Patents by Inventor Todd D. Farrell

Todd D. Farrell 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: 9378790
    Abstract: Memories, buffered write command circuits, and methods for executing memory commands in a memory. In some embodiments, read commands that are received after write commands are executed internally prior to executing the earlier received write commands. Write commands are buffered so that the commands can be executed upon completion of the later received read command. One example of a buffered write command circuit includes a write command buffer to buffer write commands and propagate buffered write commands therethrough in response to a clock signal and further includes write command buffer logic. The write command buffer logic generates an active clock signal to propagate the buffered write commands through the write command buffer for execution, suspends the active clock signal in response to receiving a read command after the write command is received, and restarts the active clock upon completion of the later received read command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd D. Farrell, Jeffrey P. Wright, Victor Wong, Alan J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8711651
    Abstract: Multi-rank memories and methods for self-refreshing multi-rank memories are disclosed. One such multi-rank memory includes a plurality of ranks of memory and self-refresh logic coupled to the plurality of ranks of memory. The self-refresh logic is configured to refresh a first rank of memory in a self-refresh state in response to refreshing a second rank of memory not in a self-refresh state in response to receiving a non-self-refresh refresh command for the second rank of memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd D. Farrell
  • Patent number: 8369178
    Abstract: Multi-rank memories and methods for self-refreshing multi-rank memories are disclosed. One such multi-rank memory includes a plurality of ranks of memory and self-refresh logic coupled to the plurality of ranks of memory. The self-refresh logic is configured to refresh a first rank of memory in a self-refresh state in response to refreshing a second rank of memory not in a self-refresh state in response to receiving a non-self-refresh refresh command for the second rank of memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd D. Farrell
  • Patent number: 8339888
    Abstract: A system with a memory device having programmable elements used to configure a memory system. More specifically, programmable elements, such as antifuses, located on a memory device are programmed during fabrication with measured operating parameters corresponding to the memory device. Operating parameters may include, for example, operating current values, operating voltages, or timing parameters. The memory device is incorporated into a system. Once the memory device is incorporated into a system, the programmable elements may be accessed by a processor such that the memory system can be configured to optimally operate in accordance with the operating parameters measured for the memory device in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Janzen, Scott Schaefer, Todd D. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20120324179
    Abstract: Memories, buffered write command circuits, and methods for executing memory commands in a memory. In some embodiments, read commands that are received after write commands are executed internally prior to executing the earlier received write commands. Write commands are buffered so that the commands can be executed upon completion of the later received read command. One example of a buffered write command circuit includes a write command buffer to buffer write commands and propagate buffered write commands therethrough in response to a clock signal and further includes write command buffer logic. The write command buffer logic generates an active clock signal to propagate the buffered write commands through the write command buffer for execution, suspends the active clock signal in response to receiving a read command after the write command is received, and restarts the active clock upon completion of the later received read command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Todd D. Farrell, Jeffrey P. Wright, Victor Wong, Alan J. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20120232716
    Abstract: A circuit and method for providing temperature data indicative of a temperature measured by a temperature sensor. The circuit is coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to identify for a coarse temperature range one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges corresponding to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and generate temperature data that is provided on an asynchronous output data path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: ROUND ROCK RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff W. Janzen, Jeffrey P. Wright, Todd D. Farrell
  • Patent number: 8250328
    Abstract: Memories, buffered write command circuits, and methods for executing memory commands in a memory. In some embodiments, read commands that are received after write commands are executed internally prior to executing the earlier received write commands. Write commands are buffered so that the commands can be executed upon completion of the later received read command. One example of a buffered write command circuit includes a write command buffer to buffer write commands and propagate buffered write commands therethrough in response to a clock signal and further includes write command buffer logic. The write command buffer logic generates an active clock signal to propagate the buffered write commands through the write command buffer for execution, suspends the active clock signal in response to receiving a read command after the write command is received, and restarts the active clock upon completion of the later received read command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd D. Farrell, Jeffrey P. Wright, Victor Wong, Alan J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8186878
    Abstract: A circuit and method for providing temperature data indicative of a temperature measured by a temperature sensor. The circuit is coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to identify for a coarse temperature range one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges corresponding to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and generate temperature data that is provided on an asynchronous output data path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff W. Janzen, Jeffrey P. Wright, Todd D. Farrell
  • Patent number: 8174858
    Abstract: Systems, memory modules and methods of configuring systems including memory modules are provided. The memory modules include device parameters specifically corresponding to memory devices of the memory module. The device parameters may be retrieved from a database, and the system may be configured in accordance with the device parameters retrieved from the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Janzen, Scott Schaefer, Todd D. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20120036314
    Abstract: A system with a memory device having programmable elements used to configure a memory system. More specifically, programmable elements, such as antifuses, located on a memory device are programmed during fabrication with measured operating parameters corresponding to the memory device. Operating parameters may include, for example, operating current values, operating voltages, or timing parameters. The memory device is incorporated into a system. Once the memory device is incorporated into a system, the programmable elements may be accessed by a processor such that the memory system can be configured to optimally operate in accordance with the operating parameters measured for the memory device in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: ROUND ROCK RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Janzen, Scott Schaefer, Todd D. Farrell
  • Patent number: 8045415
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reading operating parameters from programmable elements on memory devices to configure a memory system. More specifically, programmable elements, such as antifuses, located on a memory device are programmed during fabrication with measured operating parameters corresponding to the memory device. Operating parameters may include, for example, operating current values, operating voltages, or timing parameters. The memory device may be incorporated into a memory module that is incorporated into a system. Once the memory module is incorporated into a system, the programmable elements may be accessed such that the memory system can be configured to optimally operate in accordance with the operating parameters measured for each memory device in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Janzen, Scott Schaefer, Todd D. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20110219182
    Abstract: Multi-rank memories and methods for self-refreshing multi-rank memories are disclosed. One such multi-rank memory includes a plurality of ranks of memory and self-refresh logic coupled to the plurality of ranks of memory. The self-refresh logic is configured to refresh a first rank of memory in a self-refresh state in response to refreshing a second rank of memory not in a self-refresh state in response to receiving a non-self-refresh refresh command for the second rank of memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventor: Todd D. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20100332718
    Abstract: Memory devices, memory controllers, methods, and systems are provided, such as methods for masking the row cycle latency time of a memory array. In one embodiment, a memory device that is configurable to operate in full or reduced density modes is provided. In a reduced density mode, certain banks within the memory array function as duplicate memory banks associated with an addressable memory bank. Write operations performed in the reduced density mode may write a data segment to an addressed memory bank as well as its associated duplicate banks. When repeated read requests are issued for the data segment, the read requests may be interleaved between the addressed bank and its duplicate banks, thereby masking the row cycle time of each physical bank. That is, the interval between each read out of the data segment from the memory array will appear to be less than the row cycle time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd D. Farrell, Christopher S. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100250874
    Abstract: Memories, buffered write command circuits, and methods for executing memory commands in a memory. In some embodiments, read commands that are received after write commands are executed internally prior to executing the earlier received write commands. Write commands are buffered so that the commands can be executed upon completion of the later received read command. One example of a buffered write command circuit includes a write command buffer to buffer write commands and propagate buffered write commands therethrough in response to a clock signal and further includes write command buffer logic. The write command buffer logic generates an active clock signal to propagate the buffered write commands through the write command buffer for execution, suspends the active clock signal in response to receiving a read command after the write command is received, and restarts the active clock upon completion of the later received read command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Todd D. Farrell, Jeffrey P. Wright, Victor Wong, Alan J. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20100142287
    Abstract: A circuit and method for providing temperature data indicative of a temperature measured by a temperature sensor. The circuit is coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to identify for a coarse temperature range one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges corresponding to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and generate temperature data that is provided on an asynchronous output data path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff W. Janzen, Jeffrey P. Wright, Todd D. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20100142251
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reading operating parameters from programmable elements on memory devices to configure a memory system. More specifically, programmable elements, such as antifuses, located on a memory device are programmed during fabrication with measured operating parameters corresponding to the memory device. Operating parameters may include, for example, operating current values, operating voltages, or timing parameters. The memory device may be incorporated into a memory module that is incorporated into a system. Once the memory module is incorporated into a system, the programmable elements may be accessed such that the memory system can be configured to optimally operate in accordance with the operating parameters measured for each memory device in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Janzen, Scott Schaefer, Todd D. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20100122061
    Abstract: Systems, memory modules and methods of configuring systems including memory modules are provided. The memory modules include device parameters specifically corresponding to memory devices of the memory module. The device parameters may be retrieved from a database, and the system may be configured in accordance with the device parameters retrieved from the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Janzen, Scott Schaefer, Todd D. Farrell
  • Patent number: 7684276
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reading operating parameters from programmable elements on memory devices to configure a memory system. More specifically, programmable elements, such as antifuses, located on a memory device are programmed during fabrication with measured operating parameters corresponding to the memory device. Operating parameters may include, for example, operating current values, or voltage and timing parameters. The memory device may be incorporated into a memory module that is incorporated into a system. Once the memory module is incorporated into a system, the programmable elements may be accessed such that the memory system can be configured to optimally operate in accordance with the operating parameters measured for each memory device in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Janzen, Scott Schaefer, Todd D. Farrell
  • Patent number: 7677796
    Abstract: A circuit and method for providing temperature data indicative of a temperature measured by a temperature sensor. The circuit is coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to identify for a coarse temperature range one of a plurality of fine temperature ranges corresponding to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and generate temperature data that is provided on an asynchronous output data path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff W. Janzen, Jeffrey P. Wright, Todd D. Farrell
  • Patent number: 7663901
    Abstract: Memory modules and methods for fabricating and implementing memory modules wherein unique device parameters corresponding to specific memory devices on the memory modules are accessed from a database such that the device parameters may be implemented to improve system performance. The device parameters may include sizes, speeds, operating voltages, or timing parameters of the memory modules. Memory modules comprising a number of volatile memory devices may be fabricated. Device parameters corresponding to the specific memory devices on the memory module may be stored in a database and accessed during fabrication or during implementation of the memory modules in a system. System performance may be optimized by implementing the unique device parameters corresponding to the specific memory devices on the memory modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Janzen, Scott Schaeffer, Todd D. Farrell