Patents by Inventor Yoshihisa Kojima

Yoshihisa Kojima 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: 11954357
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile memory and a memory controller. The nonvolatile memory includes blocks each including memory cells. The memory controller is configured to control access to the nonvolatile memory. The memory controller is configured to: set a first block, among the plurality of blocks, to be written in a first mode, the first mode being a mode in which data of a first number of bits is written into the memory cell, and set a plurality of second blocks, among the plurality of blocks, to be written in a second mode, the second mode being a mode in which data of a second number of bits is written into the memory cell, the second number being larger than the first number; acquire access information related to the second blocks; and change a writing mode of the first block which has been set in the first mode to the second mode when a first condition of the second blocks based on the access information is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Takehiko Amaki, Shunichi Igahara, Toshikatsu Hida, Yoshihisa Kojima, Riki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11947400
    Abstract: In a memory system in an embodiment, in a case of normal operation, a control unit returns a write completion response upon completion of reception of write data from a host, and writes the write data into nonvolatile memory in a multiple values. In a case of unordinary power-off, changeover to operation using a backup battery is conducted and the control unit writes dirty data that is not completed in writing into the nonvolatile memory, into the nonvolatile memory with two values. When next boot, the control unit reads the dirty data from the nonvolatile memory into the volatile memory, and thereafter writes the dirty data into the nonvolatile memory in a multiple values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Kojima, Katsuhiko Ueki
  • Patent number: 11941251
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a nonvolatile memory including a memory cell array, an input/output buffer, one or more intermediate buffers, and a control circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of pages. Each of the one or more intermediate buffers is electrically connected between the memory cell array and the input/output buffer. The control circuit is configured to store, in a first intermediate buffer, data read through sensing operation from a first page out of the plurality of pages in accordance with a first command that includes a sensing operation instruction and designation of the first intermediate buffer among the one or more intermediate buffers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Kojima, Masanobu Shirakawa, Kiyotaka Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20240096423
    Abstract: A memory system includes a semiconductor memory that includes a cell unit having a plurality of memory cells, and a control circuit for controlling the plurality of memory cells, and a memory controller configured to control the semiconductor memory. The control circuit is configured to execute a data read operation on the cell unit by using one or more read voltages, acquire first data by the data read operation, generate second data with a data size smaller than the first data, based on the first data, and transmit the second data to the memory controller. The memory controller is configured to determine, based on the second data, whether or not to rewrite the page data written in the cell unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Dongxiao YU, Masahiro KIYOOKA, Suguru NISHIKAWA, Yoshihisa KOJIMA
  • Patent number: 11915759
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a semiconductor memory and a controller. The semiconductor memory includes: first memory cells, first word lines, a first row decoder, and a driver circuit. The first row decoder includes first transistors capable of coupling the first word lines to first signal lines, and a first block decoder supplying a first block selection signal to the first transistors. When the controller issues a data read command, the first block decoder asserts the first block selection signal to allow the first transistors to transfer a first voltage to a selected first word line, and a second voltage to unselected other first word lines. After data is read, the first block decoder continues asserting the first block selection signal, and the driver circuit transfers a third voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanobu Shirakawa, Marie Takada, Tsukasa Tokutomi, Yoshihisa Kojima, Kiichi Tachi
  • Patent number: 11909415
    Abstract: A memory system according to an embodiment includes a nonvolatile memory and a memory controller. The nonvolatile memory includes a plurality of memory cells. The memory controller is configured to control the nonvolatile memory. In read operation for the memory cells, the memory controller is configured to: perform tracking including a plurality of reads in which a read voltage is shifted; determine a hard bit read voltage based on results of the tracking; calculate a soft bit read voltage based on the determined hard bit read voltage; perform soft bit read using the calculated soft bit read voltage; and perform a soft bit decoding process using a result of the soft bit read and a log-likelihood ratio table associated with the calculated soft bit read voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kiyooka, Riki Suzuki, Yoshihisa Kojima
  • Publication number: 20240021252
    Abstract: A memory system includes a nonvolatile memory configured to execute one of a plurality of read operations, including a first read operation and a second read operation, and a memory controller configured to issue a read command to the nonvolatile memory to cause the nonvolatile memory to execute one of the plurality of read operations. The memory controller is configured to receive a read request, estimate a reliability level of a result of a read operation to be executed by the nonvolatile memory to read data from a physical address specified in the read request, select one of the first and second read operations to be executed first in a read sequence corresponding to the read request by the nonvolatile memory based on the estimated reliability level, and instruct the nonvolatile memory to execute the selected read operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventor: Yoshihisa KOJIMA
  • Patent number: 11869596
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and a controller. The semiconductor memory includes a memory cell, and a write circuit configured to write data to the memory cell by applying a program voltage to the memory cell and comparing a threshold voltage of the memory cell with a first reference voltage corresponding to the write data. The write circuit is configured to execute a first programming operation to obtain a value of a write parameter by comparing the threshold voltage with a second reference voltage different from the first reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru Nishikawa, Yoshihisa Kojima, Riki Suzuki, Masanobu Shirakawa, Toshikatsu Hida
  • Publication number: 20240005969
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a semiconductor memory, a controller, and a first circuit. The semiconductor memory includes a nonvolatile memory cell. The controller is configured to cause the semiconductor memory to execute first and second write operations. The first write operation writes a first bit into the memory cell. The second write operation writes first data based on the first bit and a second bit into the memory cell. The first circuit checks whether or not the first bit includes a bit error. The controller is configured to cause the semiconductor memory to execute, in the second write operation, writing of the first data including the second bit and a third bit obtained by correcting the bit error of the first bit, in a case that the first bit includes the bit error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Shohei ASAMI, Yoshihisa KOJIMA
  • Publication number: 20230420060
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile memory and a memory controller configured to cause the nonvolatile memory to execute a first process of reading data based on a first request from a host device. The memory controller is configured to, when the first request is received from the host device while causing the nonvolatile memory to execute a second process, hold interruption of the second process until a first number becomes a first threshold value or more. The first number is a number of the first requests to be performed in the memory controller. The first threshold value is an integer of 2 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoya KAMATA, Yoshihisa KOJIMA, Suguru NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230402100
    Abstract: A memory system includes a non-volatile memory having a plurality of memory cells and a controller. The controller is configured to switch a mode for controlling an access operation to the non-volatile memory from a first mode to a second mode, in response to receiving from a host, a first command for instructing the controller to switch the mode from the first mode to the second mode. The access operation controlled according to the second mode improves data retention relative to the access operation controlled according to the first mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Riki SUZUKI, Yoshihisa KOJIMA
  • Publication number: 20230367487
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile memory and a memory controller. The non-volatile memory includes a first block that includes first and second sub-blocks. The memory controller instructs the non-volatile memory to execute a data erase process in units of sub-blocks on data stored in the non-volatile memory. In response to a first value corresponding to the first sub-block having reached a first threshold value, the memory controller reads first data from the first sub-block, executes an error correction process on the first data read from the first sub-block, and writes the first data on which the error correction process has been executed into the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Kojima, Shunichi Igahara, Toshikatsu Hida
  • Publication number: 20230342051
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile memory and a controller electrically connected to the nonvolatile memory. The controller selects a write mode from a first mode in which data having N bits is written per one memory cell and a second mode in which data having M bits is written per one memory cell. N is equal to or larger than one. M is larger than N. The controller writes data into the nonvolatile memory in the selected write mode. The controller selects either the first mode or the second mode at least based on a total number of logical addresses mapped in a physical address space of the nonvolatile memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunichi IGAHARA, Toshikatsu HIDA, Riki SUZUKI, Takehiko AMAKI, Suguru NISHIKAWA, Yoshihisa KOJIMA
  • Patent number: 11790997
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile memory and a memory controller configured to cause the nonvolatile memory to execute a first process of reading data based on a first request from a host device. The memory controller is configured to, when the first request is received from the host device while causing the nonvolatile memory to execute a second process, hold interruption of the second process until a first number becomes a first threshold value or more. The first number is a number of the first requests to be performed in the memory controller. The first threshold value is an integer of 2 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Kamata, Yoshihisa Kojima, Suguru Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 11790993
    Abstract: A memory system includes a non-volatile memory having a plurality of memory cells and a controller. The controller is configured to switch a mode for controlling an access operation to the non-volatile memory from a first mode to a second mode, in response to receiving from a host, a first command for instructing the controller to switch the mode from the first mode to the second mode. The access operation controlled according to the second mode improves data retention relative to the access operation controlled according to the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Riki Suzuki, Yoshihisa Kojima
  • Publication number: 20230320087
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a semiconductor memory and a controller. The semiconductor memory includes blocks each containing memory cells. The controller is configured to instruct the semiconductor memory to execute a first operation and a second operation. In the first operation and the second operation, the semiconductor memory selects at least one of the blocks, and applies at least one voltage to all memory cells contained in said selected blocks. A number of blocks to which said voltage is applied per unit time in the second operation is larger than that in the first operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehiko AMAKI, Yoshihisa KOJIMA, Toshikatsu HIDA, Marie Grace Izabelle Angeles SIA, Riki SUZUKI, Shohei ASAMI
  • Patent number: 11776638
    Abstract: A memory system includes a nonvolatile memory configured to execute one of a plurality of read operations, including a first read operation and a second read operation, and a memory controller configured to issue a read command to the nonvolatile memory to cause the nonvolatile memory to execute one of the plurality of read operations. The memory controller is configured to receive a read request, estimate a reliability level of a result of a read operation to be executed by the nonvolatile memory to read data from a physical address specified in the read request, select one of the first and second read operations to be executed first in a read sequence corresponding to the read request by the nonvolatile memory based on the estimated reliability level, and instruct the nonvolatile memory to execute the selected read operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Kojima
  • Publication number: 20230288973
    Abstract: In a memory system in an embodiment, in a case of normal operation, a control unit returns a write completion response upon completion of reception of write data from a host, and writes the write data into nonvolatile memory in a multiple values. In a case of unordinary power-off, changeover to operation using a backup battery is conducted and the control unit writes dirty data that is not completed in writing into the nonvolatile memory, into the nonvolatile memory with two values. When next boot, the control unit reads the dirty data from the nonvolatile memory into the volatile memory, and thereafter writes the dirty data into the nonvolatile memory in a multiple values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Kojima, Katsuhiko Ueki
  • Publication number: 20230280943
    Abstract: A memory system includes a memory device having a memory cell array, and a controller. The memory cell array includes a plurality of first units and at least one second unit. The second unit includes the plurality of first units. The controller counts a first number of times of read operation for each of the plurality of first units, and, in response to the first number of times for one first unit among the plurality of first units reaching a first value, updates a second number of times for the second unit that includes the one first unit. In response to the second number of times reaching a second value, the controller determines whether to rewrite data stored in at least one of the first units included in the second unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru NISHIKAWA, Yoshihisa KOJIMA, Takehiko AMAKI
  • Patent number: 11749350
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the semiconductor memory medium includes a first memory cell, a first word line coupled to the first memory cell, and a row decoder coupled to the first word line. A write operation is executed multiple times on the first memory cell within a first period from after an execution of an erase operation to an execution of a next erase operation. The write operation includes at least one of program loops each including a program operation and a verify operation. In the verify operation, the row decoder applies a verify voltage to the first word line. The verify voltage is set in accordance with a number of executed write operations on the first memory cell within the first period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru Nishikawa, Takehiko Amaki, Yoshihisa Kojima, Shunichi Igahara