Patents by Inventor Rainer Bonitz

Rainer Bonitz 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: 11322211
    Abstract: Memory devices might include a controller for access of an array of memory cells and a differential storage device comprising a pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells, wherein the controller is configured to cause the memory device to obtain information indicative of a data value stored in a particular memory cell of the array of memory cells, program additional data to the particular memory cell, determine if a power loss to the memory device is indicated while programming the additional data to the particular memory cell, and, if a power loss to the memory device is indicated, selectively program one memory cell of the pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells responsive to the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Publication number: 20210233595
    Abstract: Memory devices might include a controller for access of an array of memory cells and a differential storage device comprising a pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells, wherein the controller is configured to cause the memory device to obtain information indicative of a data value stored in a particular memory cell of the array of memory cells, program additional data to the particular memory cell, determine if a power loss to the memory device is indicated while programming the additional data to the particular memory cell, and, if a power loss to the memory device is indicated, selectively program one memory cell of the pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells responsive to the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Patent number: 11017868
    Abstract: Methods of operating memory might include storing information indicative of a data value of a digit of data stored in a particular memory cell of the memory prior to programming a subsequent digit of data to the particular memory cell, programming the subsequent digit of data to the particular memory cell, monitoring a voltage level of a supply voltage to the memory while programming the subsequent digit of data, and, if the voltage level of the supply voltage falls below a threshold while programming the subsequent digit of data and the information indicative of the data value of the digit of data has a particular logic level, causing a change in threshold voltage of one memory cell of a pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells, and inhibiting the other memory cell of the pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells from a change in threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Publication number: 20200402595
    Abstract: Methods of operating memory might include storing information indicative of a data value of a digit of data stored in a particular memory cell of the memory prior to programming a subsequent digit of data to the particular memory cell, programming the subsequent digit of data to the particular memory cell, monitoring a voltage level of a supply voltage to the memory while programming the subsequent digit of data, and, if the voltage level of the supply voltage falls below a threshold while programming the subsequent digit of data and the information indicative of the data value of the digit of data has a particular logic level, causing a change in threshold voltage of one memory cell of a pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells, and inhibiting the other memory cell of the pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells from a change in threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Patent number: 10803964
    Abstract: Apparatus, and methods of operating similar apparatus, might include an array of memory cells and a differential storage device configured to receive information indicative of a data value stored in a particular memory cell of the array of memory cells selected for a programming operation. The differential storage device might include a first non-volatile memory cell connected between a first isolation gate and a voltage node configured to receive a first voltage level, and a second non-volatile memory cell connected between a second isolation gate and the voltage node, and logic responsive to an indication of a loss of power to the apparatus and the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell to store data to the differential storage device, wherein a gate of the second non-volatile memory cell is connected to a gate of the first non-volatile memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Patent number: 10762971
    Abstract: Apparatus including an array of volatile memory cells and a differential storage device configured to receive information indicative of a data value stored in a particular memory cell of the array of volatile memory cells and having a first non-volatile memory cell connected between a first isolation gate and a voltage node configured to receive a first voltage level and a second non-volatile memory cell connected between a second isolation gate and the voltage node, wherein a gate of the second non-volatile memory cell is connected to a gate of the first non-volatile memory cell. The apparatus further logic responsive to an indication of a loss of power to the apparatus and the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Patent number: 10748624
    Abstract: Apparatus having an array of memory cells and a differential storage array might have a controller configured to program first data to a plurality of memory cells of the array of memory cells corresponding to an address of the array of memory cells, program second data to the plurality of memory cells containing the first data, determine if a power loss to the apparatus is indicated while programming the second data, and, if a power loss is indicated, program a first plurality of differential storage devices of the differential storage array responsive to information indicative of a plurality of digits of the first data, program a second plurality of differential storage devices of the differential storage array responsive to information indicative of a plurality of digits of the address, and program a third differential storage device of the differential storage array to have a particular value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Publication number: 20200202942
    Abstract: Apparatus having an array of memory cells and a differential storage array might have a controller configured to program first data to a plurality of memory cells of the array of memory cells corresponding to an address of the array of memory cells, program second data to the plurality of memory cells containing the first data, determine if a power loss to the apparatus is indicated while programming the second data, and, if a power loss is indicated, program a first plurality of differential storage devices of the differential storage array responsive to information indicative of a plurality of digits of the first data, program a second plurality of differential storage devices of the differential storage array responsive to information indicative of a plurality of digits of the address, and program a third differential storage device of the differential storage array to have a particular value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Patent number: 10607702
    Abstract: Methods of operating memory, and apparatus configured to perform similar methods, include obtaining information indicative of a data value stored in a particular memory cell of the memory, programming additional data to the particular memory cell, determining if a power loss to the memory is indicated while programming the additional data to the particular memory cell, and, if a power loss to the memory is indicated, programming a first plurality of differential storage devices responsive to the information indicative of the respective data values stored in the plurality of memory cells, programming a second plurality of differential storage devices responsive to the address, and programming a third differential storage device to have a particular value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Publication number: 20190325972
    Abstract: Apparatus, and methods of operating similar apparatus, might include an array of memory cells and a differential storage device configured to receive information indicative of a data value stored in a particular memory cell of the array of memory cells selected for a programming operation. The differential storage device might include a first non-volatile memory cell connected between a first isolation gate and a voltage node configured to receive a first voltage level, and a second non-volatile memory cell connected between a second isolation gate and the voltage node, and logic responsive to an indication of a loss of power to the apparatus and the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell to store data to the differential storage device, wherein a gate of the second non-volatile memory cell is connected to a gate of the first non-volatile memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Publication number: 20190304551
    Abstract: Apparatus including an array of volatile memory cells and a differential storage device configured to receive information indicative of a data value stored in a particular memory cell of the array of volatile memory cells and having a first non-volatile memory cell connected between a first isolation gate and a voltage node configured to receive a first voltage level and a second non-volatile memory cell connected between a second isolation gate and the voltage node, wherein a gate of the second non-volatile memory cell is connected to a gate of the first non-volatile memory cell. The apparatus further logic responsive to an indication of a loss of power to the apparatus and the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Patent number: 10388388
    Abstract: Apparatus, and methods of operating similar apparatus, might include an array of memory cells and a differential storage device configured to receive information indicative of a data value stored in a particular memory cell of the array of memory cells selected for a programming operation. The differential storage device might include a first non-volatile memory cell connected between a first isolation gate and a voltage node configured to receive a first voltage level, and a second non-volatile memory cell connected between a second isolation gate and the voltage node, and logic responsive to an indication of a loss of power to the apparatus and the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell to store data to the differential storage device, wherein a gate of the second non-volatile memory cell is connected to a gate of the first non-volatile memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Patent number: 10373694
    Abstract: Methods of operating apparatus, and apparatus configured to perform similar methods, include obtaining information indicative of a data value stored in a particular memory cell of an array of volatile memory cells of the apparatus, determining if a power loss to the apparatus is indicated, and, if a power loss to the apparatus is indicated, selectively programming one memory cell of a pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells of the apparatus responsive to the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell. A resulting combination of threshold voltages of the one memory cell of the pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells and of the other memory cell of the pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells is representative of the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Publication number: 20190122739
    Abstract: Apparatus, and methods of operating similar apparatus, might include an array of memory cells and a differential storage device configured to receive information indicative of a data value stored in a particular memory cell of the array of memory cells selected for a programming operation. The differential storage device might include a first non-volatile memory cell connected between a first isolation gate and a voltage node configured to receive a first voltage level, and a second non-volatile memory cell connected between a second isolation gate and the voltage node, and logic responsive to an indication of a loss of power to the apparatus and the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell to store data to the differential storage device, wherein a gate of the second non-volatile memory cell is connected to a gate of the first non-volatile memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Publication number: 20190066807
    Abstract: Methods of operating apparatus, and apparatus configured to perform similar methods, include obtaining information indicative of a data value stored in a particular memory cell of an array of volatile memory cells of the apparatus, determining if a power loss to the apparatus is indicated, and, if a power loss to the apparatus is indicated, selectively programming one memory cell of a pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells of the apparatus responsive to the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell. A resulting combination of threshold voltages of the one memory cell of the pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells and of the other memory cell of the pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells is representative of the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Patent number: 10192626
    Abstract: Methods of operating memory, and apparatus configured to perform similar methods, include obtaining information indicative of a data value stored in a particular memory cell of the memory, programming additional data to the particular memory cell, determining if a power loss to the memory is indicated while programming the additional data to the particular memory cell, and, if a power loss to the memory is indicated, selectively programming one memory cell of a pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells responsive to the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell. A resulting combination of threshold voltages of the one memory cell of the pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells and of the other memory cell of the pair of gate-connected non-volatile memory cells is representative of the information indicative of the data value stored in the particular memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Micro Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Patent number: 6281720
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement which, in accordance with its mode of control, operates either as input circuit or as output circuit and includes a series connection with an inverter stage, a filter stage, a cross-current avoiding stage, a switching-on voltage reducing stage, a switch stage, an output driver stage, and a Miller feedback stage, which are configured in the mode of operation as an output circuit, and parallel thereto a Schmitt trigger and an analog switch that can become effective in the mode of operation as input circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Patent number: 6237126
    Abstract: For an analysis of an electrical behaviour of a specific cell of a monolithically integrated circuit, a simulation model is used which is composed of a fine model part of the cell of interest and a coarse model part of the remainder of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Patent number: 6000002
    Abstract: A protection circuit for the prevention of program interruptions of electrical equipment controlled on the basis of program step clocks, by too frequent occurrences of non-maskable interrupt signals. This protection circuit comprises a controllable interrupt signal passage circuit which, depending on an output signal of a control signal source, can be controlled to a state permitting the passage of the non-maskable interrupt signal or to a state blocking said signal. The control signal source comprises a clock counter with overflow resetting function, by means of which program step clock pulses can be counted starting from a predetermined initial counting value until a predetermined overflow counting value is reached. The control signal source comprises furthermore an interrupt signal counter the counting value of which can be increased by each non-maskable interrupt event and decreased each time the overflow counting value of the clock counter is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Bonitz
  • Patent number: 5592416
    Abstract: An electronic storage circuit for storing information, in particular switch control information for alternately switching circuit parts of integrated monolithic circuits, having two series connections inserted between the two poles of a voltage supply source each including an EPROM transistor and a MOS transistor, the control gates of the two EPROM transistors being connected jointly with a reference voltage source, and the gates of the two MOS transistors with the connection point of the EPROM transistor and the MOS transistor of the other series connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Bonitz, Peter Birkenseher