Patents Examined by Michael T. Tran
  • Patent number: 11735248
    Abstract: A sub-word-line driver and semiconductor memory devices including the same are provided. The sub-word-line driver may include a word line pull-up transistor, a word line pull-down transistor, and a keeping transistor configured to maintain a word line at a specified voltage level. The sub-word-line driver may include a peripheral active region on a substrate, a first peripheral gate electrode that corresponds to a gate node of the word line pull-down transistor on the peripheral active region, a second peripheral gate electrode that corresponds to a gate node of the keeping transistor on the peripheral active region, and a first lower contact coupled to a first region of the peripheral active region. A first (VBB) voltage from the first region may be supplied to a source node of the keeping transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Seokjae Lee, Bok-Yeon Won, Kyoungmin Kim, Donggeon Kim, Myeongsik Ryu, Sangwook Park, Inseok Baek
  • Patent number: 11727986
    Abstract: 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. 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: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: CROSSBAR, INC.
    Inventors: Mehdi Asnaashari, Sung Hyun Jo
  • Patent number: 11727990
    Abstract: An operation method for a 3D NAND flash including a plurality of wordline (WL) layers. The operation method includes: writing data into a WLn layer of the plurality of WL layers according to a writing sequence from a first end of the plurality of WL layers to a second end of the plurality of WL layers in a write operation, wherein the WLn layer is a selected WL layer; and applying a first pass voltage on a first WL layer of the plurality of WL layers and applying a second pass voltage on a second WL layer of the plurality of WL layers during a verify phase; wherein the operation method is operated without a pre-pulse phase during or before the verify phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: YANGTZE MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hongtao Liu, Song Min Jiang, Dejia Huang, Ying Huang, Wenzhe Wei
  • Patent number: 11729999
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a capacitive pillar architecture for a memory array are described. An access line within a memory array may be, include, or be coupled with a pillar. The pillar may include an exterior electrode, such as a hollow exterior electrode, surrounding an inner dielectric material that may further surround an interior, core electrode. The interior electrode may be maintained at a voltage level during at least a portion of an access operation for a memory cell coupled with the pillar. Such a pillar structure may increase a capacitance of the pillar, for example, based on a capacitive coupling between the interior and exterior electrodes. The increased capacitance may provide benefits associated with operating the memory array, such as increased memory cell programming speed, programming reliability, and read disturb immunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Innocenzo Tortorelli, Fabio Pellizzer
  • Patent number: 11721376
    Abstract: A memory device and a memory circuit is provided. The memory device includes a spin-orbit torque (SOT) layer, a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), a read word line, a selector and a write word line. The MTJ stands on the SOT layer. The read word line is electrically connected to the MTJ. The write word line is connected to the SOT layer through the selector. The write word line is electrically connected to the SOT layer when the selector is turned on, and the write word line is electrically isolated from the SOT layer when the selector is in an off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Li Chiang, Chung-Te Lin, Shy-Jay Lin, Tzu-Chiang Chen, Ming-Yuan Song, Hon-Sum Philip Wong
  • Patent number: 11715508
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a source follower-based sensing architecture and sensing scheme are described. In one example, a memory device may include a sense circuit that includes two source followers that are coupled to each other and to a sense amplifier. A method of operating the memory device may include transferring a digit line voltage to one of the source followers and transferring a reference voltage to the other source follower. After transferring the digit line voltage and the reference voltage, the source followers may be enabled so that signals representative of the digit line voltage and the reference voltage are transferred from the outputs of the source followers to the sense amplifier for sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, Huy T. Vo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Patent number: 11715498
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a memory component for a System-on-Chip (SoC) structure including at least a memory array and at least a logic portion for interacting with the memory array and with the SoC structure wherein the memory component is a structurally independent semiconductor device coupled to and partially overlapping the SoC structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Troia, Antonino Mondello
  • Patent number: 11710520
    Abstract: A memory module with multiple memory devices includes a buffer system that manages communication between a memory controller and the memory devices. Each memory device supports an access mode and a low-power mode, the latter used to save power for devices that are not immediately needed. The module provides granular power management using a chip-select decoder that decodes chip-select signals from the memory controller into power-state signals that determine which of the memory devices are in which of the modes. Devices can thus be brought out of the low-power mode in relatively small numbers, as needed, to limit power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, James E. Harris
  • Patent number: 11705175
    Abstract: A circuit includes a plurality of registers, each register including SRAM cells, a read port configured to receive a read address, a write port configured to receive a write address, a selection circuit, a latch circuit, and a decoder coupled in series between the read and write ports and the plurality of registers, and a control circuit. Responsive to a clock signal and read and write enable signals, the control circuit causes the selection circuit, the latch circuit, and the decoder to select a first register of the plurality of registers in a read operation based on the read address, and select a second register of the plurality of registers in a write operation based on the write address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TSMC NANJING COMPANY, LIMITED, TSMC CHINA COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: XiuLi Yang, Ching-Wei Wu, He-Zhou Wan, Kuan Cheng, Luping Kong
  • Patent number: 11706997
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a semiconductor memory, and the semiconductor memory may include a substrate; a variable resistance element formed over the substrate and exhibiting different resistance values representing different digital information, the variable resistance element including a free layer having a variable magnetization direction, a pinned layer having a fixed magnetization direction and a tunnel barrier layer interposed between the free layer and the pinned layer; and a blocking layer disposed on at least sidewalls of the variable resistance element, wherein the blocking layer may include a layer that is substantially free of nitrogen, oxygen or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Gayoung Ha
  • Patent number: 11705177
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a first conductive structure extending along a vertical direction and a second conductive structure extending along the vertical direction. The second conductive structure is spaced apart from the first conductive structure along a lateral direction. The semiconductor device further comprises a plurality of third conductive structures each extending along the lateral direction. The plurality of third conductive structures are disposed across the first and second conductive structures. The first and second conductive structures each have a varying width along the lateral direction. The plurality of third conductive structures are configured to be applied with respective different voltages in accordance with the varying width of the first and second conductive structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Peng-Chun Liou, Zhiqiang Wu, Chung-Wei Wu, Yi-Ching Liu, Yih Wang
  • Patent number: 11705180
    Abstract: A memory refresh method is applied to a computer system including a processor, a memory controller, and a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The memory controller receives a first plurality of access requests from the processor. The memory controller refreshes a first rank in a plurality of ranks at shortened interval set to T/N when a quantity of target ranks to be accessed by the first plurality of access requests is less than a first threshold and a proportion of read requests in the first plurality of access requests or a proportion of write requests in the first plurality of access requests is greater than a second threshold. T is a standard average refresh interval, and N is greater than 1. The memory refresh technology provided in this application can improve performance of the computer system in a memory refresh process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xing Hu, Chuanzeng Liang, Shihai Xiao, Kanwen Wang
  • Patent number: 11704064
    Abstract: A memory controller configured to control a non-volatile memory device includes: a signal generator configured to generate a plurality of control signals comprising a first signal and a second control signal; a core configured to provide a command for an operation of the non-volatile device; and a controller interface circuit configured to interface with the non-volatile memory device, wherein the controller interface circuit comprises a first transmitter connected to a first signal line and a second signal line; and a first receiver connected to the first signal line, and the first control signal and the second control signal are respectively transmitted to the non-volatile memory device through the first signal line and the second signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Choongeui Lee, Chulseung Lee
  • Patent number: 11698730
    Abstract: A data storage method, apparatus, and device, and a readable storage medium. The method includes: after a random access memory is powered on, obtaining target data to be stored in a fixed storage address of the random access memory; determining a target transmission mode from a bit value change transmission mode and a bit value fixed transmission mode, wherein the target transmission mode is different from a historical transmission mode determined after the random access memory is powered on last time; and transmitting the target data from and to the random access memory according to the target transmission mode. The method can prevent data from being stolen after power-down of the target data, and guarantees the data security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: INSPUR ELECTRONIC INFORMATION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dongdong Jiang, Yaqian Zhao, Gang Dong, Rengang Li, Haiwei Liu, Hongbin Yang, Chen Li
  • Patent number: 11694763
    Abstract: A system includes a memory device having a plurality of groups of memory cells and a processing device communicatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device is be configured to read a first group of memory cells of the plurality to determine a calibrated read voltage associated with the group of memory cells. The processing device is further configured to determine, using the calibrated read voltage associated with the first group of memory cells, a bit error rate (BER) of a second group of memory cells of the plurality. Prior to causing the memory device to perform a copyback operation on the plurality of groups of memory cells, the processing device is further configured to determine whether to perform a subsequent read voltage calibration on at least the second group of the plurality based, at least partially, on a comparison between the determined BER and a threshold BER.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kishore K. Muchherla, Niccolo' Righetti, Jeffrey S. McNeil, Jr., Akira Goda, Todd A. Marquart, Mark A. Helm, Gil Golov, Jeremy Binfet, Carmine Miccoli, Giuseppina Puzzilli
  • Patent number: 11688466
    Abstract: A page buffer circuit in a memory device includes a logic element configured to perform a series of calculations pertaining to one or more memory access operations and generate a plurality of calculation results associated with the series of calculations and a dynamic memory element coupled with the logic element and configured to store the plurality of calculation results. The page buffer circuit further includes an isolation element coupled between the logic element and the dynamic memory element, the isolation element to permit a calculation result from the logic element to pass to the dynamic memory element when activated and a circuit coupled to the dynamic memory element and configured to perform pre-charging operations associated with the one or more memory access operations and based at least in part on the plurality of calculation results stored in the dynamic memory element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Violante Moschiano, Dheeraj Srinivasan, Andrea D'Alessandro
  • Patent number: 11688480
    Abstract: A layout structure of a small-area one time programmable (OTP) memory using a complementary FET (CFET) is provided. The OTP memory has transistors TP as a program element and transistors TS as a switch element. The transistors TP are three-dimensional transistors of which channel portions overlap each other as viewed in plan. The transistors TS are three-dimensional transistors of which channel portions overlap each other as viewed in plan. The OTP memory of two bits is implemented in a small area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 11682466
    Abstract: A read-write circuit of a one-time programmable memory, including: an antifuse array including: n*n antifuse units, between a first node and a second node, the control terminals of switching elements in the antifuse units coupled to AND signals of different word line signals and bit line signals; the first switching device and the first capacitor connected in parallel between the second node and the second voltage source; the reference array including reference resistance and reference switching elements connected in series between the first and third nodes, the reference switching element's control end coupled to OR signals of the n*n AND signals; the second switching device and the second capacitor connected in parallel between the third node and second voltage source; a comparison circuit's first input terminal coupled to the second node and second input terminal coupled to the third node. The circuit has simpler connections, smaller area, and higher reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Xin Li, Zhan Ying
  • Patent number: 11682451
    Abstract: The current disclosure is directed to a SRAM bit cell having a reduced coupling capacitance. In a vertical direction, a wordline “WL” and a bitline “BL” of the SRAM cell are stacked further away from one another to reduce the coupling capacitance between the WL and the BL. In an embodiment, the WL is vertically spaced apart from the BL with one or more metallization level that none of the WL or the BL is formed from. Connection island structures or jumper structures are provided to connect the upper one of the WL or the BL to the transistors of the SRAM cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Yuan Chang, Kian-Long Lim, Jui-Lin Chen, Feng-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 11682465
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a TSV extending from a first surface of a semiconductor substrate to a second surface of the semiconductor substrate and having a first end and a second end, and a non-volatile repair circuit. The non-volatile repair circuit includes a one-time programmable (OTP) element having a programming terminal, wherein in response to an application of a fuse voltage to the programming terminal, the OTP element electrically couples the first end of the TSV to the second end of the TSV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Zheng Gong, Jiao Wang, Zhenhua Yang