Particular Read Circuit Patents (Class 365/189.15)
  • Patent number: 11915735
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for sensing a memory with shared sense components are described. A device may activate a word line and a plate line each coupled with a set of memory cells, where each memory cell of the set of memory cells is coupled with a respective digit line of a set of digit lines. The device may activate a set of switching components to couple each digit line of the set of digit lines with a respective sense component of a set of sense components, where each switching component of the set of switching components is coupled with a respective memory cell of the set of memory cells. The device may sense the set of memory cells based on activating the word line and the plate line and based on coupling the set of digit lines with the set of sense components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan He, Tae H. Kim, Scott James Derner
  • Patent number: 11862250
    Abstract: Open block-based read offset compensation in read operation of memory device is disclosed. For example, a memory device includes an array of memory cells arranged in a plurality of blocks and a peripheral circuit coupled to the array of memory cells. The peripheral circuit is configured to, in response to a block of the plurality of blocks being an open block, perform a read operation on a memory cell of the array of memory cells in the block using a compensated read voltage. The compensated read voltage has an offset from a default read voltage of the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: YANGTZE MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaojiang Guo, Jong Hoon Kang, Youxin He
  • Patent number: 11854601
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for read clock timing alignment in a stacked memory. An interface die provides a read clock to a core die. The core die includes a serializer which generates data with timing based on the read clock and an adjustable delay circuit which provides a delayed read clock back to the interface die. The interface die outputs the data with timing based on the delayed read clock received from the core die. In this way, the read clock passes along a return clock path from the interface die, through a delay circuit of the core die and back to the interface die before controlling data output timing. Each core die may adjust the timing of the delay of the read clock in order to better align the read clock with the timing of data provided from that die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Nakai, Seiji Narui
  • Patent number: 11842774
    Abstract: Memory might include a controller configured to determine, for each sense circuit of a plurality of sense circuits, a respective plurality of first logic levels for that sense circuit while capacitively coupling a respective plurality of voltage levels to its respective sense node, to determine a particular voltage level in response to each respective plurality of first logic levels for the plurality of sense circuits and their respective plurality of voltage levels, and to determine, for each sense circuit of the plurality of sense circuits, a respective second logic level for that sense circuit while capacitively coupling the particular voltage level to its respective sense node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Valeri, Violante Moschiano, Walter Di-Francesco
  • Patent number: 11823745
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for predicting and compensating for degradation of memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a group of memory cells, and circuitry configured to, upon a quantity of sense operations performed on the group of memory cells meeting or exceeding a threshold quantity, perform a sense operation on the group of memory cells using a positive sensing voltage and perform a sense operation on the group of memory cells using a negative sensing voltage, and perform an operation to program the memory cells of the group determined to be in a reset data state by both of the sense operations to the reset data state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongyuan Lu, Robert J. Gleixner
  • Patent number: 11816449
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a low-loss arithmetic circuit, which includes a plurality of arithmetic units, a plurality of storage units, and one or more reset MOSFETs. Each arithmetic unit includes 4 MOSFETs. The disclosure also relates to an operating method of the low-loss arithmetic circuit and a low-loss Processing-in-Memory circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: NEONEXUS PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: Zhenlong Xu
  • Patent number: 11798607
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a memory device. The memory device includes an active current path including a data storage element; and a reference current path including a reference resistance element. The reference resistance element has a resistance that differs from a resistance of the data storage element. A delay-sensing element has a first input coupled to the active current path and a second input coupled to the reference current path. The delay-sensing element is configured to sense a timing delay between a first signal on the active current path and a second signal on the reference current path. The delay-sensing element is further configured to determine a data state stored in the data storage element based on the timing delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jack Liu, Charles Chew-Yuen Young
  • Patent number: 11783897
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for memory cells for storing operational data are described. A memory device may include an array of memory cells with different sets of cells for storing data. A first set of memory cells may store data for operating the memory device, and the associated memory cells may each contain a chalcogenide storage element. A second set of memory cells may store host data. Some memory cells included in the first set may be programmed to store a first logic state and other memory cells in the first set may be left unprogrammed (and may represent a second logic state). Sense circuitry may be coupled with the array and may determine a value of data stored by the first set of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mattia Boniardi, Anna Maria Conti, Innocenzo Tortorelli
  • Patent number: 11776635
    Abstract: A method for finding an optimum read voltage includes acquiring difference values between state bit counts of different positions. A direction for finding the optimum read voltage is determined based on the difference values. An offset for finding the optimum read voltage is determined based on correspondence between a difference value of bit count and offset. Reading is performed with the offset applied to a current read reference voltage, wherein upon read-success, the current reference voltage superimposed with the offset is the optimum read voltage, and upon read-error, new first and second positions are obtained based on the direction and the offset for finding the optimum read voltage until reading becomes successful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: INNOGRIT TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youngjoon Choi, Hung-Chi Chiang
  • Patent number: 11756630
    Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques are described for obtaining a threshold voltage distribution for a set of memory cells based on a user read mode. The user read mode can be based on various factors including a coding of a page and an increasing or decreasing order of the read voltages. The read process for the Vth distribution is made to mimic the read mode which is used when the memory device is in the hands of the end user. This results in a Vth distribution which reflects the user's experience to facilitate troubleshooting. In some cases, one or more dummy read operations are performed, where the read result is discarded, prior to a read operation which is used to build the Vth distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Li, Qianqian Yu, Jiahui Yuan, Loc Tu
  • Patent number: 11705211
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for accessing an array of memory cells, including storing a set of user data in a plurality of memory cells, storing, in a portion of the array, additional information representative of a voltage difference between a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage of the memory cells programmed to a first logic state, applying to the array a read voltage to activate a first group of memory cells corresponding to a preset number of memory cells, determining that the first group of memory cells has been activated based on applying the read voltage, wherein the read voltage is equal to the first threshold voltage when the first group of memory cells has been activated, and based on the additional data information, applying the voltage difference to the array to activate a second group of memory cells programmed to the first logic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Riccardo Muzzetto, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Patent number: 11625188
    Abstract: A memory device includes a first nonvolatile memory including a resistive memory cell; and a controller. The controller may be configured to provide the first nonvolatile memory with a first data, a first program command, and a first address. The controller may be configured to receive a second data, which is a verify read from the resistive memory cell programmed with the first data, from the first nonvolatile memory in response to the first program command. The controller may be configured to compare the first data with the second data to detect a number of fail cells. When the number of detected fail cells is greater than a reference value, the controller may be configured to generate a third data obtained by inversing the first data, and provide the third data to the first nonvolatile memory. The first data may include an inversion flag bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Hyuk Lee, Hye Min Shin, Kang Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 11562776
    Abstract: A request to perform a read operation on a memory device is received. The memory device includes a first group of memory cells. The first group of memory cells represents a first sequence of bits based on a first sequence of charge levels formed by the first group of memory cells. The read operation is performed by obtaining a first read signal for a first memory cell and a second read signal for a second memory cell of the first group of memory cells. A first rule logic is applied to the first read signal to generate a first updated signal and a second rule logic is applied to the second read signal to generate a second updated signal. Logic functions are applied to the first and second updated signals to generate an output signal indicating the first sequence of bits stored by the first group of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dung V. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11551747
    Abstract: A computation apparatus includes a plurality of memory cells and a plurality of sense amplifiers, in which each of the memory cells includes a memory circuit and a calculation circuit. The memory circuits of the memory cells are configured to receive input values from a plurality of word lines, generate a computation result based on the input values and output the computation result to a bit line. The calculation circuits of the memory cells are configured to receive calculation input values from a plurality of calculation word lines, generate calculation output values based on the calculation input values, and output the calculation output values to a plurality of calculation bit lines. The sense amplifiers are configured to sense the calculation output values from the calculation bit lines to generate sensed values, wherein a value of the computation result is determined based on the sensed values and the calculation output values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheng-Hung Lee
  • Patent number: 11545194
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for dynamic read voltage techniques are described. In some examples, a memory device may include one or more partitions made up of multiple disjoint subsets of memory arrays. The memory device may receive a read command to read the one or more partitions and enter a drift determination phase. During the drift determination phase, the memory device may concurrently apply a respective voltage of a set of voltages to each disjoint subset and determine a quantity of memory cells in each disjoint subset that have a threshold voltage below the applied voltage. Based on a comparison between the determined quantity of memory cells and a predetermined quantity of memory cells, the memory device may select a voltage from the set of voltages and utilize the selected voltage to read the one or more partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Sarpatwari, Nevil N. Gajera, Jessica Chen, Lingming Yang
  • Patent number: 11527278
    Abstract: A high-density low voltage ferroelectric (or paraelectric) memory bit-cell that includes a planar ferroelectric or paraelectric capacitor. The memory bit-cell comprises 1T1C configuration, where a plate-line is parallel to a word-line, or the plate-line is parallel to a bit-line. The memory bit-cell can be 1TnC, where ‘n’ is a number. In a 1TnC bit-cell, the capacitors are vertically stacked allowing for multiple values to be stored in a single bit-cell. The memory bit-cell can be multi-element FE gain bit-cell. In a multi-element FE gain bit-cell, data sensing is done with signal amplified by a gain transistor in the bit-cell. As such, higher storage density is realized using multi-element FE gain bit-cells. In some examples, the 1T1C, 1TnC, and multi-element FE gain bit-cells are multi-level bit-cells. To realize multi-level bit-cells, the capacitor is placed in a partially switched polarization state by applying different voltage levels or different time pulse widths at the same voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Kepler Computing Inc.
    Inventors: Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Noriyuki Sato, Tanay Gosavi, Pratyush Pandey, Debo Olaosebikan, Amrita Mathuriya, Sasikanth Manipatruni
  • Patent number: 11495297
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that can compensate for threshold fluctuations in memory cells using capacitive coupling. The flash memory includes a NAND-type memory cell array, a programing device, a reading device, and an offset voltage determining unit. The programing device programs the memory cells connected to a selected word line. The reading device reads the memory cells connected to a selected word line. The programing device programs the memory cells of a monitoring NAND string simultaneously when programing a word line. The reading device comprises a current detecting unit applying a read voltage to an unselected word line n+1, and detecting the current of the monitoring NAND string. The offset voltage determining unit determines the first and second offset voltage based on the detected current, and a reading pass voltage is applied to the unselected word line, a read voltage is applied to the selected word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: WINDBOND ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Makoto Senoo
  • Patent number: 11495281
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that provide protection from undesired latching that may be caused by indeterminate interamble periods in an input/output data strobe (DQS) signal. Interamble compensation circuitry selectively filters out interamble states of the DQS signal to reduce provision of interamble signals to downstream components that use the DQS signal to identify data latching times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Waldrop, Daniel B. Penney
  • Patent number: 11467761
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to method for checking the reading phase of a non-volatile memory device including at least an array of memory cells and with associated decoding and sensing circuitry and a memory controller, the method comprises: storing in a dummy row associated to said memory block at least internal block variables and a known pattern; performing a reading of said dummy row; comparing a result of the reading with the known pattern; trimming the parameters of the reading and/or swapping the used memory block based on the result of the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Troia, Antonino Mondello
  • Patent number: 11417396
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods of operating the apparatuses. One of the apparatuses includes a memory cell string having first, second, third, fourth, and fifth memory cells; access lines including first, second, third, fourth, and fifth access lines coupled to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth memory cells, respectively, and a module. The first memory cell is between the second and third memory cells. The second memory cell is between the first and fourth memory cells. The third memory cell is between the first and fifth memory cells. The module is to couple the first access line to a ground node at a first time of a memory operation, couple the second and third access lines to the ground node at a second time of the operation after the first time, and couple the fourth and fifth access lines to the ground node at a third time of the operation after the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Fayrushin, Augusto Benvenuti, Akira Goda, Luca Laurin, Haitao Liu
  • Patent number: 11417398
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for memory cells for storing operational data are described. A memory device may include an array of memory cells with different sets of cells for storing data. A first set of memory cells may store data for operating the memory device, and the associated memory cells may each contain a chalcogenide storage element. A second set of memory cells may store host data. Some memory cells included in the first set may be programmed to store a first logic state and other memory cells in the first set may be left unprogrammed (and may represent a second logic state). Sense circuitry may be coupled with the array and may determine a value of data stored by the first set of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mattia Boniardi, Anna Maria Conti, Innocenzo Tortorelli
  • Patent number: 11416426
    Abstract: A memory device includes an input/output circuit configured to receive a status read command from a memory controller, a toggle counter configured to count a number of toggles of a signal received from the memory controller, and a status register configured to store status information of the memory device and configured to output the status information to the input/output circuit. The memory device also includes a status output controller configured to determine whether the number of toggles counted by the toggle counter corresponds to a reference number of toggles and configured to control the status register to transmit the status information to the memory controller through the input/output circuit, in response to the status read command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Seung Hyun Chung
  • Patent number: 11411582
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining log-likelihood ratio (LLR) for soft decoding based on information obtained from hard decoding, in a storage system configured to perform hard decoding and soft decoding of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codewords. The method includes performing hard decoding of codewords in a page, the hard decoding including a first hard read and one or more re-reads using predetermined hard read threshold voltages, and grouping memory cells in the page into a plurality of bins based on the read threshold voltages for the first hard read and the one or more re-reads. The method also includes computing parity checksum and one's count for memory cells in each bin, and determining LLR for each bin of memory cells based on read data, checksums, and one's count for each bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Fan Zhang, Aman Bhatia, Meysam Asadi
  • Patent number: 11410727
    Abstract: Non-volatile memory structures are presented for a content addressable memory (CAM) that can perform in-memory search operations for both ternary and binary valued key values. Each ternary or binary valued key bit is stored in a pair of memory cells along a bit line of a NAND memory array, with the stored keys searched by applying each ternary or binary valued bit of an input key as voltage levels on a pair of word lines. The system is highly scalable. The system can also be used to perform nearest neighbor searches between stored vectors and an input vector to find stored vectors withing a specified Hamming distance of the input vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Tung Thanh Hoang, Wen Ma, Martin Lueker-Boden
  • Patent number: 11380373
    Abstract: Disclosed is a memory structure including an array of memory cells and a read circuit. The read circuit includes two registers configured to capture and store two different digital-to-analog converter (DAC) codes, which correspond to two different reference currents that approximate two different output currents generated on a bitline during consecutive single-ended current sensing processes directed to the same selected memory cell but using different input voltages. Optionally, the read circuit can also include a current-voltage (I-V) slope calculator, which uses the two different DAC codes to calculate an I-V slope characteristic of the selected memory cell, and a bit generator, which performs a comparison of the I-V slope characteristic and a reference I-V slope characteristic and based on results of the comparison, generates and outputs a bit with a logic value that represents the data storage state of the selected memory cell. Also disclosed is an associated method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries U.S. Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed A. Nour, Peter C. Paliwoda, Byoung-Woon B Min, Toshiaki Kirihata
  • Patent number: 11367491
    Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques are described for recovering from errors in a read operation. When a read operation results in an uncorrectable read error, recovery read operations are performed for each read voltage of a page of data. Each recovery read operation uses a different timing. The different timings can involve a time period which is allocated for a voltage transition, such as a settling time of a word line or bit line voltage, or a time allocated for an under kick or over kick of a word line or bit line voltage. An error count is obtained for each different timing, and an optimum timing is determined based on the lowest error count. A retry read operation is performed in which an optimum timing is used for the voltage transition for each read voltage of the page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Li, Xuan Tian, Vincent Yin, Jiahui Yuan
  • Patent number: 11329654
    Abstract: A delay circuit of a delay-locked loop (DLL) circuit includes: a phase splitter configured to split a phase of a reference clock signal to output a first reference clock signal and a second reference clock signal having a phase difference of 180 degrees; a logic gate configured to delay the second reference clock signal to output a delayed reference clock signal; and a delay line circuit including a plurality of delay cells that are cascade-connected, the delay line circuit configured to delay the first reference clock signal and the delayed reference clock signal based on a control code set, and to output a first delayed clock signal and a second delayed clock signal having a delay amount corresponding to a delay of one logic gate included in the plurality of delay cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hundae Choi, Garam Choi
  • Patent number: 11321177
    Abstract: A memory device includes a peripheral circuit communicating with memory banks. Each of the banks includes a memory cell array including memory cells, a row decoder connected with the memory cells through word lines, bit line sense amplifiers connected with the memory cells through bit lines including first bit lines and second bit lines, and a column decoder configured to connect the bit line sense amplifiers with the peripheral circuit. The memory cell array includes a first section connected with the first bit lines and a second section connected with the second bit lines, and the first section and second section are independent of each other with regard to a row-dependent error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minsu Kim, Nam Hyung Kim, Dae-Jeong Kim, Do-Han Kim, Deokho Seo, Wonjae Shin, Yongjun Yu, Changmin Lee, Insu Choi
  • Patent number: 11309002
    Abstract: A delay locked loop circuit and a semiconductor memory device are provided. The delay locked loop circuit includes a phase detection and delay control circuit configured to detect a phase difference between a first internally generated clock signal the feedback clock signal to generate a first phase difference detection signal in response to a first selection signal being activated, to detect a phase difference between a second internally generated clock signal and the feedback clock signal to generate a second phase difference detection signal in response to a second selection signal being activated, and to change a code value in response to the first phase difference detection signal or the second phase difference detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hundae Choi, Garam Choi
  • Patent number: 11289154
    Abstract: A circuit includes a bit line, a pass gate coupled between the bit line and a power node having a first power voltage level, and a driver coupled between the bit line and a reference node having a reference voltage level. The pass gate couples the bit line to the power node when the first signal has the reference voltage level and decouples the bit line from the power node when the first signal has the first power voltage level. The driver receives a second signal based on a control signal, couples the bit line to the reference node when the second signal has a second power voltage level below the first power voltage level, and decouples the bit line from the reference node when the second signal has the reference voltage level. An input circuit generates the first signal independent of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Pankaj Aggarwal, Ching-Wei Wu, Jaymeen Bharatkumar Aseem
  • Patent number: 11270766
    Abstract: A memory system may include a memory device and a memory controller. The memory device may include memory cells. The memory controller may estimate and use an read voltage to distinguish one or more memory cells corresponding to a first threshold voltage distribution from one or more memory cells corresponding to a second threshold voltage distribution, the read voltage being estimated based on standard deviations and average threshold voltages of the first and the second threshold voltage distributions and probability density functions corresponding to the first and the second threshold voltage distributions, respectively. The memory controller may be structured and operable to calculate the standard deviation of the first threshold voltage distribution, based on a first probability area distinguished by a first target read voltage, a second probability area distinguished by a second target read voltage, and inverse Q-function values corresponding to the first and the second probability areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Dae Sung Kim, Kyung Bum Kim
  • Patent number: 11264064
    Abstract: A data driving circuit may include a trigger circuit and a pre-driver. The trigger circuit may be configured to block a remaining signal path among a plurality of signal paths for transmitting data except for a signal path corresponding to a currently selected driving strength. The pre-driver may be configured to drive data, which are transmitted through the signal path corresponding to the currently selected driving strength, using an impedance determined in accordance with a plurality of impedance control codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Eun Ji Choi
  • Patent number: 11231982
    Abstract: A processing device in a memory system incrementally adjusts a center read voltage for a first block of a memory device by a first offset amount to generate an adjusted read voltage and causes the adjusted read voltage to be applied to the first block to determine an adjusted bit count associated with the adjusted read voltage. The processing device further determines whether a difference between the adjusted bit count and a previous bit count associated with a previous read voltage satisfies a first threshold criterion pertaining to an error threshold, and responsive to the difference between the adjusted bit count and the previous bit count not satisfying the first threshold criterion, determines a read window for the first block based on the previous read voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Sheng Hoei, Peter Sean Feeley, Sampath K. Ratnam, Sead Zildzic, Kishore Kumar Muchherla
  • Patent number: 11217590
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell region; a memory mat end region; a memory mat including the memory cell region and the memory mat region; a plurality of first silicon regions arranged in the memory cell region; a second silicon region arranged in the memory mat end region; a first conductive layer provided in the memory cell region and the memory mat end region; and wherein upper surface position of the second silicon region in the memory mat end region is higher than the upper surface position of the first silicon region in the memory cell region; and wherein the upper surface position of the first conductive layer in the memory mat end region is higher than the upper surface position of the first conductive layer in the memory cell region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Fujimoto, Takashi Sasaki, Shinobu Terada
  • Patent number: 11194646
    Abstract: Read operations can be performed to read data stored at a data block. Parameters reflective of a separation between a pair of programming distributions associated with the data block can be determined based on the plurality of read operations. A read request to read the data stored at the data block can be received. In response to receiving the read request, a read operation can be performed to read the data stored at the data block based on the parameters that are reflective of the separation between the pair of programming distributions associated with the data block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Harish R. Singidi, Ashutosh Malshe, Sampath K. Ratnam, Qisong Lin, Kishore Kumar Muchherla
  • Patent number: 11176997
    Abstract: A cell structure is disclosed. The cell structure includes a first unit comprising a first group of transistors and a first data latch, a second unit comprising a second group of transistors and a second data latch a read port unit comprising a plurality of p-type transistors, a search line and a complementary search line, the search line and the complementary search line function as input of the cell structure, and a master line, the master line functions as an output of the cell structure, the first unit is coupled to the second unit, both the first and the second units are coupled to the read port unit. According to some embodiments, the first data latch comprises a first and a second p-type transistors, a first and a second n-type transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Hung-Jen Liao, Hsien-Yu Pan, Chih-Yu Lin, Yen-Huei Chen, Chien-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 11120871
    Abstract: A method of denoising intrinsic sneak currents in a PRAM memory array of M wordlines and N bitlines includes receiving, by the PRAM memory array, an input read address; and selecting from a table of wordline distances from a sense-amplifier versus estimated optimal currents for those wordline distances an estimated optimal reference current for a distance closest to the received input read address. The reference current determines whether a read current is ‘0’ or ‘1’ and minimizes a bit error rate due to effects of sneak paths and parasitic elements that distorts the read current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Amit Berman
  • Patent number: 11094355
    Abstract: A random access memory having a memory array having a plurality of local memory groups, each local memory group including a plurality of bitcells arranged in a bitcell column, a pair of local bitlines operatively connected to the plurality of bitcells, a pair of global read bitlines, a local group read port arranged between the pair of local bitlines and the pair of global read bitlines for selectively accessing one of the local bitlines depending on a state of a selected bitcell, and a local group precharge circuit operatively arranged between the pair of local bitlines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: William Andrew Simon, Marco Antonio Rios, Alexandre Sébastien Levisse, Marina Zapater, David Atienza Alonso
  • Patent number: 11086717
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a non-volatile memory (NVM) of a storage device, such as a solid-state drive (SSD). In some embodiments, flash memory cells are arranged along word lines to which read voltages are applied to sense programmed states of the memory cells, with the flash memory cells along each word line being configured to concurrently store multiple pages of data. An encoder circuit is configured to apply error correction encoding to input data to form code words having user data bits and code bits, where an integral number of the code words are written to each page. A reference voltage calibration circuit is configured to randomly select a single selected code word from each page and to use the code bits from the single selected code word to generate a set of calibrated read voltages for the associated page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mehmet Emin Aklik, Antoine Khoueir, Ara Patapoutian, Colin Hill, Kurt Walter Getreuer, Darshana H. Mehta
  • Patent number: 11042414
    Abstract: A request to perform a compute task is received. A service to perform at least a portion of the compute task is identified, wherein the identified service is associated with a field-programmable gate array that has been programmed to perform at least the portion of the compute task. The identified service to perform at least the portion of the compute task of the request is invoked. At least the portion of the compute task is executed using the field-programmable gate array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad Byagowi, Michael Maroye Lambeta, Martin Mroz
  • Patent number: 11043256
    Abstract: Described are mechanisms and methods for amortizing the cost of address decode, row-decode and wordline firing across multiple read accesses (instead of just on one read access). Some or all memory locations that share a wordline (WL) may be read, by walking through column multiplexor addresses (instead of just reading out one column multiplexor address per WL fire or memory access). The mechanisms and methods disclosed herein may advantageously enable N distinct memory words to be read out if the array uses an N-to-1 column multiplexor. Since memories such as embedded DRAMs (eDRAMs) may undergo a destructive read, for a given WL fire, a design may be disposed to sense N distinct memory words and restore them in order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Kaushik Vaidyanathan, Huichu Liu, Tanay Karnik, Sreenivas Subramoney, Jayesh Gaur, Sudhanshu Shukla
  • Patent number: 11043264
    Abstract: A method of performing a write operation on a static random access memory (SRAM) bit cell includes activating the bit cell by supplying a signal to a p-type pass gate of the bit cell, the signal causing the p-type pass gate to be in a conductive state, using a p-type transistor of a write multiplexer to maintain a data line at a logically high voltage, and transferring bit information from the data line to the activated bit cell using the p-type pass gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Cheng Wu, Wei Min Chan, Yen-Huei Chen, Hung-Jen Liao, Ping-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 11031056
    Abstract: A memory device may include a clock dividing circuit suitable for generating a plurality of internal clocks by dividing an external clock, a mode decision circuit suitable for determining an operation mode according to an input time point of a read command based on the internal clocks, a clock arranging circuit suitable for arranging the internal clocks in an order determined according to the operation mode, and outputting the arranged clocks as a plurality of data output clocks, and a data arranging circuit suitable for arranging read data according to the operation mode, and outputting the arranged data in response to the data output clocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Kwang-Soon Kim
  • Patent number: 11018136
    Abstract: Methods of maintaining a state of a memory cell without interrupting access to the memory cell are provided, including applying a back bias to the cell to offset charge leakage out of a floating body of the cell, wherein a charge level of the floating body indicates a state of the memory cell; and accessing the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Zeno Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuniarto Widjaja, Zvi Or-Bach
  • Patent number: 10915259
    Abstract: A memory system may include: a memory device storing data and including a memory interface in communication with a memory controller; and the memory controller controlling the memory device and including a controller interface in communication with the memory device, and, wherein, when the memory device is inaccessible, the memory controller requests a current state information including current operation mode of the memory interface from the memory device, and changes an operation mode of the controller interface to match the current operation mode of the memory interface according to the current state information received from the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jee-Yul Kim
  • Patent number: 10896089
    Abstract: A computing system comprises a host system, a first storage device, a second storage device, a third storage device, a fabric interconnect device and a controller separate from the host system. The first, second, and third storage devices comprise a first, second, and third local memory buffer. The fabric interconnect device is configured to connect the first, second, and third storage devices over a fabric network to the host system. In response to receiving a write operation from the host system, a controller (e.g., on the first storage device or the fabric interconnect device) is configured to calculate error-correction data (e.g., parity data) by using data-protection operations (e.g., XOR operation(s)) directly on data stored on the first, second, and third local memory buffer, without having to rely on computing resources of the host system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Helmick, Paul David Martin
  • Patent number: 10884852
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes an error correction code (ECC) engine, a memory cell array, an input/output (I/O) gating circuit and a control logic circuit. The memory cell array includes a normal cell region configured to store main data and a parity cell region configured to selectively store parity data which the ECC engine generates based on the main data, and sub data received from outside of the semiconductor memory device. The control logic circuit controls the ECC engine to selectively perform an ECC encoding and an ECC decoding on the main data and controls the I/O gating circuit to store the sub data in at least a portion of the parity cell region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Hun Seo, Kwang-Il Park, Seung-Jun Bae, Sang-Uhn Cha
  • Patent number: 10878925
    Abstract: A non-volatile storage system comprises a group of non-volatile memory cells, and one or more control circuits in communication with the group. The one or more control circuits are configured to perform a plurality of passes to revise a read reference signal based on comparisons of numbers of non-volatile memory cells in the group having a value for a physical property (e.g., threshold voltage or resistance) in adjacent regions. With each pass the adjacent regions are smaller. The one or more control circuits are configured to establish a final read reference signal based on a signal associated with one of the adjacent regions on a final pass of the plurality of passes. The one or more control circuits are configured to use the final read reference signal to distinguish between two adjacent data states stored in the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Shreejith Koruvailu Vishwanath, Bhavadip Bipinbhai Solanki
  • Patent number: 10872671
    Abstract: A non-volatile storage system comprises a group of non-volatile memory cells, and one or more control circuits in communication with the group. The one or more control circuits are configured to perform a plurality of passes to revise a read reference signal based on comparisons of numbers of non-volatile memory cells in the group having a value for a physical property (e.g., threshold voltage or resistance) in adjacent regions. With each pass the adjacent regions are smaller. The one or more control circuits are configured to establish a final read reference signal based on a signal associated with one of the adjacent regions on a final pass of the plurality of passes. The one or more control circuits are configured to use the final read reference signal to distinguish between two adjacent data states stored in the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Shreejith Koruvailu Vishwanath, Bhavadip Bipinbhai Solanki
  • Patent number: 10861518
    Abstract: A delay control circuit, which may be included in a memory device, includes a delayed signal generator configured to generate an output signal by delaying an input signal in response to a delay control signal and a delay information generator configured to generate delay information indicating an output delay between the input signal and the output signal. The delay control circuit also includes a delay control signal generator configured to, based on a result of a comparison between target delay information indicating a target delay between the input signal and the output signal and based on the delay information, generate the delay control signal for controlling the output delay and fix the output delay at the target delay in response to the delay control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Hyun Kim, Kwan Su Shon, Jin Ha Hwang