Patents Examined by Muna A Techane
  • Patent number: 11056196
    Abstract: A memory device includes N rows of memory cells and N word lines coupled thereto, respectively. A method of reading data from the memory device includes: applying a first pre-pulse voltage to an nth word line while applying a second pre-pulse voltage to an adjacent word line adjacent to the nth word line, the second pre-pulse voltage exceeding the first pre-pulse voltage, and n being an integer ranging from 1 to N; grounding the nth word line while maintaining the second pre-pulse voltage on the adjacent word line; pulling a voltage on the nth word line towards a start read level; and prior to the voltage on the nth word line reaching the start read level, driving a voltage on the adjacent word line to the first pre-pulse voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ke Liang, Li Xiang
  • Patent number: 11049565
    Abstract: Memory devices, systems including memory devices, and methods of operating memory devices and systems are provided, in which at least a subset of a non-volatile memory array is configured to behave as a volatile memory by erasing or degrading data in the event of a changed power condition such as a power-loss event, a power-off event, or a power-on event. In one embodiment of the present technology, a memory device is provided, comprising a non-volatile memory array, and circuitry configured to store one or more addresses of the non-volatile memory array, to detect a changed power condition of the memory device, and to erase or degrade data at the one or more addresses in response to detecting the changed power condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Cowles, George B. Raad, James S. Rehmeyer, Jonathan S. Parry
  • Patent number: 11037609
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a column operation control circuit and a bank column address generation circuit. The column operation control circuit generates first and second bank address control signals as well as first and second bank control pulses from first and second bank selection signals in response to a synthesis control pulse such that data in a first bank and data in a second bank are simultaneously outputted in a first mode. The bank column address generation circuit generates first and second bank column addresses for selecting the first and second banks from a column address in response to the first and second bank address control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Woongrae Kim, Tae Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 11031415
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, in a semiconductor storage device, a peripheral circuit supplies a first voltage to a second region when supplying a select potential to a region corresponding to the second region, in a second conductive layer. The peripheral circuit supplies a second voltage higher than the first voltage to a first region when supplying a select potential to a region corresponding to the first region, in the second conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi Minemura, Michiaki Matsuo, Reiko Shamoto
  • Patent number: 11024398
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first word line configured to perform a writing operation or a programing operation, a second word line configured to perform a read operation, a first switching device including a first gate electrode and a first node, a second switching device comprising a second gate electrode and a second node, an electrical fuse (e-fuse) disposed between the first node and the second node, and a diode coupled to the first node and the first word line, wherein the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode are coupled to the second word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: KEY FOUNDRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Min Cho, Sung Bum Park, Kee Sik Ahn, Seong Jun Park
  • Patent number: 11024374
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device of an embodiment includes: a first wiring disposed at a first level and extending in a first direction; a second and third wirings disposed at a second level and extending in the first direction; a plurality of fourth wirings disposed at a third level and extending in a third direction; a plurality of first resistive change elements disposed in intersection regions of the first and fourth wirings; a plurality of second resistive change elements disposed in intersection regions between the second wiring and the third wiring and the fourth wirings; a first driving circuit electrically connected to the first wiring, a second driving circuit electrically connected to the second wiring, and a third driving circuit electrically connected to the third wiring; and a control circuit that controls the first driving circuit, the second driving circuit, and the third driving circuit, and also the fourth wirings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 11017839
    Abstract: A training method for a memory system is provided. The memory system includes a memory controller and a memory. The memory controller is connected with the memory. The training method includes the following steps. Firstly, the memory samples n command/address signals according to a first signal edge and a second signal edge of a clock signal to acquire a first sampled content and a second sampled content. The memory selectively outputting one of the first sampled content and the second sampled content through m data signals to the memory controller in response to a control signal. Moreover, m is larger than n and smaller than 2n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: MediaTek Inc.
    Inventors: Bo-Wei Hsieh, Ching-Yeh Hsuan, Shang-Pin Chen
  • Patent number: 11016811
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods to determine timing of operations. An example method includes performing a first operation type that uses a shared resource in a memory device. The method includes applying a scheduling policy for timing of continued performance of the first operation type based upon receipt of a request to the memory device for performance of a second operation type that uses the shared resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremiah J. Willcock
  • Patent number: 11011225
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a first wiring, a first resistance change element which is connected to the first wiring, a first nonlinear element which is connected to the first resistance change element, and a second wiring which is connected to the first nonlinear element. In a read operation for the first resistance change element, a voltage between the first wiring and the second wiring increases to a first voltage, and after the voltage between the first wiring and the second wiring increases to the first voltage, the voltage between the first wiring and the second wiring increases to a second voltage which is larger than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junya Matsunami
  • Patent number: 11004487
    Abstract: A semiconductor system including a semiconductor device configured to operate in various modes to generate output data having different patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Sun Myung Choi
  • Patent number: 11004508
    Abstract: A memory system is provided that includes a first memory array including a first memory cell, a second memory array including a second memory cell, and a memory controller configured to determine a threshold voltage of the second memory cell to compensate a drift of a threshold voltage of the first memory cell and/or determine an offset voltage of the second memory cell to compensate an offset voltage of the first memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael K. Grobis, Daniel Bedau
  • Patent number: 10998030
    Abstract: An integrated circuit memory contains a memory cell connected to a bit line that does not float during a portion or all of the read sensing part of the read cycle. The memory cell includes a data storage device. The data storage device may be a ferroelectric capacitor, a linear capacitor, a floating gate transistor, a magnetic device, a resistive device or other type of data storage device capable of placing a charge on the bit line corresponding to a specific data state of the memory cell. The bit line and a reference bit line are connected to a differential amplifier and precharged to specified voltages. Preferably, a self-nulling sense amplifier circuit is connected to the bit lines that compensates for sense amplifier offset by applying additional charges on the bit lines. Alternatively, charge sources may be connected to the bit lines to provide additional charges on the bit lines during the read cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventors: Daryl G Dietrich, Gary F Derbenwick
  • Patent number: 10991403
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing memory calibration with endpoint replay is disclosed. A first calibration of a data strobe signal in a memory subsystem is performed. The first calibration includes determining initial values of first and second endpoints indicative of first and second delay values, respectively, applied to the data strobe signal. A second calibration of the data strobe signal is performed around these endpoints, within a range thereof that is less than a full range there between. Based on the second calibration, the endpoints are adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Jeter, Rakesh L. Notani, Venkata R. Malladi
  • Patent number: 10984858
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device includes: a voltage generation circuit configured to generate a read voltage to be supplied to a selected word line to which a read-target memory cell transistor is connected and a read-pass voltage to be supplied to an adjacent word line; a word line driver configured to, when the read voltage transitions, apply the read voltage to the selected word line with a first kick voltage amount and apply the read-pass voltage to the adjacent word line with a second kick voltage amount; and a control circuit configured to set each of the first kick voltage amount and the second kick voltage amount to a voltage corresponding to an amount of the transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Date
  • Patent number: 10976943
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods to change data category values. An example is a memory device that includes an array having a plurality of sequences of memory cells, where each of the respective sequences of memory cells includes a plurality of designated subsets of memory cells, and the array includes a counter corresponding to one of the plurality of designated subsets of memory cells. The memory device is configured to receive input corresponding to a data batch, where the input includes a designation that corresponds to the one of the plurality of designated subsets of memory cells to be conditionally updated, and to change a numerical value stored by the counter corresponding to the one of the plurality of designated subsets of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremiah J. Willcock
  • Patent number: 10971217
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an SRAM cell layout including upper and lower cell edges and left and right cell edges. A first power rail extends generally in parallel with and lies along the left cell edge or the right cell edge. The first power rail is coupled to a first power supply. A second power rail extends generally in parallel with the first power rail and is arranged equidistantly between the left and right cell edges. A first bitline extends in parallel with the first power rail and the second power rail and is arranged to a first side of the second power rail. A second bitline, which is complementary to the first bitline, extends in parallel with the first power rail and the second power rail and is arranged to a second side of the second power rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Hung-Jen Liao, Hsien-Yu Pan, Yen-Huei Chen, Mahmut Sinangil
  • Patent number: 10971247
    Abstract: A method includes replacing an address of a first normal memory cell in a first column of a first memory block with a destination address that is an address of a second normal memory cell in a second column of the first memory block, and reassigning the address of the second normal memory cell in the second column of the first memory block to an address of a first redundancy memory cell in a redundancy block of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung-Ryun Kim, Yoon-Na Oh, Hyung-Jin Kim, Hui-Kap Yang, Jang-Woo Ryu
  • Patent number: 10957401
    Abstract: Methods for reducing read disturb using NAND strings with poly-silicon channels and p-type doped source lines are described. During a boosted read operation for a selected memory cell transistor in a NAND string, a back-gate bias or bit line voltage may be applied to a bit line connected to the NAND string and a source line voltage greater than the bit line voltage may be applied to a source line connected to the NAND string; with these bias conditions, electrons may be injected from the bit line and annihilated in the source line during the read operation. To avoid leakage currents through NAND strings in non-selected memory blocks, the threshold voltages of source-side select gate transistors of the NAND strings may be set to a negative threshold voltage that has an absolute voltage value greater than the source line voltage applied during the read operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Kiyohiko Sakakibara, Ippei Yasuda, Ken Oowada, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Patent number: 10950614
    Abstract: A single poly non-volatile memory device that includes: a first type lower well; first and second wells separately formed in an upper portion of the first type lower well; a source electrode, a selection transistor, a sensing transistor, and a drain electrode sequentially disposed in an upper portion of the first well. A control gate is formed in an upper portion of the second well with separated on an opposite side of the source electrode from the first well and connected to the gate of the sensing transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Key Foundry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Su Jin Kim, Hye Jin Yoo
  • Patent number: 10950311
    Abstract: Methods for reducing read disturb using NAND strings with poly-silicon channels and p-type doped source lines are described. During a boosted read operation for a selected memory cell transistor in a NAND string, a back-gate bias or bit line voltage may be applied to a bit line connected to the NAND string and a source line voltage greater than the bit line voltage may be applied to a source line connected to the NAND string; with these bias conditions, electrons may be injected from the bit line and annihilated in the source line during the read operation. To avoid leakage currents through NAND strings in non-selected memory blocks, the threshold voltages of source-side select gate transistors of the NAND strings may be set to a negative threshold voltage that has an absolute voltage value greater than the source line voltage applied during the read operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Kiyohiko Sakakibara, Ippei Yasuda, Ken Oowada, Masaaki Higashitani