Patents Assigned to Micron Technology
  • Patent number: 11170860
    Abstract: An example method includes, performing a first erase verify on a first set of memory cells of a portion of an array of memory cells, performing a second erase verify on a second set of memory cells of the portion of the array, applying a first erase voltage pulse concurrently to each memory cell in the portion of the array if the first set fails the first erase verify and if the second set fails the second erase verify, and applying a second erase voltage pulse concurrently to each memory cell in the portion of the array if the first set passes the first erase verify and if the second set fails the second erase verify. The second erase voltage pulse is different than the first erase voltage pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fulvio Rori, Chiara Cerafogli
  • Publication number: 20210343719
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly having a stack of first and second alternating levels. The first levels are insulative levels. The second levels are device levels having integrated devices. Each of the integrated devices has a transistor coupled with an associated capacitor, and the capacitor is horizontally offset from the transistor. The transistors have semiconductor channel material, and have transistor gates along the semiconductor channel material. Each of the transistors has a first source/drain region along one side of the semiconductor channel material and coupled with the associated capacitor, and has a second source/drain region. Wordlines extend horizontally along the device levels and are coupled with the transistor gates. Digit lines extend vertically through the device levels and are coupled with the second source/drain regions. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Fredrick D. Fishburn
  • Publication number: 20210343729
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. The conductive levels include conductive structures. Channel material extends vertically through the stack. The conductive structures have proximal regions near the channel material, and have distal regions further from the channel material than the proximal regions. The insulative levels have first regions vertically between the proximal regions of neighboring conductive structures, and have second regions vertically between the distal regions of the neighboring conductive structures. Voids are within the insulative levels and extend across portions of the first and second regions. Some embodiments include methods for forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shyam Surthi, Richard J, Hill
  • Publication number: 20210343624
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array and conductive through-array-vias (TAVs) comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. A mask is formed comprising horizontally-elongated trench openings and operative TAV openings above the stack. Etching is conducted of unmasked portions of the stack through the trench and operative TAV openings in the mask to form horizontally-elongated trench openings in the stack and to form operative TAV openings in the stack. Conductive material is formed in the operative TAV openings in the stack to form individual operative TAVs in individual of the operative TAV openings in the stack. A wordline-intervening structure is formed in individual of the trench openings in the stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Indra V. Chary, Chet E. Carter, Anilkumar Chandolu, Justin B. Dorhout, Jun Fang, Matthew J. King, Brett D. Lowe, Matthew Park, Justin D. Shepherdson
  • Publication number: 20210343335
    Abstract: Methods of operating a memory, and memory configured to perform similar methods, may include determining a memory cell age of a plurality of memory cells, determining a desired programming step voltage for programming memory cells having the determined memory cell age, and performing a programming operation on the plurality of memory cells using the desired programming step voltage corresponding to the determined memory cell age. Methods may further include configuring a memory, including characterizing a read window budget for a programming operation of the memory as a function of a programming step voltage for a plurality of memory cell ages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Pin-Chou Chiang
  • Publication number: 20210343732
    Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor comprises two conductive capacitor electrodes having ferroelectric material there-between. At least one of the capacitor electrodes comprise MxSiOy, where “M” is at least one of Ru, Ti, Ta, Co, Pt, Ir, Os, Mo, V, W, Sr, Re, Rh, Pd, La, Zn, In, Sig, and Nb, Other aspects, including method, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Clement Jacob, Vassil N. Antonov, Jaydeb Goswami, Albert Liao, Christopher W. Petz, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Publication number: 20210343324
    Abstract: An apparatus may include multiple memory devices. Each memory device may include multiple memory banks. Addresses of accessed word lines for a particular portion of memory and the number of times those word lines are accessed may be tracked by each memory device. When a memory device determines that an accessed word line is an aggressor word line, the memory device alerts other memory devices of the apparatus. The memory devices may then perform targeted refresh operations on victim word lines of the aggressor word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jason M. Brown, Daniel B. Penney
  • Publication number: 20210343728
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a vertical stack of alternating insulative and conductive levels. The conductive levels have terminal regions and nonterminal regions. The terminal regions are vertically thicker than the nonterminal regions. Channel material extends vertically through the stack. Tunneling material is adjacent the channel material. Charge-storage material is adjacent the tunneling material. High-k dielectric material is between the charge-storage material and the terminal regions of the conductive levels. The insulative levels have carbon-containing first regions between the terminal regions of neighboring conductive levels, and have second regions between the nonterminal regions of the neighboring conductive levels. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shyam Surthi, Kunal Shrotri, Matthew Thorum
  • Publication number: 20210343743
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a conductive material, a select device gate material over the conductive material, and vertically-stacked conductive levels over the select device gate material. Vertically-extending monolithic channel material is adjacent the select device gate material and the conductive levels. The monolithic channel material contains a lower segment adjacent the select device gate material and an upper segment adjacent the conductive levels. A first vertically-extending region is between the lower segment of the monolithic channel material and the select device gate material. The first vertically-extending region contains a first material. A second vertically-extending region is between the upper segment of the monolithic channel material and the conductive levels. The second vertically-extending region contains a material which is different in composition from the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin B. Dorhout, David Daycock, Kunal R. Parekh, Martin C. Roberts, Yushi Hu
  • Publication number: 20210343640
    Abstract: A memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Operative channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. First dummy pillars in the memory blocks extend through at least a majority of the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers through which the channel-material strings extend. Second dummy pillars are laterally-between and longitudinally-spaced-along immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks. The second dummy pillars extend through at least a majority of the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers through which the operative channel-material strings extend laterally-between the immediately-laterally-adjacent memory blocks. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Machkaoutsan, Pieter Blomme, Emilio Camerlenghi, Justin B. Dorhout, Jian Li, Ryan L. Meyer, Paolo Tessariol
  • Patent number: 11163473
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for performing data migration operations using a memory system are described. The memory system may include a data migration component, such as a driver, for facilitating the transfer of data between a first memory device that may implement a first memory technology (e.g., having a relatively fast access speed) and a second memory device that may implement a second memory technology (e.g., having a relatively large capacity). The component may indicate the data migration operation to a second component (e.g., a controller) of the memory system. The second component may initiate the transfer of data between the first memory device and the second memory device based on the receiving the indication of the data migration operation. In some cases, the transfer of data between the first memory device and the second memory device may occur within the memory system without being transferred through a host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Walker, Paul Rosenfeld, Patrick A. La Fratta
  • Patent number: 11164626
    Abstract: A method for reading memory cell, comprising the steps of applying a first read voltage to a plurality of memory cells, detecting first threshold voltages exhibited by the plurality of memory cells in response to application of the first read voltage, based on the first threshold voltages, associating a first logic state to one or more cells of the plurality of memory cells, applying a second read voltage to the plurality of memory cells, wherein the second read voltage has the same polarity of the first read voltage and a higher magnitude than an expected highest threshold voltage of memory cells in the first logic state, detecting second threshold voltages exhibited by the plurality of memory cells in response to application of the second read voltage, based on the second threshold voltages, associating a second logic state to one or more cells of the plurality of memory cells, applying a third read voltage to the plurality of memory cells, wherein the third read voltage has the same polarity of the first a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Patent number: 11164608
    Abstract: Memory devices, memory systems, and systems, include memory devices with a bonding pad region including two or more bonding pads for operably coupling to external signals and a number of command-and-address (CA) input signals. The memory device also includes a centralized CA interface region including two or more CA input circuits operably coupled to the number of input signals. One of the two or more CA input circuits for each CA input signal may border at least two other CA input circuits coupled to different CA input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yoshida, Kumiko Ishii
  • Patent number: 11163486
    Abstract: Various embodiments described herein provide for execution of a memory function within a memory sub-system. For example, some embodiments provide for execution of certain memory-related functions internally within the memory sub-system, at the request of a host system, using one or more memory access operations (e.g., direct memory access operations) performed internally within the memory sub-system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dhawal Bavishi, Robert Walker
  • Patent number: 11161518
    Abstract: Data is received regarding vehicle braking events, each event occurring on one of a plurality of vehicles, and each event associated with a location. A determination is made that the braking events correspond to a pattern. Based on determining that the braking events correspond to the pattern, a first location is identified. In response to identifying the first location, at least one action is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gil Golov
  • Patent number: 11164623
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for data strobe write timing. A memory device may receive a data strobe clock signal and serial write data during a write operation. A deserializer circuit of the memory may convert the serial write data into parallel write data using timing based on the data strobe clock signal. For example, one or more internal signals may be generated based on the data strobe clock signal and used to activate various operations of the deserializer circuit. The data strobe clock signal may also be used to activate bit lines of the memory device in order to write the parallel write data to memory cells along those activated bit lines. The memory may also receive a system clock, separate from the data strobe clock signal, which may be used for other operations of the memory. For example, in a read operation, the bit lines may be activated with timing based on the system clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kohei Nakamura, Minari Arai
  • Patent number: 11164856
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a first semiconductor chip, first and second TSVs penetrating the first semiconductor chip, a first path including the first TSV, a second path including the second TSV, a first charge circuit configured to charge the first path, a second charge circuit configured to charge the second path, a first discharge circuit configured to discharge the first path, a second discharge circuit configured to discharge the second path, and a comparator circuit configured to compare a potential of the first path with a potential of the second path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Harutaka Makabe
  • Patent number: 11165468
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for signal processing and wireless communication are described. For example, a device may include a plurality of antennas operable to transmit and receive communication packets via a plurality of communication protocols and an integrated circuit chip coupled to the plurality of antennas. The integrated circuit chip may comprise a first and a second plurality of processing elements. The first plurality of processing elements may be operable to receive communication packets via a first one of a plurality of communication protocols and process an optimal route. The second plurality of processing elements may be communicatively coupled to the first plurality of processing elements and operable to determine the optimal route to transmit the communication packets from a source device to a destination device based, at least in part, on transmission characteristics associated with at least one of the source or destination devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Chritz
  • Patent number: 11163495
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for processing in memory. An example apparatus comprises a host and a processing in memory (PIM) capable device coupled to the host via an interface comprising a sideband channel. The PIM capable device comprises an array of memory cells coupled to sensing circuitry and is configured to perform bit vector operations on data stored in the array, and the host comprises a PIM control component to perform virtual address resolution for PIM operations prior to providing a number of corresponding bit vector operations to the PIM capable device via the sideband channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Perry V. Lea, Timothy P. Finkbeiner
  • Patent number: 11163487
    Abstract: Memory devices, memory systems, and methods of operating memory devices and systems are disclosed in which a memory device can asynchronously indicate to a connected host that information in a mode register has been changed, obviating the need for repeated polling of the information and thereby reducing both command/address bus and data bus bandwidth consumption. In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a memory; a mode register storing information corresponding to the memory; and circuitry configured to, in response to the information in the mode register being modified by the memory device, generate a notification to a connected host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank F. Ross