Patents Examined by Alfredo Bermudez Lozada
  • Patent number: 11270998
    Abstract: Described herein are apparatuses, methods, and systems associated with a memory circuit in a three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC). A control circuit of the memory circuit may include logic transistors in a logic layer of the 3D IC. The control circuit may further include one or more interconnects (e.g., local or global interconnects) and/or other devices in one or more front-side metal layers of the 3D IC. The memory circuit may further include a memory array in back-side metal layers of the 3D IC. The memory array may be formed in the back-side metal layers that are closest to the logic layer. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Yih Wang
  • Patent number: 11264097
    Abstract: A voltage generation circuit includes a driver configured to generate an internal voltage by driving an external voltage depending on a driving signal; an amplifier configured to generate the driving signal depending on a result of comparing a reference voltage and a feedback voltage; and a switch configured to delay a decrease of the internal voltage by precharging a node of the amplifier with a predetermined voltage depending on a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Chan Hui Jeong
  • Patent number: 11264112
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to a memory system including a controller and an array of memory cells are provided. 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: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aswin Thiruvengadam, Daniel L. Lowrance, Peter Feeley
  • Patent number: 11244721
    Abstract: A memory device includes a bay comprises a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, and a memory cell connected to a first word line of the plurality of word lines and a first bit line of the plurality of bit lines, a row decoder configured to bias at least one word line of the word lines adjacent to the first word line and float remaining non-adjacent word lines of the plurality of word lines not adjacent to the first word line, in an access operation associated with the memory cell, and a column decoder configured to bias at least one bit line of the bit lines adjacent to the first bit line and float remaining non-adjacent bit lines of the plurality of bit lines not adjacent to the first bit line, in the access operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dojeon Lee, Dueung Kim, Jin-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 11238949
    Abstract: Memory devices including a controller for access of an array of memory cells that is configured to accept a sequence of commands to cause the memory device to read a first set of data from the array of memory cells into a first register, load the first set of data into a first portion of a second register, write a set of test data to a second portion of the second register during a reading of a second set of data from the array of memory cells to the first register, read the set of test data from the second portion of the second register during the reading of the second set of data, and output the set of test data from the memory device during the reading of the second set of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry Grunzke
  • Patent number: 11238927
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell including a switching element and a data storage element having a phase change material, and each memory cell connected to one of a plurality of wordlines and to one of a plurality of bitlines, a decoder circuit configured to determine at least one of the plurality of memory cells as a selected memory cell, and a programming circuit configured to input a program current to the selected memory cell to perform a program operation, to detect a holding voltage of the selected memory cell, and to adjust a magnitude of the program current based on the detected holding voltage. The selected memory cell is turned off when a voltage across the selected memory cell is lower than the holding voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheaouk Lim, Jung Sunwoo, Kwangjin Lee
  • Patent number: 11232833
    Abstract: A circuit includes a dummy wordline, a dummy bitline, and a dummy cell coupled to the dummy bitline. The dummy cell includes an active pulldown nMOSFET and a pass nMOSFET having a gate connected to the dummy wordline, a first source terminal connected to the drain terminal of the active pulldown nMOSFET, and a drain terminal connected to the dummy bitline. The circuit further includes a substrate-connected dummy bitline coupled to the source terminal of each active pulldown nMOSFET and coupled to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Arm Limited
    Inventors: Abhishek B. Akkur, Jitendra Dasani, Shri Sagar Dwivedi, Vivek Nautiyal, Satinderjit Singh, Vasimraja Bhavikatti
  • Patent number: 11227653
    Abstract: A storage array for computational memory cells formed as a memory/processing array provides storage of the data without using the more complicated computational memory cells for storage. The storage array may have multiple columns of the storage cells coupled to a column of the computational memory cells. The storage array may have ECC circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: GSI Technology, inc.
    Inventors: Lee-Lean Shu, Park Soon-Kyu, Paul M. Chiang
  • Patent number: 11222881
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory die containing memory elements, a support die containing peripheral devices and bonded to the memory die, and an electrically conductive path between two of the peripheral devices which extends at least partially through the memory die. The electrically conductive path is electrically isolated from the memory elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Yanli Zhang, Kwang-Ho Kim, Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 11211129
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for nonconsecutive sensing of multilevel memory cells include methods of sensing a unit of information from a multilevel memory cell (MLC) using a sensing signal. The unit of information can correspond to a page of information. The MLC can store a plurality of units of information corresponding to a plurality of pages of information. The sensing signal can change from a first sensing magnitude to a second sensing magnitude and from the second sensing magnitude to a third sensing magnitude. The second sensing magnitude can be nonconsecutive from the first sensing magnitude and/or the third sensing magnitude can be nonconsecutive from the second sensing magnitude with respect to a plurality of sensing magnitudes corresponding to a plurality of charge storage states of the MLC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Xu
  • Patent number: 11211114
    Abstract: A memory system includes dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) components that include interconnected and redundant component data interfaces. The redundant interfaces facilitate memory interconnect topologies that accommodate considerably more DRAM components per memory channel than do traditional memory systems, and thus offer considerably more memory capacity per channel, without concomitant reductions in signaling speeds. Each DRAM component includes multiplexers that allow either of the data interfaces to write data to or read data from a common set of memory banks, and to selectively relay write and read data to and from other components, bypassing the local banks. Delay elements can impose selected read/write delays to align read and write transactions from and to disparate DRAM components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Ely K. Tsern, John E. Linstadt, Thomas J. Giovannini, Scott C. Best, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Patent number: 11205476
    Abstract: A read register is provided that captures and stores the read result on a read bit line connected to a set of computational memory cells. The read register may be implemented in the set of computational memory cell to enable the logical XOR, logical AND, and/or logical OR accumulation of read results in the read register. The set of computational memory cells with the read register provides a mechanism for performing complex logical functions across multiple computational memory cells connected to the same read bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: GSI TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Bob Haig, Eli Ehrman, Chao-Hung Chang, Mu-Hsiang Huang
  • Patent number: 11200954
    Abstract: Adaptive write operations for non-volatile memories select programming parameters according to monitored programming performance of individual memory cells. In one embodiment of the invention, programming voltage for a memory cell increases by an amount that depends on the time required to reach a predetermined voltage and then a jump in the programming voltage is added to the programming voltage required to reach the next predetermined voltage. The adaptive programming method is applied to the gate voltage of memory cells; alternatively, it can be applied to the drain voltage of memory cells along a common word line. A circuit combines the function of a program switch and drain voltage regulator, allowing independent control of drain voltage of selected memory cells for parallel and adaptive programming. Verify and adaptive read operations use variable word line voltages to provide optimal biasing of memory and reference cells during sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sau Ching Wong
  • Patent number: 11194519
    Abstract: A read and write data processing apparatus and method associated with computational memory cells formed as a memory/processing array (having a plurality of bit line sections) provides a mechanism to logically combine the computation results across multiple bit line sections in a section and across multiple sections, and transmit the combined result as an output of the processing array and/or store the combined result into one or more of those multiple bit line sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: GSI TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Bob Haig, Eli Ehrman, Dan Ilan, Patrick Chuang, Chao-Hung Chang, Mu-Hsiang Huang
  • Patent number: 11195576
    Abstract: A sense amplifier enable signal and a tracking signal are generated in response to an indication that a sufficient voltage difference has developed across bit lines of a memory. The sense amplifier enable signal has a pulse width between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The sense amplifier enable signal is propagated along a first U-turn signal line that extends parallel to rows of the memory array and is coupled to sense amplifiers arranged in a row to generate a sense amplifier enable return signal. The tracking signal is propagated along a second U-turn signal line extending parallel to columns of the memory array to generate a tracking return signal. The sense amplifier enable return signal and the tracking return signal are logically combined to generate a reset signal. Timing of the trailing edge of the pulse width is controlled by the reset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Shishir Kumar, Bhupender Singh
  • Patent number: 11189347
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for memory die resource management are described. A resource manager can determine, from a set of global resources for multiple memory dies of a memory sub-system, a set of die-specific resources for a memory die of the multiple memory dies of the memory sub-system. In some case, the set of die-specific resources can be allocated for read commands for the memory die. The resource manager can assign a read command to a die-specific resource of the set of die-specific resources based on the die-specific resource being available and refrain from assigning the read command to the die-specific resource based on the die-specific resource being unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiangang Wu, James P. Crowley, Yun Li
  • Patent number: 11189634
    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: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyunghwa Yun, Chanho Kim, Pansuk Kwak
  • Patent number: 11189352
    Abstract: A processing device determines difference error counts that are indicative of relative widths of valleys. Each of the valleys is located between a respective pair of programming distributions of a memory cell of the memory component. A program targeting operation is performed on the memory cell to calibrate one or more program verify (PV) targets associated with the programming distributions. To perform the program targeting operation, a rule from a set of rules is selected based on the difference error counts. The set of rules corresponds to an adjusting of a PV target of a programming distribution adjacent to an initial programming distribution. One or more program verify (PV) targets associated with the programming distributions are adjusted based on the selected rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Liikanen, Larry J. Koudele, Michael Sheperek
  • Patent number: 11177792
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including a sequential circuit including a first transistor and a capacitor. The first transistor includes a semiconductor layer including indium, zinc, and oxygen to form a channel formation region. A node electrically connected to a source or a drain of the first transistor and a capacitor becomes a floating state when the first transistor turns off, so that a potential of the node can be maintained for a long period. A power-gating control circuit may be provided to control supply of power supply potential to the sequential circuit. The potential of the node still can be maintained while supply of the power supply potential is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Koyama
  • Patent number: 11170863
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-bit-per-cell three-dimensional resistive random-access memory (3D-RRAMMB). It comprises a plurality of RRAM cells stacked above a semiconductor substrate. Each RRAM cell comprises a RRAM layer, which is switched from a high-resistance state to a low-resistance state during programming. By adjusting the programming current, the programmed RRAMs have different resistances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Southern University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Guobiao Zhang, Yida Li, Xiaodong Xiang, Hongyu Yu, Yuejin Guo, Shengming Zhou, Guoxing Zhang, Guangzhao Liu, Mingtao Hu, Wang Zhang, Mei Shen