Patents Examined by Alfredo Bermudez Lozada
  • Patent number: 11887684
    Abstract: A storage device includes a nonvolatile memory device and a memory controller. An operating method of the storage device includes sending, at the memory controller, a first read command and first offset information to the nonvolatile memory device, performing, at the nonvolatile memory device, first read operations based on the first read command and the first offset information, sending, at the nonvolatile memory device, a result of the first read operations as first data to the memory controller, sending, at the memory controller, a second read command, read voltage levels, and second offset information to the nonvolatile memory device, performing, at the nonvolatile memory device, second read operations based on the second read command, the read level information, and the second offset information, and sending, at the nonvolatile memory device, results of the second read operations as second data to the memory controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA UNIVERSITY Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Haedong No, Youjin Jeon, Hyeji Yun, Jongtaek Seong, Jungeol Baek, Youn-Soo Cheon
  • Patent number: 11881252
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for mitigating parasitic signals induced by state transitions during an access operation of a selected memory cell in a memory device. Some memory devices may include a plate that is coupled with memory cells associated with a plurality of digit lines and/or a plurality of word lines. Because the plate is coupled with a plurality of digit lines and/or word lines, unintended coupling between various components of the memory device may occur during an access operation. To mitigate parasitic signals induced by the unintended coupling, the memory device may isolate the selected memory cell from a selected digit line during certain portions of the access operation. The memory device may isolate the selected memory cell when the plate transitions from a first voltage to a second, when the selected digit line transitions from a third voltage to a fourth voltage, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Lucia Di Martino
  • Patent number: 11881261
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for employing analog content addressable memory (aCAMs) to achieve low latency complex distribution sampling. For example, an aCAM core circuit can include an aCAM array. Amplitudes of a probability distribution function are mapped to a width of one or more aCAM cells in each row of the aCAM array. The aCAM core circuit can also include a resistive random access memory (RRAM) storing lookup information, such as information used for processing a model. By randomly selecting columns to search of the aCAM array, the mapped probability distribution function is sampled in a manner that has low latency. The aCAM core circuit can accelerate the sampling step in methods relying on sampling from arbitrary probability distributions, such as particle filter techniques. A hardware architecture for an aCAM Particle Filter that utilizes the aCAM core circuit as a central structure is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Catherine Graves, Giacomo Pedretti, Sergey Serebryakov, John Paul Strachan
  • Patent number: 11875855
    Abstract: A memory device including: a memory cell array disposed in a first semiconductor layer, the memory cell array including a plurality of wordlines extended in a first direction and stacked in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and a plurality of pass transistors disposed in the first semiconductor layer, wherein a first pass transistor of the plurality of pass transistors is disposed between a first signal line of a plurality of signal lines and a first wordline of the plurality of wordlines, and wherein the plurality of signal lines are arranged at the same level as a common source line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyunghwa Yun, Chanho Kim, Pansuk Kwak
  • Patent number: 11875859
    Abstract: A memory device might include control circuitry configured to cause the memory device to compare input data to data stored in memory cells connected to a data line, cause a first level of current to flow from the data line in response to a mismatch between one digit of the input data and data stored in a respective pair of memory cells, cause a second level of current to flow from the data line in response to a mismatch between a different digit of the input data and the data stored in a respective pair of memory cells, compare a representation of a level of current in the data line to a reference, and deem the input data to potentially match or not match the data stored in the plurality of memory cells in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Eldredge, Frankie F. Roohparvar, Luca De Santis, Tommaso Vali
  • Patent number: 11862222
    Abstract: A refresh circuit includes: a refresh control module configured to receive a refresh command to output a row address refresh signal, the row address refresh signal being outputted a number of times of a preset value each time the refresh command is received; and further configured to receive a temperature signal to adjust the preset value, the higher a temperature represented by the temperature signal, the greater the adjusted preset value; a row addresser configured to receive the row address refresh signal and output a to-be-refreshed single-row address; and an array refresh device configured to perform a single-row refresh operation according to the single-row address and output a single-row refresh end signal after the end of single-row refresh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yinchuan Gu, Geyan Liu
  • Patent number: 11862251
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an erase method for a memory device. In the method, during a time period, a first positive voltage is applied to a body portion of a memory cell string of the memory device. The memory cell string includes memory cell transistors and select transistors connected in series. A second positive voltage is applied to a bit line signal of the memory cell string. A third positive voltage is applied to a first top select gate signal to turn on a first top select transistor of the select transistors so that the memory cell transistors are coupled to the bit line signal through the first top select transistor. A ground level voltage or a fourth positive voltage is applied to a word line signal of the memory cell transistors. Both the third and fourth positive voltages are less than the second positive voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lei Liu, Wenxi Zhou, Zhiliang Xia
  • Patent number: 11854631
    Abstract: A method for dynamically estimating interference compensation thresholds of a page of memory includes computing a histogram and a corresponding threshold based on a plurality of interference states of an interference source; clustering the plurality of interference states to determine an effective number of interference states; and estimating a read threshold to dynamically compensate an interference noise associated with each interference state of the effective number of interference states of the target row based on the histogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Avi Steiner, Hanan Weingarten, Yasuhiko Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 11848671
    Abstract: An area efficient readable and resettable configuration memory latch is disclosed that maintains latch data integrity through read and write operations and includes a non-terminated inout bit line (BL). During write operations, enabled by a Word Line Write (WLW) signal, the non-terminated inout BL drives data to be written, while, during read operations, enabled by a Word Line Read (WLR) signal, the state of the BL is indicative of a data stored in the latch. A pull-down network is activated when the WLR signal is asserted and the stored data is logic one and, when activated, operates to pull down the BL to logic zero; the pull-down network is inactive otherwise. A weak pull-up operates to pull up the BL when the pull-down network is inactive. A sensing block is configured to sense the state of the BL when the WLR signal and a read enable signal are both asserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: Ket Chong Yap, Chihhung Liao
  • Patent number: 11849577
    Abstract: A memory device with memory cell pairs each having a single continuous channel region, first and second floating gates over first and second portions of the channel region, an erase gate over a third portion of the channel region between the first and second channel region portions, and first and second control gates over the first and second floating gates. For each of the pairs of memory cells, the first region is electrically connected to the second region of an adjacent pair of memory cells in the same active region, and the second region is electrically connected to the first region of an adjacent pair of the memory cells in the same active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hieu Van Tran, Hung Quoc Nguyen, Nhan Do
  • Patent number: 11842778
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory block including a plurality of pages, a peripheral circuit configured to perform a first program operation for storing first page data and a second program operation for storing second page data after the first program operation, a status register configured to store status information, a cache program operation controller configured to control the peripheral circuit to load the second page data from an external controller when the first program operation is being performed, and a status register controller configured to store in the status register first failure information indicating whether the first program operation passes, store in the status register validity information indicating whether the first failure information is valid information within a predetermined time period from when the second program operation starts, and provide the external controller with the status information including the first failure information and the validity information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Young Lee, Yong Hwan Hong, Byung Ryul Kim
  • Patent number: 11837283
    Abstract: A variety of applications can include a high voltage switch configured to translate supply voltages or other voltages to specific magnitudes in memory devices, with the high voltage switch designed to provide enhanced lifetime of components of the high voltage switch. A high voltage switch can include a high voltage diode coupled to an output node and to a gate of a high voltage transistor coupled to the output node. The high voltage diode can provide feedback of an output voltage to the gate of the high voltage transistor to relieve Fowler-Nordheim stress on the dielectric coupled to the gate in the transistor, where large shifts in threshold voltage of the transistor could otherwise result from the Fowler-Nordheim stress. The high voltage diode can be structured using a high voltage field effect transistor. Additional devices, systems, and methods are discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Andrew Smith
  • Patent number: 11837297
    Abstract: A method for dynamically adjusting an erase voltage level to be applied in a subsequent erase cycle, comprising: in a current erase cycle, initiating a current erase/verify loop by applying an initial stored erase voltage level according to an erase sequence in which each successive erase/verify loop is incremented by a pre-determined voltage amount, storing an erase/verify loop count, and determining whether the current erase cycle is complete according to a pass criterion. If the erase cycle is complete, a determination is made as to whether the stored erase/verify loop count equals a pre-defined threshold count. Further, if the stored count does not equal the pre-defined threshold count, the initial stored erase voltage level is adjusted such that, upon applying the adjusted erase voltage level in a subsequent erase cycle, an erase/verify loop count will now equal the pre-defined threshold count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Xiang Yang
  • Patent number: 11830536
    Abstract: Self-referencing memory device, techniques, and methods are described herein. A self-referencing memory device may include a ferroelectric memory cell. The self-referencing memory device may be configured to determine a logic state stored in a memory cell based on a state signal generated using the ferroelectric memory cell and a reference signal generated using the ferroelectric memory cell. The biasing of the plate line of the ferroelectric memory cell may be used to generate the voltage need to generate the state signal during a first time period of an access operation and to generate the reference signal during a second time period of the access operation. Procedures and operations related to a self-referencing memory device are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Patent number: 11823750
    Abstract: A method for writing into a one-time programmable memory of an integrated circuit includes attempting, by a memory control circuit of the integrated circuit, to write data in at least one first register of the one-time programmable memory; verifying, by the memory control circuit, whether the data has been correctly written in the at least one first register; and, in case the data has not been correctly written in the at least one first register, attempting, by the memory control circuit, to write the data in at least one second register of the one-time programmable memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS (ALPS) SAS, STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Philippe Sirito-Olivier, Giovanni Luca Torrisi
  • Patent number: 11817164
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to a memory system including a controller and an array of memory cells. An example apparatus can include a controller configured to receive operational characteristics of an array of memory cells based on prior operations performed by the array of memory cells, determine a set of trim settings for the array of memory cells based on the operational characteristics of the array of memory cells, wherein the set of trim settings are associated with desired operational characteristics for the array of memory cells, and send the set of trim settings to the array of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aswin Thiruvengadam, Daniel L. Lowrance, Peter Feeley
  • Patent number: 11810619
    Abstract: The plurality of CAM cells MC are configured to discriminate a match or mismatch between stored data stored in advance and search data. A match line is coupled to a plurality of CAM cells, and has a voltage level controlled based on discrimination results of the plurality of CAM cells. A first transistor and a second transistor are coupled in series between a common match output line and a predetermined power source. The first transistor is controlled to be turned ON or OFF based on a voltage level of the match line, and the second transistor is controlled to be turned ON or OFF by a search enabling signal asserted at the time of a search operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yohei Sawada, Masao Morimoto, Makoto Yabuuchi
  • Patent number: 11804273
    Abstract: Provided herein is a memory device and a method of operating the same. The memory device includes a plurality of memory blocks, each including a plurality of memory cells, and a peripheral circuit configured to perform program operations, read operations and erase operations on the plurality of memory blocks. The memory device also includes control logic configured to, when the read operation is performed on any one of the plurality of memory blocks, set a channel initialization time used to initialize channels of memory cells included in the one memory block based on an inhibition count value indicating a number of times that a corresponding operation is inhibited from being performed on the one memory block, and control the peripheral circuit so that the channels are initialized during the channel initialization time before the read operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jong Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 11798642
    Abstract: In an aspect, the memory device includes not limited to a memory array, a leakage current verifying circuit, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform an erase operation for a first column of memory cells connected to a first WL, set a verify condition including a leakage current threshold, perform a leakage current verifying operation for the first column of the memory cells by comparing a leakage current of a cell of the first column of the memory cells to the leakage current threshold, detect a failure of the first column in response to a cell having the leakage current being above the leakage current threshold, and perform a post-program operation to repair the failure of the first column of the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Koying Huang
  • Patent number: 11783893
    Abstract: Programming a multilevel cell (MLC) nonvolatile (NV) media can be performed with internal buffer reuse to reduce the need for external buffering. The internal buffer is on the same die as the NV media to be programmed, along with a volatile memory to store data to program. The internal buffer is to read and program data for the NV media. Programming of the NV media includes staging first partial pages in the buffer for program, reading second partial pages from the NV media to the volatile memory, storing second partial pages in the buffer, and programming the NV media with the first partial pages and the second partial pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Shankar Natarajan, Suresh Nagarajan, Aliasgar S. Madraswala, Yihua Zhang