Patents Examined by Mohammed A Bashar
  • Patent number: 12784810
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a bit-line sense amplifier that includes an amplifying circuit connected to a bit-line, a complementary bit-line, a sensing bit-line, a complementary sensing bit-line, an offset cancellation circuit, an equalizer and an isolation circuit. The offset cancellation circuit connects the bit-line and the complementary bit-line to the complementary sensing bit-line and the sensing bit-line, respectively, based on an offset cancellation signal. The equalizer provides a precharge voltage to the sensing bit-line and the complementary sensing bit-line based on an equalizing signal. The isolation circuit is connected between the bit-line and the sensing bit-line and between the complementary bit-line and the complementary sensing bit-line, and connects the sensing bit-line and the complementary sensing bit-line equalized with the precharge voltage to the bit-line and the complementary bit-line, respectively, based on an isolation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2026
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyuseok Lee, Hyunju Sung
  • Patent number: 12784824
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for self-selecting memory with horizontal access lines are described. A memory array may include first and second access lines extending in different directions. For example, a first access line may extend in a first direction, and a second access line may extend in a second direction. At each intersection, a plurality of memory cells may exist, and each plurality of memory cells may be in contact with a self-selecting material. Further, a dielectric material may be positioned between a first plurality of memory cells and a second plurality of memory cells in at least one direction. each cell group (e.g., a first and second plurality of memory cells) may be in contact with one of the first access lines and second access lines, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Fratin, Fabio Pellizzer, Agostino Pirovano, Russell L. Meyer
  • Patent number: 12784858
    Abstract: A memory device is provided, comprising an encoder circuit, a memory array and an accumulator circuit. The encoder circuit converts a first bit of each of weights into a sign bit to generate encoded weights according to flag data. The memory array comprises memory cells. The memory cells arranged in a same column store bits, of the encoded weights and the flag data, having the same index number. The memory array performs a compute-in-memory (CIM) operation to the encoded weights and inputs to generate a plurality of CIM results. Each of the plurality of CIM results corresponds to a column of the memory array. The accumulator circuit decodes the CIM results according to the flag data to generate decoded CIM results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2026
    Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Win-San Khwa, Hung-Hsi Hsu, Jui-Jen Wu, Meng-Fan Chang
  • Patent number: 12776373
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for managing memory devices are provided. In one aspect, a method includes, during a first loop of a program operation, applying a first program voltage to a first word line, applying, to a second word line, a first pass voltage during a first stage and a second pass voltage during a second stage; during a second loop, applying a second program voltage to the first word line, applying, to the second word line, a third pass voltage during a first stage and a fourth pass voltage during a second stage; and during a third loop, applying a third program voltage to the first word line, applying, to the second word line, a fifth pass voltage during a first stage and a sixth pass voltage during a second stage. The third pass voltage is lower than the first pass voltage and the fifth pass voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2026
    Assignee: Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Qi, Guoqi Ji, Yong Nie, Da Li
  • Patent number: 12770670
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a method of operating a set of ferroelectric memory cells is provided. The method may include writing a first data bit having a first value to a first ferroelectric memory cell. The method may include writing a sign bit having the first value to second ferroelectric memory cell. The method may include receiving a read or a write-operation request. The method may include reading the sign bit from the second ferroelectric memory cell. The method may include, in response to the sign bit having a second value, inverting the first data bit from the second value to the first value. The method may include, in response to the sign bit having a second value, reading the first data bit with the first value from the first ferroelectric memory cell after the inverting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2026
    Assignee: WUXI SMART MEMORIES TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng Pan, Ke Ma, Tong Feng
  • Patent number: 12763145
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory system programs memory cells from an erased threshold voltage distribution to programmed threshold voltage distributions by performing hole pre-charging of channels of unselected NAND strings in a selected block of a selected plane including applying a source voltage to a selected signal line of a plurality of signal lines that are isolated from each other. The selected signal line is positioned between the selected block and an unselected block and is connected to a selected source line of a plurality of source lines that are isolated from each other. The selected source line is connected to the selected block. The source voltage is greater in magnitude than any predetermined threshold voltage of the erased threshold voltage distribution. After the pre-charging, the system boosts channels of unselected NAND strings in the selected block and applies a program voltage to selected NAND strings in the selected block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2026
    Assignee: Sandisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiacen Guo, Xiang Yang, Jiahui Yuan
  • Patent number: 12755809
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, a test data input terminal that receive test data, a test group identification terminal that receive a test group identification signal, a test data input control unit that receives the test group identification signal through the test group identification terminal and generates a memory write enable signal for allowing the test data to be written into the memory based on the test group identification signal, and a memory write control circuit that generates test data write address and selects the test data received through the test data input terminal based on the memory write enable signal to transfer the test data selected and the test data write address to the memory, whereby a test with the test data in the memory is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2026
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Kuninobu Fujii
  • Patent number: 12755810
    Abstract: A motherboard assembly for testing memory components is described. The motherboard assembly has at least one CPU communicatively coupled with at least one memory channel, and a memory controller or BIOS programmed to continue booting in the presence of memory component failures. The memory controller or BIOS skips read/write training procedures when a failure is detected, and uses preset values for PHY registers from a previous successful booting procedure to continue the current booting without powering off. The memory controller or BIOS is also programmed to provide adjustable retention settings and adjustable speed settings without rebooting or powering off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2026
    Assignee: Intelligent Memory Limited
    Inventor: Peter Poechmueller
  • Patent number: 12749551
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a memory circuit including a plurality of mats and configured to output first read data having a data sequence identical to a data sequence of pattern data after the start of a read operation during a test operation mode operation and configured to output a fail address including error information of the first read data, and a data processing circuit configured to output the first read data as data and configured to generate fail location information by encoding the fail address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2026
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Dong Yoon Ka
  • Patent number: 12744104
    Abstract: A bank of a memory device may be divided into column planes. Each column plane may be associated with column selects. In some examples, a portion of a column plane associated with one column select may be used to store metadata associated with data of the remaining column selects. In some examples, the metadata may be mapped to the data based on a portion of a column address. In some examples, whether the memory device provides metadata responsive to a column address may be based on a value stored in a mode register. In some examples, the portion of the column plane associated with the one column select associated with metadata may also store error correction code data associated with the data of the remaining column selects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Sujeet Ayyapureddi
  • Patent number: 12744064
    Abstract: A memory device includes a base die configured to transmit transmission data that are driven to a first voltage range through a transmission line based on base data, and a core die configured to generate core data by shifting a voltage level of the transmission data received through the transmission line to a second voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2026
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Jun Cho, Jin Hyung Lee, Yeon Ho Lee, Hyun Bae Lee, Tae Sik Yun, Chun Seok Jeong
  • Patent number: 12731629
    Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques for efficient handling of data errors and usage-based disturbances are described. To enable efficient utilization of time-limited resources, a memory device includes control circuitry that performs multiple different types of operations responsive to “confiscating” a refresh-pump time interval. The memory device is responsible for performing various functionalities internally while reducing the impact such functionalities may have on servicing memory requests from an external entity. Accordingly, a memory device may confiscate refresh-pump opportunities and instead perform other operations. To efficiently utilize a refresh-pump opportunity, the control circuitry can perform an error-handling operation on a codeword stored in a first bank and perform a usage-based disturbance mitigation operation on a row in a second bank during the confiscated time interval. Further, the usage-based disturbance mitigation operation can be performed across multiple banks except for the first bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Lu, Donald Morgan, Mark Kalei Hadrick, Victor Wong, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 12731653
    Abstract: A data recover read (DRR) operation method of a nonvolatile memory system includes: performing a first read operation on adjacent memory cells, which are connected to an adjacent wordline adjacent to a target wordline, based on a first specific read level; obtaining a cell count value for the adjacent wordline; determining offset values for a normal read level of target memory cells, which are connected to the target wordline, based on the cell count value for the adjacent wordline; and performing a second read operation on the target memory cells, based on the determined offset values and a result of the first read operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2026
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: JunHo Kim, Sangjin Yoo, Kwangwoo Lee, Jeongwoo Lee, Heewon Lee
  • Patent number: 12731644
    Abstract: Example memory devices, systems, and methods for reducing program disturbance in memory devices are disclosed. One example method includes during an n-th loop of a program operation performed on a first memory cell in a memory cell array, applying a first voltage to a first bit line coupled to a second memory cell in the memory cell array, where the first memory cell and the second memory cell are coupled to a first word line. The first bit line is discharged to decrease a voltage of the first bit line from the first voltage to a second voltage, where the second voltage is lower than the first voltage. After the first voltage is applied to the first bit line, a second bit line is set to floating, where the second bit line is coupled to the first memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2026
    Assignee: Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongtao Liu, Pengyu Xu, Ying Huang, Lei Guan
  • Patent number: 12731643
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) memory device includes a memory string, a coarse top select gate (TSG) line configured to couple a coarse threshold voltage (Vth_coarse) for programming the memory string, a word line configured to program the memory string, a buffer TSG line configured to couple a buffer threshold voltage (Vth_buffer) for programming the memory string, a fine TSG line configured to couple a fine threshold voltage (Vth_fine) for programming the memory string, and a coarse TSG cut disposed between the memory string and a second memory string adjacent the memory string. The 3D memory device can intrinsically increase the coarse threshold voltage (Vth_coarse), decrease leakage current, dynamically adjust and fine tune a threshold voltage (Vth) of the memory string, and increase TSG reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2026
    Assignee: Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianquan Jia, Lei Liu, Lei Jin, Zhiliang Xia, Zongliang Huo
  • Patent number: 12718856
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a memory cell that is connected between a bit line and a word line, and a cell threshold voltage sensing circuit configured to provide a first voltage to the memory cell whenever a pulse is activated. The cell threshold voltage sensing circuit may generate a voltage corresponding to a current that flows through the memory cell whenever the pulse is activated, and may generate a threshold voltage sensing result signal by comparing the generated voltage with a reference voltage. The threshold voltage sensing result signal may be used to adjust the first voltage to a level corresponding to a threshold voltage of the memory cell, and the memory cell may be read using the adjusted first voltage to generate random data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2026
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Gap Sok Do
  • Patent number: 12712009
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a dividing circuit configured to divide an original data strobe signal supplied synchronously with a set of write data to generate first to fourth data strobe signals having mutually different phase from one another, a first data latch circuit configured to latch one of the set of write data synchronously with the first data strobe signal, the first data latch circuit being configured to be reset responsive to a first reset signal; a second data latch circuit configured to latch another of the set of write data synchronously with the second data strobe signal, the second data latch circuit being configured to be reset responsive to a second reset signal; and a burst counter circuit configured to activate the first and second reset signals responsive to the third and fourth data strobe signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shingo Mitsubori, Yutaka Uemura
  • Patent number: 12712045
    Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more control circuit configured to connect to a nonvolatile memory cell structure that includes nonvolatile memory cells each having a programmable resistive element. The one or more control circuit is configured to receive an address that corresponds to a location in the nonvolatile memory cell structure and set a variable resistor according to the location. The variable resistor is connected in series with a selected nonvolatile memory cell that is located at the location. The one or more control circuit is further configured to drive a memory access current through the selected nonvolatile memory cell and the variable resistor in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2026
    Assignee: Sandisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashraf B. Islam, Jaydip Patel, Nicolas Irizarry, William Sheung
  • Patent number: 12706161
    Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, and storage media for managing refreshment of memory cells in memory systems are provided. In one aspect, a memory system includes: a non-volatile memory device including a plurality of memory cells and a memory controller coupled to the non-volatile memory device. The memory controller is configured to: refresh adjacent memory cells of a target memory cell of the plurality of memory cells, when a count of write operations performed on the target memory cell within a preset time duration is greater than a preset threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2026
    Assignee: Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fanya Bi, Xing Wang, Hua Tan, Zhe Sun, Bo Yu, Guangyao Han
  • Patent number: 12700445
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a row hammer management circuit and a refresh control circuit. The row hammer management circuit counts the number of times of access on each memory cell row to store the counted values in count cells of each memory cell row as count data. A hammer address queue in the row hammer management circuit stores candidate hammer addresses, which are intensively accessed, in response to a number of the candidate hammer addresses reaching a second number, transitions a logic level of an error signal provided to the memory controller, and, in response to the number of the candidate hammer addresses reaching the first number, outputs one of the candidate hammer addresses as a hammer address. The refresh control circuit performs a hammer refresh operation on victim memory cell rows which are physically adjacent to a memory cell row corresponding to the hammer address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2026
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Taeyoung Oh