memory device controller or circuitry of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xuan-Anh Tran, Nevil N. Gajera, Karthik Sarpatwari, Amitava Majumdar
  • Patent number: 11545194
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for dynamic read voltage techniques are described. In some examples, a memory device may include one or more partitions made up of multiple disjoint subsets of memory arrays. The memory device may receive a read command to read the one or more partitions and enter a drift determination phase. During the drift determination phase, the memory device may concurrently apply a respective voltage of a set of voltages to each disjoint subset and determine a quantity of memory cells in each disjoint subset that have a threshold voltage below the applied voltage. Based on a comparison between the determined quantity of memory cells and a predetermined quantity of memory cells, the memory device may select a voltage from the set of voltages and utilize the selected voltage to read the one or more partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Sarpatwari, Nevil N. Gajera, Jessica Chen, Lingming Yang
  • Publication number: 20220415394
    Abstract: A memory device having memory cells, voltage drivers, and a controller configured to determine, based on an attribute of a memory cell, whether to apply a drift cancellation pulse that is in the opposite polarity of a programming pulse configured to place the memory cell in a state to represent a bit of data. If the drift in the state of the memory cell from a previous programming operation to write data into the memory cell is predicted to be insufficient to prevent the selection of the memory cell during the application of the programming pulse, the drift cancellation pulse is skipped. Otherwise, the drift cancellation pulse is applied in the opposite polarity of the programming pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Hongmei Wang, Mingdong Cui, Nevil N. Gajera
  • Publication number: 20220415429
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus to implement bipolar read retry. In response to a determination that a first result of reading a set of memory cells using a first magnitude of read voltage is erroneous, a second magnitude of read voltage, greater than the first magnitude, is identified for the bipolar read retry. In the retry, a controller uses voltage drivers to apply, to the set of memory cells, first voltages of the second magnitude in a first polarity to obtain a second result of reading the set of memory cells and, after the second result is generated and in parallel with decoding the second result, apply second voltages of the second magnitude in a second polarity, opposite to the first polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Yen Chun Lee, Karthik Sarpatwari, Nevil N. Gajera
  • Patent number: 11532347
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for performing refresh operations on memory cells. A memory can include a group of memory cells and one or more additional memory cells whose data state is indicative of whether to refresh the group of memory cells. Circuitry is configured to apply a first voltage pulse to the group of memory cells to sense a data state of the memory cells of the group, apply, while the first voltage pulse is applied to the group of memory cells, a second voltage pulse having a greater magnitude than the first voltage pulse to the one or more additional memory cells to sense a data state of the one or more additional memory cells, and determine whether to perform a refresh operation on the group of memory cells based on the sensed data state of the one or more additional memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Sarpatwari, Lingming Yang, Nevil N. Gajera, John Christopher M. Sancon
  • Patent number: 11527287
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus to read target memory cells having an associated reference memory cell configured to be representative of drift or changes in the threshold voltages of the target memory cells. The reference cell is programmed to a predetermined threshold level when the target cells are programmed to store data. In response to a command to read the target memory cells, estimation of a drift of the threshold voltage of the reference is performed in parallel with applying an initial voltage pulse to read the target cells. Based on a result of the drift estimation, voltage pulses used to read the target cells can be modified and/or added to account for the drift estimated using the reference cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Sarpatwari, Nevil N. Gajera, Lingming Yang, John F. Schreck
  • Publication number: 20220392535
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus to program memory cells to an intermediate state. A first voltage pulse is applied in a first polarity across each respective memory cell among the memory cells to move its threshold voltage in the first polarity to a first voltage region representative of a first value. A second voltage pulse is then applied in a second polarity to further move its threshold voltage in the first polarity to a second voltage region representative of a second value and the intermediate state. A magnitude of the second voltage pulse applied for the memory cells is controlled by increasing the magnitude in increments until the memory cells are sensed to be conductive. Optionally, prior to the first voltage pulse, a third voltage pulse is applied in the second polarity to cancel or reduce a drift in threshold voltages of the respective memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Karthik Sarpatwari, Nevil N. Gajera, Lingming Yang, Yen Chun Lee, Jessica Chen, Francesco Douglas Verna-Ketel
  • Publication number: 20220392560
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for adjustable programming pulses for a multi-level cell are described. A memory device may modify a characteristic of a programming pulse for an intermediate logic state based on a metric of reliability of associated memory cells. The modified characteristic may increase a read window and reverse a movement of a shifted threshold voltage distribution (e.g., by moving the threshold voltage distribution farther from one or more other voltage distributions). The metric of reliability may be determined by performing test writes may be a quantity of cycles of use for the memory cells, a bit error rate, and/or a quantity of reads of the first state. The information associated with the modified second pulse may be stored in fuses or memory cells, or may be implemented by a memory device controller or circuitry of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Xuan-Anh Tran, Nevil N. Gajera, Karthik Sarpatwari, Amitava Majumdar
  • Publication number: 20220392526
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus to program a memory cell to have a threshold voltage to a level representative of one value among more than two predetermined values. A first voltage pulse is driven across the memory cell to cause a predetermined current to go through the memory cell. The first voltage pulse is sufficient to program the memory cell to a level representative of a first value. To program the memory cell to a level representative of a second value, a second voltage pulse, different from the first voltage pulse, is driven across the memory cell within a time period of residual poling in the memory cell caused by the first voltage pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Lingming Yang, Xuan Anh Tran, Karthik Sarpatwari, Francesco Douglas Verna-Ketel, Jessica Chen, Nevil N. Gajera, Amitava Majumdar
  • Publication number: 20220383950
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus to read target memory cells having an associated reference memory cell configured to be representative of drift or changes in the threshold voltages of the target memory cells. The reference cell is programmed to a predetermined threshold level when the target cells are programmed to store data. In response to a command to read the target memory cells, estimation of a drift of the threshold voltage of the reference is performed in parallel with applying an initial voltage pulse to read the target cells. Based on a result of the drift estimation, voltage pulses used to read the target cells can be modified and/or added to account for the drift estimated using the reference cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Karthik Sarpatwari, Nevil N. Gajera, Lingming Yang, John F. Schreck