Patents by Inventor Yanli Zhang

Yanli Zhang 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: 20240145006
    Abstract: Memory cells of a second sub-block are programmed by pre-charging channels of unselected memory cells connected to the selected word line, boosting the pre-charged channels of unselected memory cells and applying a program voltage to selected non-volatile memory cells connected to the selected word line. The pre-charging includes applying one or more overdrive voltages to word lines connected to memory cells of a first sub-block to provide a conductive path from memory cells of the second sub-block through the first sub-block to a source line and maintaining the word lines connected to memory cells of the first sub-block at one or more overdrive voltages while ramping down signals at the end of the pre-charging. Dummy word lines, positioned between sub-blocks, are maintained at a resting voltage during the boosting in order to cut-off channels of memory cells in the second sub-block from channels of memory cells in the first sub-block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Peng Zhang, Yanli Zhang, Dengtao Zhao, Jiacen Guo
  • Patent number: 11972819
    Abstract: In a non-volatile memory system that performs programming of selected memory cells (in coordination with pre-charging and boosting of channels for unselected memory cells) and program-verify to determine whether the programming was successful, the system transitions from program-verify to the next dose of programming by concurrently lowering a voltage applied to a selected word line and voltages applied to word lines on a first side of the selected word line at the conclusion of program-verify. Subsequent to lowering the voltage applied to the selected word line, the system successively lowers voltages applied to groups of one or more word lines on a second side of the selected word line at the conclusion of program-verify beginning with a group of one or more word lines immediately adjacent the selected word line and progressing to other groups of one or more word lines disposed increasingly remote from the selected word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jiacen Guo, Peng Zhang, Xiang Yang, Yanli Zhang
  • Patent number: 11968825
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and word-line-level electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and a vertical layer stack located over the alternating stack, the vertical layer stack including an insulating cap layer, drain select electrodes, and a drain-select-level insulating layer. The drain select electrodes are laterally spaced apart from each other by drain-select-level isolation structures. Memory stack structures including a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective memory film vertically extend through the alternating stack and the vertical layer stack. Each of the vertical semiconductor channels includes a word-line-level semiconductor channel portion extending through the alternating stack, a connection channel portion contacting a top end of the word-line-level semiconductor channel, and a drain-select-level semiconductor channel portion vertically extending through the vertical layer stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Zhen Chen, Yanli Zhang
  • Patent number: 11968839
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor channel, a gate electrode, and a stack located between the semiconductor channel and the gate electrode. The stack includes, from one side to another, a first ferroelectric material portion, a second ferroelectric material portion, and a gate dielectric portion that contacts the semiconductor channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Yanli Zhang, Johann Alsmeier
  • Publication number: 20240112743
    Abstract: An apparatus includes memory cells connected to word lines and disposed in strings each defining a channel and coupled to bit lines and a source line. The memory cells are configured to retain a threshold voltage corresponding to data states. A control means is configured to apply programming pulses followed by verification pulses of program verify voltages associated with the data states to the word lines during a program operation. The control means ramps a selected word line voltage applied to the word lines from one of the program verify voltages to approximately zero while ramping voltages applied to the bit lines and the source line to a high supply voltage during a pre-charge operation. The control means ramps an assist voltage applied to a pre-charge assist portion of the memory apparatus to generate gate-induced drain leakage current in the strings and pre-charge the channel during the pre-charge operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Peng Zhang, Yanli Zhang
  • Publication number: 20240114685
    Abstract: A stack of alternating layers of dielectric and conductive materials are formed on a substrate. A first portion of the stack of alternating layers forms a plurality of blocks of NAND memory. A second portion of the stack of alternating layers forms a configurable capacitor structure. The configurable capacitor structure is configurable to form one or more capacitors of configurable capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Li, Xuan Tian, Zhen Qin, Yanli Zhang, Yan Li
  • Publication number: 20240102205
    Abstract: A multifunctional fiber with full-spectrum infrared radiation, flame retardant and antibacterial functions, including a composite masterbatch having a water content of 30-50 ppm and accounting for 10-12% by weight, polyethylene terephthalate having a water content of 25-30 ppm or polycaprolactam high polymer having a water content of 50-70 ppm and accounting for 88-90% by weight; the fiber and its fabric possess multiple functions such as spectral heating, flame retardancy, anti-bacteria and anti-virus; after being illuminated for 5-10 minutes, the temperature difference of the fiber fabric of the present invention is higher than 15-20° C., the far-infrared emissivity is greater than 98%, the radiation temperature rise is greater than 3.0° C., the CLO value is greater than 0.5, the heat transfer coefficient is greater than 18.0w/(m2k), and the thermal resistance is less than 0.05 (m2k)/w.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Shengjun LI, Shouyun ZHANG, Yanlin SUN, Yanli LIU, Tingting QIAN, Mengna LOU, Weixing YANG
  • Publication number: 20240105271
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed herein for preventing erase disturb in NAND. Erase voltages are applied to a source line and bit lines associated with selected memory cells, while applying an erase enable voltage to word lines connected to the selected cells. Preventing erase disturb may include raising the channel potential of unselected memory cells to a source line voltage that has a sufficiently low magnitude to not erase the unselected cells given a voltage on word lines connected to the unselected cells. The unselected cells share bit lines with the selected cells and may also share word lines. Preventing erase disturb may also include applying voltages to the select transistors that prevent the erase voltage from passing from the shared bit lines to the channels of the unselected cells. The voltages decrease from the bit lines to the unselected memory cells and may prevent GIDL generation. Current consumption is kept low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Yanli Zhang, James K. Kai, Johann Alsmeier
  • Publication number: 20240029806
    Abstract: In a non-volatile memory system that performs programming of selected memory cells (in coordination with pre-charging and boosting of channels for unselected memory cells) and program-verify to determine whether the programming was successful, the system transitions from program-verify to the next dose of programming by concurrently lowering a voltage applied to a selected word line and voltages applied to word lines on a first side of the selected word line at the conclusion of program-verify. Subsequent to lowering the voltage applied to the selected word line, the system successively lowers voltages applied to groups of one or more word lines on a second side of the selected word line at the conclusion of program-verify beginning with a group of one or more word lines immediately adjacent the selected word line and progressing to other groups of one or more word lines disposed increasingly remote from the selected word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jiacen Guo, Peng Zhang, Xiang Yang, Yanli Zhang
  • Patent number: 11871580
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, an array of memory opening fill structures located within an array of memory openings vertically extending through the alternating stack, and a drain-select-level isolation structure vertically extending through drain-select-level electrically conductive layers between two rows of memory opening fill structures. The drain-select-level isolation structure may comprise a low-k dielectric material or an air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Peng Zhang, Yanli Zhang, Xiang Yang, Koichi Matsuno, Masaaki Higashitani, Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 11805649
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, memory openings vertically extending through the alternating stack, memory opening fill structures located within a respective one of the memory openings, and at least one drain-select-level isolation structure vertically extending through at least a topmost electrically conductive layer among the electrically conductive layers. The at least one drain-select-level isolation structure may include wiggles and cut through upper portions of at least some of the memory opening fill structures, or may include a vertically-extending dielectric material portion and laterally-protruding dielectric material portions adjoined to the vertically-extending dielectric material portion and laterally protruding into lateral recesses located adjacent to the at least the topmost electrically conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Srinivas Pulugurtha, Johann Alsmeier, Yanli Zhang, James Kai
  • Publication number: 20230269939
    Abstract: A memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, a memory opening fill structure including a vertical semiconductor channel and a memory film. The memory film includes a tunneling dielectric layer in contact with the vertical semiconductor channel, a first vertical stack of first dielectric oxide material portions located at levels of the insulating layers and including a dielectric oxide material of a first element, and a second vertical stack of second dielectric oxide material portions located at levels of the electrically conductive layers and including a mixed dielectric oxide material that is a dielectric oxide material of the first element and a second element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Ramy Nashed Bassely SAID, Senaka KANAKAMEDALA, Raghuveer S. MAKALA, Peng ZHANG, Yanli ZHANG
  • Patent number: 11631686
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, memory opening fill structures extending through the alternating stack, where each of the memory opening fill structures includes a vertical semiconductor channel, a tunneling dielectric layer, and a vertical stack of memory elements located at levels of the electrically conductive layers between a respective vertically neighboring pair of the insulating layers. Each of the memory elements is located at a level of a respective one of the electrically conductive layers between the respective vertically neighboring pair of the insulating layers. Each of the memory elements includes a first memory material portion, and a second memory material portion that is vertically spaced from the first memory material portion. The second memory material portion has a different material composition from the first memory material portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Ramy Nashed Bassely Said, Yanli Zhang, Jiahui Yuan, Raghuveer S. Makala, Senaka Kanakamedala
  • Publication number: 20230099107
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes a first alternating stack of first insulating layers and first electrically conductive layers located over a semiconductor material layer, an inter-tier dielectric layer, and a second alternating stack of second insulating layers and second electrically conductive layers located over the inter-tier dielectric layer. A memory opening vertically extends through the second alternating stack, the inter-tier dielectric layer, and the first alternating stack. A memory opening fill structure is located in the memory opening, and includes a first vertical semiconductor channel, a second vertical semiconductor channel, and an inter-tier doped region located between the first and the second semiconductor channel, and providing a first p-n junction with the first vertical semiconductor channel and providing a second p-n junction with the second vertical semiconductor channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Yanli ZHANG, Peng ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20230082824
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate containing a shallow trench isolation structure that laterally surrounds a transistor active region, at least one line trench vertically extending into the semiconductor substrate, and a source region and a drain region located in the transistor active region. A contoured channel region continuously extends from the source region to the drain region underneath the at least one line trench. A gate dielectric contacts all surfaces of the at least one line trench and extends over an entirety of the contoured channel region. A gate electrode containing at least one fin portion overlies the gate dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Srinivas PULUGURTHA, Yanli ZHANG, Johann ALSMEIER, Mitsuhiro TOGO
  • Patent number: 11600634
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes a source contact layer overlying a substrate, an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located overlying the source contact layer, and a memory opening fill structure located within a memory opening extending through the alternating stack and the source contact layer. The memory opening fill structure includes a composite semiconductor channel and a memory film laterally surrounding the composite semiconductor channel. The composite semiconductor channel includes a pedestal channel portion having controlled distribution of n-type dopants that diffuse from the source contact layer with a lower diffusion rate provided by carbon doping and smaller grain sizes, or has arsenic doping providing limited diffusion into the vertical semiconductor channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Zhixin Cui, Satoshi Shimizu, Yanli Zhang
  • Publication number: 20230013725
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and word-line-level electrically conductive layers, a vertical layer stack located over the alternating stack, and including multiple levels of vertically interlaced drain select electrodes and drain-select-level insulating layers, a first insulating layer located between the alternating stack and the vertical layer stack, the first insulating layer having a thickness which is greater than a thickness of the respective insulating layers and the respective drain-select-level insulating layers, drain-select-level isolation structures laterally extending along a first horizontal direction such that drain select electrodes located at a same level are laterally spaced apart from each other by the drain-select-level isolation structures, memory openings vertically extending through the vertical layer stack, the first insulating layer, and the alternating stack, and memory opening fill structures located in the memory openings and i
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Kanta WATANABE, Yanli ZHANG
  • Patent number: D992511
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Yanli Zhang
  • Patent number: D992512
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Yanli Zhang
  • Patent number: D1007431
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventor: Yanli Zhang