Patents by Inventor Nir Jacob Wakrat

Nir Jacob Wakrat 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: 8370603
    Abstract: The disclosed architecture uses address mapping to map a block address on a host interface to an internal block address of a non-volatile memory (NVM) device. The block address is mapped to an internal chip select for selecting a Concurrently Addressable Unit (CAU) identified by the block address. The disclosed architecture supports generic NVM commands for read, write, erase and get status operations. The architecture also supports an extended command set for supporting read and write operations that leverage a multiple CAU architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tahoma Toelkes, Nir Jacob Wakrat, Kenneth L. Herman, Barry Corlett, Vadim Khmelnitsky, Anthony Fai, Daniel Jeffrey Post, Hsiao Thio
  • Publication number: 20130007562
    Abstract: In one implementation, a memory device includes non-volatile memory, a memory controller communicatively coupled to the non-volatile memory over a first bus, and a host interface through which the memory controller communicates with a host device over a second bus. The memory device can also include a signal conditioner of the host interface adapted to condition signals to adjust a signal level of signals received over the second bus based on signal level data received from the host device, wherein the signal level data relates to a voltage level of signals generated by the host device to encode data transmitted across the second bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Fai, Nir Jacob Wakrat, Nicholas Seroff
  • Publication number: 20130007333
    Abstract: In one implementation, a memory device includes non-volatile memory and a memory controller communicatively coupled to the non-volatile memory over a first bus. The memory device can also include a host device interface through which the memory controller communicates with a host device over a second bus, wherein the host device interface includes an impedance calibration circuit that is adapted to calibrate a signal transmitted over the second bus by host device interface so that a source impedance associated with the signal matches, within a threshold value, a load impedance associated with the host device over the second bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Fai, Nicholas Seroff, Nir Jacob Wakrat
  • Publication number: 20130007347
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method includes receiving, at a memory device, an instruction to boot the memory device, wherein the memory device includes non-volatile memory accessible by a controller of the memory device; and, in response to receiving the instruction to boot the memory device, obtaining, by the memory device, firmware from a host device, wherein the host device is separate from and communicatively coupled to the memory device. The method can also include booting the memory device using the firmware from the host device, wherein the memory device boots separately from the host device, and the host device performs operations using data or instructions stored in the non-volatile memory and obtained through communication with the memory controller of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Fai, Nir Jacob Wakrat, Nicholas Seroff
  • Publication number: 20130007348
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method includes receiving, at a memory device, an instruction to boot the memory device, wherein the memory device includes non-volatile memory; and, in response to receiving the instruction to boot the memory device, obtaining, by the memory device, one or more trim values from the host device, wherein the trim values define one or more parameters for accessing the non-volatile memory, and the host device is separate from and communicatively coupled to the memory device. The method can also include booting the memory device using the trim values from the host device, wherein the memory device boots separately from the host device, and the host device performs operations using data or instructions stored in the non-volatile memory and obtained by providing commands to the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Fai, Nir Jacob Wakrat, Nicholas Seroff
  • Patent number: 8321647
    Abstract: Multipage preparation commands for non-volatile memory systems are disclosed. The multipage preparation commands supply data that can be used to prepare a non-volatile memory device for forthcoming multipage program operations. A host controller can use the commands ahead of a multipage program operation to optimize usage of a multipage program command. The non-volatile memory device can use the commands to configure the non-volatile memory in preparation for a subsequent operation, such as changing a command order or using the most optimized command set for the subsequent operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim Khmelnitsky, Nir Jacob Wakrat, Tahoma Toelkes, Daniel Jeffrey Post, Anthony Fai
  • Publication number: 20120233387
    Abstract: In a copyback or read operation for a non-volatile memory subsystem, data page change indicators are used to manage transfers of data pages between a register in non-volatile memory and a controller that is external to the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Nir Jacob Wakrat, Mark Alan Helm
  • Publication number: 20120224425
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method for performing memory operations includes receiving, at a memory device, a request to read data from one or more non-volatile memory cells; and retrieving stored temperature information associated with the non-volatile memory cells, wherein the temperature information is associated with a temperature at approximately at a time when the data was written to the non-volatile memory cells. The method can further include reading, by the memory device, the data from the non-volatile memory cells. The method can also include processing the read data based on, at least, the retrieved temperature information; and providing the processed data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Fai, Nicholas Seroff, Nir Jacob Wakrat
  • Publication number: 20120216079
    Abstract: This document generally describes systems, devices, methods, and techniques for obtaining debug information from a memory device. Debug information can include a variety of information associated with a memory device that can be used for debugging the device, such as a sequence of operations performed by the memory device and information regarding errors that have occurred (e.g., type of error, component of memory device associated with error). A memory device can be instructed by a host to obtain and provide debug information to the host. A memory device can be configured to obtain particular debug information using a variety of features, such as triggers. For instance, a memory device can use a trigger to collect debug information related to failed erase operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Fai, Nir Jacob Wakrat, Nicholas Seroff
  • Patent number: 8185706
    Abstract: In a copyback or read operation for a non-volatile memory subsystem, data page change indicators are used to manage transfers of data pages between a register in non-volatile memory and a controller that is external to the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nir Jacob Wakrat, Mark Alan Helm
  • Publication number: 20120072807
    Abstract: Systems and processes may be used to retrieve metadata from a nonvolatile memory of a portable device and transmit the retrieved metadata to an external host. Metadata may be analyzed using the external host and/or at least a portion of the metadata may be modified based on the analysis. Modified metadata may be transmitted from the external host to a memory controller of the host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Michael J. Cornwell, Christopher P. Dudte, Nir Jacob Wakrat
  • Patent number: 8069307
    Abstract: Systems and processes may be used to retrieve metadata from a nonvolatile memory of a portable device and transmit the retrieved metadata to an external host. Metadata may be analyzed using the external host and/or at least a portion of the metadata may be modified based on the analysis. Modified metadata may be transmitted from the external host to a memory controller of the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cornwell, Christopher P. Dudte, Nir Jacob Wakrat
  • Publication number: 20110154163
    Abstract: Systems and processes may be used to retrieve metadata from a nonvolatile memory of a portable device and transmit the retrieved metadata to an external host. Metadata may be analyzed using the external host and/or at least a portion of the metadata may be modified based on the analysis. Modified metadata may be transmitted from the external host to a memory controller of the host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cornwell, Christopher P. Dudte, Nir Jacob Wakrat
  • Patent number: 7913032
    Abstract: Systems and processes may use a host and an external host. The host may be a portable device that includes a memory, a memory controller, and a communication interface for communication with the external host. The portable device may receive a command signal from the external host and initiate a predetermined amount of wear leveling in response to the command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cornwell, Christopher P. Dudte, Nir Jacob Wakrat
  • Publication number: 20110066789
    Abstract: A file system programs metadata on a non-volatile memory device. The metadata can include data associating files with ranges of logical block addresses. During a garbage collection process, the data can be used to determine portions of physical blocks of the non-volatile memory device that are associated with files that have been deleted. Using the programmed metadata during garbage collection results in erasure of larger portions of blocks and improved wear leveling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Nir Jacob Wakrat, Vadim Khmelnitsky, Daniel Jeffrey Post
  • Publication number: 20110066869
    Abstract: In a non-volatile memory system, physically separate power rails are provided from a host system to a NVM device for independently power cycling a controller and memory array in the NVM device. The controller of the NVM device can send a power cycle request signal to the host system over a host channel, or updates a status register in the NVM device. The host system receives and decodes the power cycle request signal, or reads the status register, and performs the power cycle request, which can include power cycling the controller or the memory array in the NVM device, or both. The power cycle request can be based on a power state of the non-volatile memory system, which can be managed by the controller or the host system, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Nir Jacob Wakrat, Anthony Fai, Matthew Byom
  • Publication number: 20110022819
    Abstract: Memory mapping techniques for non-volatile memory are disclosed where logical sectors are mapped into physical pages using data structures in volatile and non-volatile memory. In some implementations, a first lookup table in non-volatile memory maps logical sectors directly into physical pages. A second lookup table in volatile memory holds the location of the first lookup table in non-volatile memory. An index cache tree in volatile memory holds the physical addresses of the most recently written or accessed logical sectors in a compressed format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel Jeffrey Post, Nir Jacob Wakrat, Vadim Khmelnitsky
  • Publication number: 20110022781
    Abstract: A controller, techniques, systems, and devices for optimizing throughput of read operations in flash memory are disclosed. Various optimizations of throughput for read operations can be performed using a controller. In some implementations, read operations for a multi-die flash memory device or system can be optimized to perform a read request with a highest priority (e.g., an earliest received read request) as soon as the read request is ready. In some implementations, the controller can enable optimized reading from multiple flash memory dies by monitoring a read/busy state for each die and switching between dies when a higher priority read operation is ready to begin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Nir Jacob Wakrat, Vadim Khmelnitsky, Daniel Jeffrey Post
  • Publication number: 20110022780
    Abstract: Techniques for restoring index pages stored in non-volatile memory are disclosed where the index pages map logical sectors into physical pages. Additional data structures in volatile and non-volatile memory can be used by the techniques for restoring index pages. In some implementations, a lookup table associated with data blocks in non-volatile memory can be used to provide information regarding the mapping of logical sectors into physical pages. In some implementations, a lookup table associated with data blocks and a range of logical sectors and/or index pages can be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Nir Jacob Wakrat, Vadim Khmelnitsky
  • Publication number: 20100287329
    Abstract: A read command initiates reads of pages or portions of pages of non-volatile memory using a memory address that specifies a row, column and length. A host controller can use the read command with a read operation or status request. In some implementations, the memory address further specifies a die or plane and a block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tahoma Toelkes, Daniel Jeffrey Post, Nir Jacob Wakrat