Patents Examined by Jason Lappas
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Patent number: 11996147Abstract: A memory includes a memory device, a reading device and a feedback device. The memory device stores a plurality of bits. The reading device includes first and second reading circuits coupled to the memory device. The second reading circuit is coupled to the first reading circuit at a first node. The first and second reading circuits cooperates with each other to generate a first voltage signal at the first node based on at least one first bit of the plurality of bits. The feedback device adjusts at least one of the first reading circuit or the second reading circuit based on the first voltage signal. The first and second reading circuits generate a second voltage signal, different from the first voltage signal, corresponding to the bits, after the at least one of the first reading circuit or the second reading circuit is adjusted by the feedback device.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2022Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITYInventors: Meng-Fan Chang, Yen-Cheng Chiu
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Patent number: 11990190Abstract: A memory device includes first and second memory strings, first and second word lines and a controller. The first memory string includes first and second memory cells, a first select transistor, a second select transistor, and a third select transistor between the first and second memory cells. The second memory string includes third and fourth memory cells, a fourth select transistor above the third memory cell, a fifth select transistor below the fourth memory cell, and a sixth select transistor between the third and fourth memory cells. The first word line is electrically connected to gates of the first and third memory cells. The second word line is electrically connected to gates of the second and fourth memory cells. The controller is configured to execute a read operation on one of the memory cells, the read operation including a first phase and a second phase after the first phase.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2023Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: Kioxia CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Maejima
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Patent number: 11980029Abstract: An erasable programmable single-poly non-volatile memory cell and an associated array structure are provided. The memory cell comprises a select transistor and a floating gate transistor. The floating gate of the floating gate transistor and an assist gate region are collaboratively formed as a capacitor. The floating gate of the floating gate transistor and an erase gate region are collaboratively formed as another capacitor. Moreover, the select transistor, the floating gate transistor and the two capacitors are collaboratively formed as a four-terminal memory cell. Consequently, the size of the memory cell is small, and the memory cell is operated more easily.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2022Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: EMEMORY TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventor: Hsueh-Wei Chen
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Patent number: 11978515Abstract: A semiconductor memory device capable of reducing failure caused by a source side effect after a large number of W/E cycles is provided. A reading method of a NAND flash memory includes: dividing multiple word lines connected to each memory cell of a NAND string into a group 1 of word lines WL0 to WLi?1, a group 2 of word lines WLi to WLj, . . . , a group y of word lines WLj+1 to WLk?1, and a group x of word lines WLk to WLn, presetting a relationship that each readout voltage (Vread1, Vread2, . . . , Vready, and Vreadx) corresponding to each group increases toward a bit line side, and applying a readout voltage to a selected word line according to the relationship.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.Inventors: Riichiro Shirota, Masaru Yano
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Patent number: 11972800Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell includes a first select transistor, a first floating gate transistor, a second floating gate transistor and a second select transistor. The first select transistor is connected with a program source line and a program word line. The first floating gate transistor includes a floating gate. The first floating gate transistor is connected with the first select transistor and a program bit line. The second floating gate transistor includes a floating gate. The second floating gate transistor is connected with a read source line. The second select transistor is connected with the second floating gate transistor, the read word line and the read bit line. The floating gate of the second floating gate transistor is connected with the floating gate of the first floating gate transistor.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: EMEMORY TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventors: Chih-Chun Chen, Chun-Hung Lin
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Patent number: 11972805Abstract: In a non-volatile memory, to achieve a shallow and tight erased threshold voltage distribution, a process is performed that includes erasing a group of non-volatile memory cells, identifying a first set of the bit lines that are connected to non-volatile memory cells of the group that are erased past a lower limit for erased non-volatile memory cells and identifying a second set of the bit lines that are connected to non-volatile memory cells of the group that are not erased past the lower limit for erased non-volatile memory cells, and applying programming to non-volatile memory cells connected to the first set of bit lines while inhibiting programming for non-volatile memory cells connected to the second set of bit lines.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLCInventors: Yi Song, Yanjie Wang, Jiahui Yuan
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Patent number: 11967394Abstract: Memory arrays employing flying bit lines to increase effective bit line length for supporting higher performance, increased memory density, and related methods. To increase memory density, the memory array has a first memory sub-bank and one or more second memory sub-banks. The first memory sub-bank includes a first bit line(s) for each of its memory column circuits. To avoid the need to extend the length of the first bit lines to be coupled to the second memory bit cells in the second memory sub-bank, each memory sub-bank has its own dedicated first and second bit lines coupling their respective memory bit cells to access circuitry. The second bit lines effectively “fly” independent of the first bit lines of the first memory sub-bank. The first bit lines of the first memory sub-bank do not have to be extended in length to provide bit lines for the second memory sub-bank.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Pramod Kolar, Robert A. Sweitzer
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Patent number: 11967380Abstract: According to One embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes: a first memory cell array; a second memory cell array arranged above the memory cell array; a third memory cell array arranged adjacent to the first memory cell array; a fourth memory cell array arranged above the third memory cell array and arranged adjacent to the second memory cell array; a first word line coupled to the first memory cell array and the second memory cell array; a second word line coupled to the third memory cell array and the fourth memory cell array; a first bit line coupled to the first memory cell array and the fourth memory cell array; and a second bit line coupled to the second memory cell array and the third memory cell array.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Kioxia CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Maejima
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Patent number: 11967382Abstract: The memory device includes a plurality of dies, and each die includes a plurality of blocks with a plurality of word lines. Some of the word lines are arranged in a plurality of exclusive OR (XOR) sets with each XOR set containing word lines in the same positions across the plurality of dies. The memory device further includes a controller that is configured to program the word lines of the blocks of at least one of the dies in a first programming direction. The controller is further configured to program the word lines of the blocks of at least one other die in a second programming direction that is opposite of the first programming direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: SanDisk Technologies, LLCInventors: Qing Li, Henry Chin, Xiaoyu Yang
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Patent number: 11963343Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of obtaining the threshold voltage of a transistor is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor, a first capacitor, a first output terminal, a first switch, and a second switch. A gate and a source of the first transistor are electrically connected to each other. A first terminal of the first capacitor is electrically connected to the source. A second terminal and the first output terminal of the first capacitor are electrically connected to a back gate of the first transistor. The first switch controls input of a first voltage to the back gate. A second voltage is input to a drain of the first transistor. The second switch controls input of a third voltage to the source.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2022Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hitoshi Kunitake, Ryunosuke Honda, Tomoaki Atsumi
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Patent number: 11955179Abstract: The semiconductor memory device of the embodiment includes: a substrate; a first memory pillar extending in a first direction from the substrate, the first memory pillar including first memory cell transistors, a first selection transistor, a second selection transistor, second memory cell transistors, a third selection transistor, a fourth selection transistor, third memory cell transistors, a fifth selection transistor, a sixth selection transistor, fourth memory cell transistors, a seventh selection transistor, and an eighth selection transistor; a first select gate line; first word lines; a second select gate line; a third select gate line; second word lines; a fourth select gate line; a fifth select gate line; third word lines; a sixth select gate line; a seventh select gate line; fourth word lines; and an eighth select gate line.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Kioxia CorporationInventor: Yuki Inuzuka
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Patent number: 11955158Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for scheduling targeted refreshes in a memory device. Memory cells in a memory device may be volatile and may need to be periodically refreshed as part of an auto-refresh operation. In addition, certain rows may experience faster degradation, and may need to undergo targeted refresh operations, where a specific targeted refresh address is provided and refreshed. The rate at which targeted refresh operations need to occur may be based on the rate at which memory cells are accessed. The memory device may monitor accesses to a bank of the memory, and may use a count of the accesses to determine if an auto-refresh address or a targeted refresh address will be refreshed.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Inventors: Jason M. Brown, Daniel B. Penney
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Patent number: 11948643Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array and a control unit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory regions coupled to a plurality of word lines. The plurality of memory regions include first and second memory regions coupled to upper and lower word lines, respectively. The control logic performs, after receiving first data and second data, a first program operation on the first memory region to store the first data and a second program operation on the second memory region to store the second data.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: SK hynix Inc.Inventors: Seunggu Ji, Yong Il Jung
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Patent number: 11942162Abstract: A method for operating a memory device is provided. The method includes providing a high voltage signal to a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells using a first wiring, providing a logic signal to the memory cell array using a second wiring, and providing a shielding signal to the memory cell array using a third wiring arranged between the first wiring and the second wiring. A highest voltage level of the logic signal is lower than a highest voltage level of the high voltage signal, and the shielding signal includes a negative first voltage level in a first mode and a positive second voltage level in a second mode.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hyung Soo Kim, Dae Han Kim, Jong Min Kim, Myoung Won Yoon
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Patent number: 11942167Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses relating to interlocking transistor active regions are disclosed. An apparatus includes a gate including electrically conductive material and an active material including a doped semiconductor material. A portion of the active material overlapped by the gate has an at least substantially triangular shape. An apparatus includes a plurality of active materials. Each active material includes tapered ends and a plurality of gates. The plurality of active materials is arranged in an interlocking pattern with at least some tapered ends of the active materials interlocking with at least some others of the tapered ends. The plurality of gates overlaps the interlocked tapered ends of the plurality of active materials.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2020Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Wei Lu Chu, Jing Wang, Zhiwei Liang, Raghu Sreeramaneni
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Patent number: 11929131Abstract: A memory circuit which includes: A synchronous memory cell array, configured to receive a clock signal and having address lines and bit lines. A margin agent, determining a status of the synchronous memory cell array based on a time duration between a transition of the clock signal and a change on a signal derived from a bit line due to a signaling on at least one of the address lines. In another aspect, a memory cell, having a bit line configured to provide data input/output to the memory cell may be provided with a comparator, comparing a voltage on the bit line with a reference voltage and indicating of a status of the memory cell thereby. Firmware may receive the indication of the status of a memory cell array, and transmit the indication, issue an alert, and/or reconfigure the memory circuit responsive to the status.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2020Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: PROTEANTECS LTD.Inventors: Eyal Fayneh, Guy Redler, Evelyn Landman
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Patent number: 11929126Abstract: A memory device, and a method of operating the memory device, includes a memory block in which a plurality of cell pages are coupled to each of word lines. The memory device also includes a peripheral circuit configured to adjust a time point at which a verify voltage is applied to a selected word line among the word lines according to an order of performing a program operation during a verify operation of a selected cell page. The memory device further includes a control logic circuit configured to transmit, to the peripheral circuit, an operation code for adjusting a time point at which the verify voltage is output.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: SK hynix Inc.Inventors: Sung Hyun Hwang, Jae Yeop Jung, Se Chun Park
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Patent number: 11922992Abstract: A memory device includes a memory cell array, a row address decoder configured to generate a plurality of main word line driving signals and a plurality of sub word line driving signals, based on an odd signal representing that a main word line driving signal driving an odd word line is activated, generate a plurality of encoded sub word line driving signals used for driving a target word line by outputting the plurality of sub word line driving signals in a first order, and, based on an even signal representing that a main word line driving signal driving an even word line is activated, generate the plurality of encoded sub word line driving signals by outputting the plurality of sub word line driving signals in a second order, and a word line driving circuit configured to drive the target word line at a first voltage level or a second voltage level.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Inseok Baek, Bokyeon Won, Kyoungmin Kim, Donggeon Kim, Myeongsik Ryu, Sangwook Park, Seokjae Lee
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Patent number: 11923005Abstract: Stochastic or near-stochastic physical characteristics of resistive switching devices are utilized for generating data distinct to those resistive switching devices. The distinct data can be utilized for applications related to electronic identification or random number generation. As one example, data generated from physical characteristics of resistive switching devices on a semiconductor chip can be utilized to form a distinct identifier sequence for that semiconductor chip, utilized for verification applications for communications with the semiconductor chip or utilized for generating cryptographic keys or the like for cryptographic applications.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Crossbar, Inc.Inventors: Mehdi Asnaashari, Sung Hyun Jo
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Patent number: 11915764Abstract: Memories might include an array of memory cells and a controller for access of the array of memory cells. The controller might be configured to cause the memory to initiate an array operation on the array of memory cells, indicate an unavailability to initiate a next array operation, append a delay interval to an array access time of the array operation, and indicate an availability to initiate a next array operation in response to a completion of the delay interval. The delay interval might have a duration determined in response to an indication of temperature.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jeremy Binfet, Kishore Kumar Muchherla