Patents Examined by Douglas King
  • Patent number: 10061738
    Abstract: An ephemeral system includes an ephemeral communications device and associated ephemeral memory system (onboard or peripheral) for securing user data. Different secure operating modes are provided for customizing user security requirements across end-to-end communications links, including in exchanges of electronic data between smartphone devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: JONKER LLC
    Inventors: John Nicholas Gross, David K.Y. Liu
  • Patent number: 10026492
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the reliability of data stored in memory cells are described. To mitigate the effects of trapped electrons after one or more programming pulses have been applied to memory cells, a delay between the one or more programming pulses and subsequent program verify pulses may be set based on a chip temperature, the number of the one or more programming pulses that were applied to the memory cells, and/or the programming voltage that was applied to the memory cells during the one or more programming pulses. To mitigate the effects of residual electrons after one or more program verify pulses have been applied to memory cells, a delay between the one or more program verify pulses and subsequent programming pulses may be set based on a chip temperature and/or the programming voltage to be applied to the memory cells during the subsequent programming pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Deepanshu Dutta, Arash Hazeghi, Huai-Yuan Tseng, Cynthia Hsu, Navneeth Kankani
  • Patent number: 10014053
    Abstract: Methods for a backup sequence includes reading first data from a first data memory to a page buffer, copying the first data from the page buffer to a backup page comprising three transistor memory cell devices, erasing the first data memory, programming the first data from the page buffer to a second data memory, and erasing the backup page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Sakui, Peter Feeley
  • Patent number: 10008247
    Abstract: A memory device has a burst length “b”, performs “k” core accesses per command, and receives a command, where “b” is an integer of at least 2 and “k” is an integer of at least 2 and at most “b”. The memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of bank groups, a plurality of bank group control units respectively corresponding to the plurality of bank groups, each of the bank group control units configured to generate a multiplexer control signal for selecting part of data read from a corresponding bank group, and a multiplexer configured to sequentially output data read from the plurality of bank groups according to the multiplexer control signal output from the plurality of bank group control units. Data items included in output data of the multiplexer have a same time space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Young Oh, Ho Sung Song
  • Patent number: 10008262
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory includes a cell array including a plurality of resistive memory cells in which a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows are arranged, a read voltage application circuit configured to apply a read voltage to a selected memory cell of the plurality of resistive memory cells, a sensing circuit configured to detect an amount of a current flowing through the selected memory cell and sense data, and an overcurrent prevention circuit configured to reduce voltage levels at both ends of the selected memory cell when an overcurrent flows through the selected memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventor: Seok-Joon Kang
  • Patent number: 9972372
    Abstract: A signal shifting circuit may include a bank selection signal generation unit suitable for generating a bank selection signal synchronized with a first clock in response to a bank address and an internal write signal; and a shifting device suitable for generating a shifted bank selection signal by shifting the bank selection signal by a number of times according to latency information and for advancing a phase of the shifted bank selection signal whenever shifting the bank selection signal once or more so that the shifted bank selection signal is synchronized with a second clock having a phase leading a phase of the first clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun-Sung Lee, Chun-Seok Jeong
  • Patent number: 9972365
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory module includes a volatile memory circuit; an interface to a reference voltage source external to the module providing an external reference voltage to the volatile memory circuit by which the volatile memory circuit and external devices may communicate reliably at high speeds; an internal reference voltage generator; and a control circuit adapted to cause the volatile memory circuit to be decoupled from using the external reference voltage and coupled to using a reference voltage from the internal reference voltage generator upon the non-volatile memory module ceasing to draw power from an external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: AGIGA TECH INC.
    Inventors: Yingnan Liu, Ying Cai
  • Patent number: 9947414
    Abstract: An operating method of a nonvolatile memory device is provided. The nonvolatile memory device includes first and second page buffers, and first and second bit lines connected thereto, respectively. First and second latch nodes of the first page buffer are charged to have a voltage having a first level according to data stored in a first latch of the first page buffer. After the charging of the first latch node is started, a sensing node of the second page buffer is pre-charged. The sensing node is connected to the second bit line. Data stored in the first latch is dumped into a second latch of the first page buffer during the pre-charging of the sensing node of the second page buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-Ho Song, Minsu Kim, Il Han Park, Su Chang Jeon
  • Patent number: 9947418
    Abstract: Methods of operating a memory include generating a programming pulse for a programming operation having a plurality of steps prior to a program voltage level of the programming pulse, and generating a subsequent programming pulse for the programming operation having the plurality of steps prior to a program voltage level of the subsequent programming pulse, wherein a particular step of the plurality of steps of the programming pulse has a different magnitude than a corresponding step of the plurality of steps of the subsequent programming pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Helm, Kalyan C. Kavalipurapu
  • Patent number: 9940988
    Abstract: A method of controlling a wordline by a driver decoder circuit includes generating a first control signal having a first logically high level and a first logically low level, and generating a second control signal having a second logically high level when the first control signal has the first logically high level and a second logically low level when the first control signal has the first logically low level. The first logically high level is different from the second logically high level, and the first logically low level is different from the second logically low level. The method includes coupling the wordline to a first node having a first voltage value in response to the first control signal having the first logically low level and decoupling the wordline from a second node having a second voltage value in response to the second control signal having the second logically low level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Adrian Earle, Atul Katoch
  • Patent number: 9934875
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include nonvolatile memory suitable for outputting stored data during the boot-up operation, one or more registers suitable for receiving the data output by the nonvolatile memory and storing the received data when the boot-up operation is performed, and one or more internal circuits suitable for operating using the data stored in the one or more registers. In no-update mode, although the boot-up operation is performed, a data update from the nonvolatile memory to the registers may not be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Ja-Beom Koo, Jeong-Tae Hwang
  • Patent number: 9922718
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a memory and a controller. The memory may be configured to process a plurality of read/program operations. The memory may comprise a plurality of memory units. The memory units may each have a size less than a total size of the memory. The memory units may include a plurality of cells. The controller may be configured to issue a plurality of program operations to write to one or more of the cells. The controller may be configured to implement a polling status command after each of the program operations to verify programming of each of the cells. A response to each of the polling status commands may be used to report a number of the cells that failed to be programmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Yu Cai, Yunxiang Wu, Erich F. Haratsch
  • Patent number: 9916875
    Abstract: A memory apparatus includes an array of bit cells arranged in rows and columns, multiple pairs of complementary bit lines, multiple power lines, and multiple voltage control circuits. Each column of the array is selectable by a corresponding pair of complementary bit lines. Each power line is coupled to the bit cells in a corresponding column. The voltage control circuits are coupled to respective columns of the array. Each voltage control circuit is configured to set a voltage level of a respective one of the power lines responsive to logic levels of the pair of complementary bit lines corresponding to the respective column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
  • Patent number: 9887012
    Abstract: A write voltage generation circuit includes: a power supply terminal that receives an external power supply voltage; a boosting circuit that boosts the external power supply voltage to generate a boosted voltage; and a selector that selects either one of the external power supply voltage and the boosted voltage, and outputs the selected voltage as the write voltage. The selector selects the external power supply voltage as the write voltage in a first part of a write period for writing data to a memory cell, and selects the boosted voltage as the write voltage in a latter part of the write period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Akahori, Katsuaki Matsui
  • Patent number: 9875777
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: an enable signal generation portion suitable for generating a data output enable signal activated at a predetermined first moment corresponding to column address strobe (CAS) latency based on a read command, a strobe signal generation portion suitable for generating a data strobe signal which has a preamble section until the data output enable signal is activated from a predetermined second moment ahead of the first moment based on the read command and toggles based on a source clock during an activated section of the data output enable signal, and a data output portion suitable for outputting internal data in synchronization with the data strobe signal during the activated section of the data output enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Dae-Ho Yun, Hee-Jin Byun
  • Patent number: 9875805
    Abstract: A double lockout programming technique is provided having a hidden delay between programming and verification. A temporary lockout stage and a permanent lockout stage are provided for double lockout programming. The temporary lockout stage precedes the permanent lockout stage and is used to initially determine when a memory cell should be locked out a first time for one or more program pulses. When a memory cell initially passes verification for its target state, it is temporarily locked out from programming for one or more program pulses. The memory cell enters a permanent lockout stage where it is verified again for its target state. When the memory cell passes verification a second time, it is permanently locked out for programming during the current program phase. The memory cell may be programmed at one or more reduced program rates in the permanent lockout stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Huai-Yuan Tseng, Deepanshu Dutta
  • Patent number: 9875789
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a three dimension static random access memory (SRAM) structure. The SRAM structure comprises a plurality of memory array layers, layer decoder circuitry on each memory array layer, a word line driver circuit disposed on each memory array layer, and a plurality of complementary bit line pairs extending vertically from a memory cell in a first memory array layer to a memory cell in a second memory array layer. The layer decoder circuitry on each memory array layer is configured to decode a portion of an SRAM address to determine if the SRAM address corresponds to memory cells on its memory array layer. The word line driver circuit disposed on each memory array layer is configured to operate cooperatively with a partial SRAM address decoder to select and drive one of the plurality of word lines disposed on its memory array layer, wherein a selected word line is connected to a predetermined number of memory cells in a specific memory array layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Yuan Chen, Chien-Yu Huang, Hau-Tai Shieh
  • Patent number: 9870813
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a command decoding unit suitable for decoding external command signals to generate an internal command signal; and a pulse control unit suitable for controlling a pulse width of the internal command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Choung-Ki Song
  • Patent number: 9865321
    Abstract: We describe the manufacturing process for and structure of a CPP MTJ MRAM unit cell that utilizes transfer of spin angular momentum as a mechanism for changing the magnetic moment direction of a free layer. The cell is formed of a vertically or horizontally series connected sequence of N sub-cells, each sub-cell being an identical MTJ element. A statistical population of such multiple sub-cell unit cells has a variation of resistance that is less by a factor of N?1/2 than that of a population of single sub-cells. As a result, such unit cells have an improved read margin while not requiring an increase in the critical switching current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yimin Guo
  • Patent number: 9852788
    Abstract: A circuit and method for programming multiple bits of data to flash memory cells in a single program operation cycle. Multiple pages of data to be programmed into one physical page of a flash memory array are stored in page buffers or other storage means on the memory device. The selected wordline connected to the cells to be programmed is driven with predetermined program profiles at different time intervals, where each predetermined program profile is configured for shifting an erase threshold voltage to a specific threshold voltage corresponding to a specific logic state. A multi-page bitline controller biases each bitline to enable or inhibit programming during each of the time intervals, in response to the combination of specific logic states of the bits belonging to each page of data that are associated with that respective bitline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
    Inventor: Jin-Ki Kim