Patents by Inventor Ward D. Parkinson

Ward D. Parkinson 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: 8077498
    Abstract: A phase change memory cell may be read by driving a current through the cell higher than its threshold current. A voltage derived from the selected column may be utilized to read a selected bit of a phase change memory. The read window or margin may be improved in some embodiments. A refresh cycle may be included at periodic intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventor: Ward D. Parkinson
  • Patent number: 8036013
    Abstract: A phase change memory cell may be read by driving a current through the cell higher than its threshold current. A voltage derived from the selected column may be utilized to read a selected bit of a phase change memory. The read window or margin may be improved in some embodiments. A refresh cycle may be included at periodic intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Lowrey, Ward D. Parkinson, George A. Gordon
  • Publication number: 20110176358
    Abstract: A read current high enough to threshold a phase change memory element may be used to read the element without thresholding the memory element. The higher current may improve performance in some cases. The memory element does not threshold because the element is read and the current stopped prior to triggering the memory element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventors: Ward D. Parkinson, Giulio Casagrande, Claudio Resta, Roberto Gastaldi, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Publication number: 20110103141
    Abstract: A phase change memory cell may be read by driving a current through the cell higher than its threshold current. A voltage derived from the selected column may be utilized to read a selected bit of a phase change memory. The read window or margin may be improved in some embodiments. A refresh cycle may be included at periodic intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Ward D. Parkinson
  • Patent number: 7936584
    Abstract: A read current high enough to threshold a phase change memory element may be used to read the element without thresholding the memory element. The higher current may improve performance in some cases. The memory element does not threshold because the element is read and the current stopped prior to triggering the memory element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventors: Ward D. Parkinson, Giulio Casagrande, Claudio Resta, Roberto Gastaldi, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Patent number: 7864567
    Abstract: A memory may be implemented with a stable chalcogenide glass which is defined as a generally amorphous chalcogenide material that does not change to a generally crystalline phase when exposed to 200° C. for 30 minutes or less. Different states may be programmed by changing the threshold voltage of the material. The threshold voltage may be changed with pulses of different amplitude and/or different pulse fall times. Reading may be done using a reference level between the threshold voltages of the two different states. A separate access device is generally not needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventors: George A. Gordon, Ward D. Parkinson, John M. Peters, Tyler A. Lowrey, Stanford Ovshinsky, Guy C. Wicker, Ilya V. Karpov, Charles C. Kuo
  • Patent number: 7849712
    Abstract: A phase change memory cell may be read by driving a current through the cell higher than its threshold current. A voltage derived from the selected column may be utilized to read a selected bit of a phase change memory. The read window or margin may be improved in some embodiments. A refresh cycle may be included at periodic intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventor: Ward D. Parkinson
  • Publication number: 20090300467
    Abstract: A phase change memory may be utilized in place of more conventional, higher volume memories such as static random access memory, flash memory, or dynamic random access memory. To account for the fact that the phase change memory is not yet a high volume technology, an error correcting code may be incorporated. The error correcting code may be utilized in ways which do not severely negatively impact read access times, in some embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Ward D. Parkinson
  • Publication number: 20090257275
    Abstract: A seasoned phase change memory has been subjected to a longer pulse to adjust resistance levels prior to use of the phase change memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Ilya V. Karpov, Semyon D. Savransky, Ward D. Parkinson
  • Patent number: 7590918
    Abstract: A phase change memory may be utilized in place of more conventional, higher volume memories such as static random access memory, flash memory, or dynamic random access memory. To account for the fact that the phase change memory is not yet a high volume technology, an error correcting code may be incorporated. The error correcting code may be utilized in ways which do not severely negatively impact read access times, in some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventor: Ward D. Parkinson
  • Publication number: 20090116281
    Abstract: A read current high enough to threshold a phase change memory element may be used to read the element without thresholding the memory element. The higher current may improve performance in some cases. The memory element does not threshold because the element is read and the current stopped prior to triggering the memory element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventors: Ward D. Parkinson, Giulio Casagrande, Claudio Resta, Roberto Gastaldi, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Patent number: 7495944
    Abstract: A read current high enough to threshold a phase change memory element may be used to read the element without thresholding the memory element. The higher current may improve performance in some cases. The memory element does not threshold because the element is read and the current stopped prior to triggering the memory element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventors: Ward D. Parkinson, Giulio Casagrande, Claudio Resta, Roberto Gastaldi, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Publication number: 20090010051
    Abstract: A phase change memory cell may be read by driving a current through the cell higher than its threshold current. A voltage derived from the selected column may be utilized to read a selected bit of a phase change memory. The read window or margin may be improved in some embodiments. A refresh cycle may be included at periodic intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Ward D. Parkinson
  • Patent number: 7471552
    Abstract: An analog memory may be formed using a phase change material. The phase change material may assume one of a number of resistance states which defines a specific analog characteristic to be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventors: Ward D. Parkinson, Allen Benn
  • Patent number: 7453715
    Abstract: A phase change memory cell may be read by driving a current through the cell higher than its threshold current. A voltage derived from the selected column may be utilized to read a selected bit of a phase change memory. The read window or margin may be improved in some embodiments. A refresh cycle may be included at periodic intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventor: Ward D. Parkinson
  • Publication number: 20080273379
    Abstract: A memory may be implemented with a stable chalcogenide glass which is defined as a generally amorphous chalcogenide material that does not change to a generally crystalline phase when exposed to 200° C. for 30 minutes or less. Different states may be programmed by changing the threshold voltage of the material. The threshold voltage may be changed with pulses of different amplitude and/or different pulse fall times. Reading may be done using a reference level between the threshold voltages of the two different states. A separate access device is generally not needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: George A. Gordon, Ward D. Parkinson, John M. Peters, Tyler A. Lowrey, Stanford Ovshinsky, Guy C. Wicker, Ilya V. Karpov, Charles C. Kuo
  • Patent number: 7426135
    Abstract: A static random access memory may be formed using a bitline and a bitline bar coupled to ovonic threshold switches. The ovonic threshold switches may, in turn, be coupled to cross coupled NMOS transistors. In some embodiments, a very compact static random access memory may result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler A Lowrey, Ward D. Parkinson
  • Patent number: 7414883
    Abstract: A memory may be implemented with a stable chalcogenide glass which is defined as a generally amorphous chalcogenide material that does not change to a generally crystalline phase when exposed to 200° C. for 30 minutes or less. Different states may be programmed by changing the threshold voltage of the material. The threshold voltage may be changed with pulses of different amplitude and/or different pulse fall times. Reading may be done using a reference level between the threshold voltages of the two different states. A separate access device is generally not needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: George A. Gordon, Ward D. Parkinson, John M. Peters, Tyler A. Lowrey, Stanford Ovshinsky, Guy C. Wicker, Ilya V. Karpov, Charles C. Kuo
  • Patent number: 7388775
    Abstract: A memory includes a storage element (OUM) made of a phase-change material for storing a logic value and an access element (OTS) switching from a higher resistance condition to a lower resistance condition in response to a selection of the memory cell, the access element in the higher resistance condition decoupling the storage element from a read circuit and in the lower resistance condition coupling the storage element to the read circuit. The read circuit includes a sense amplifier to determine the logic value stored in the memory cell according to an electrical quantity associated with the memory cell. The read circuit further includes a detector that detects the switching of the access element by comparison to a delayed waveform or sensing a change in the column rate of change, and a circuit to enable the sense amplifier in response to the detection of the switching of the access element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Ovonyx, Inc.
    Inventors: Ferdinando Bedeschi, Claudio Resta, Ward D. Parkinson, Roberto Gastaldi
  • Publication number: 20080112217
    Abstract: Using a shorter read pulse width may increase read window in some embodiments. This may allow the use of higher voltages with less likelihood of a read disturb where a bit unintentionally changes phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Ilya V. Karpov, Sergey Kostylev, George A. Gordon, Ward D. Parkinson