Patents Examined by Pablo Huerta
  • Patent number: 8958228
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory is formed as an array of memory elements that are formed across multiple layers of planes positioned at different distances above a semiconductor substrate. The memory elements reversibly change a level of electrical conductance in response to a voltage difference being applied across them. The three-dimensional array includes a two-dimensional array of pillar lines acting as local vertical bit lines through the multiple layers of planes which together with arrays of word lines on each plane are used to access the memory elements. The three-dimensional memory is formed over a CMOS substrate with an intermediate pillar select layer. The pillar select layer is formed with a plurality of pillar select devices which are switching transistors formed outside the CMOS and serve to switch selected rows of pillar lines to corresponding metal lines on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sandisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: George Samachisa, Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 8953377
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes: a plurality of memory cells arranged in a region where word lines and bit lines intersect, a data read/write circuit including a plurality of latches configured to temporarily store data inputted from an external device, and configured to perform a program operation on the memory cells based on data stored in the latches, and a skip data control unit configured to determine whether data to be programmed into the memory cells are available, and to store program-inhibit data in a latch corresponding to a memory cell which is determined to not contain any data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Sang O Lim
  • Patent number: 8947941
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium, a flash controller and a method for state responsive encoding and programming; the method may include encoding an information entity by applying a state responsive encoding process to provide at least one codeword; wherein the state responsive encoding process is responsive to a state of flash memory cells; and programming the at least one codeword to at least one group of flash memory cells by applying a state responsive programming process that is responsive to the state, the state being either an estimated state or an actual state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Densbits Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Avi Steiner, Hanan Weingarten, Igal Maly, Avigdor Segal
  • Patent number: 8929123
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a resistive-switching device capable of implementing multiary addition operation and a method for implementing multiary addition operation using the resistive-switching device. The resistive-switching device has a plurality of resistance values each corresponding to a respective data value stored by the resistive-switching device and ranging from a high resistance value to a low resistance value. The data value stored by the resistive-switching device is increased by ‘1’ successively with a series of set pulses having a same pulse width and a same voltage amplitude being applied thereto. The data value stored by the resistive-switching device is set to ‘0’ with a reset pulse being applied thereto, and meanwhile a data value stored by a higher-bit resistive-switching device is increased by ‘1’ with a set pulse being applied thereto. In this way, multiary addition operation is implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Peking University
    Inventors: Jinfeng Kang, Feifei Zhang, Bin Gao, Bing Chen, Lifeng Liu, Xiaoyan Liu
  • Patent number: 8917532
    Abstract: A microelectronic package includes a microelectronic element having memory storage array function overlying a first surface of a substrate, the microelectronic element having a plurality of contacts aligned with an aperture in the substrate. First terminals which are configured to carry all address signals transferred to the package can be exposed within a first region of a second substrate surface, the first region disposed between the aperture and a peripheral edge of the substrate. The first terminals may be configured to carry all command signals, bank address signals and command signals transferred to the package, the command signals being write enable, row address strobe, and column address strobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Invensas Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Dewitt Crisp, Wael Zohni
  • Patent number: 8917538
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including memory cells having a variable resistance element provided at intersections of crossing first and second lines, the memory cell array including third lines, fourth and fifth lines, and first and second diodes; and a control circuit which, when the memory cells include a selected memory cell, a selected first line connected to the selected memory cell and an unselected first line, and a selected second line connected to the selected memory cell and an unselected second line, supplies a first voltage to the selected first line, and supplies a second voltage to the unselected first line, and when the third lines include a selected third line electrically connected to the selected second line via one of the fourth line and a first diode, supplies a third voltage to the selected fourth line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kei Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8902626
    Abstract: A method of pinning magnetic domain walls in magnetic domain shift registers includes pinning the magnetic domain walls at a plurality of pinning sites in a nanowire, reducing an energy of the pinning of the magnetic domain walls and shifting the magnetic domain walls in the nanowire by applying a shift current in a control wire adjacent the nanowire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony J. Annunziata, Michael C. Gaidis
  • Patent number: 8885380
    Abstract: A semiconductor package is disclosed. The semiconductor package includes a package interface, a stack of semiconductor chips, a plurality of stacks of through substrate vias, and an interface circuit. The package interface includes at least a first pair of terminals. Each stack of through substrate vias includes plural through substrate vias of respective ones of the semiconductor chips, each through substrate via electrically connected to a through substrate via of an immediately adjacent semiconductor chip. The interface circuit includes an input connected to the first pair of terminals to receive a differential signal providing first information, and includes an output to provide an output signal including the first information in a single-ended signal format to at least one of the plurality of stacks of through substrate vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Uk-song Kang, Young-hyun Jun, Joo-sun Choi
  • Patent number: 8885382
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include lines that traverse a cross-point array, the lines fabricated at a first pitch on a first layer, wherein the first pitch is sub-lithographic, and leads on a second layer, the leads having a second pitch that is twice as large as the first pitch. The lines may be routed outside of the array in alternating groups to opposite sides of the array where the lines couple to the leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Fabio Pellizzer, Antonino Rigano, Gianfranco Capetti
  • Patent number: 8873272
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor memory apparatus, including: a memory cell array configured to include a plurality of memory cells; a switching unit configured to be coupled to data input and output pads and control a data transfer path of data applied to the data input and output pads in response to a test mode signal; a write driver configured to drive data transferred from the switching unit and write the data in the memory cell array at a normal mode; and a controller configured to transfer the data from the switching unit to the memory cell at a test mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Ung Lee
  • Patent number: 8873306
    Abstract: A pipe latch control circuit and a semiconductor integrated circuit using the same are provided. The pipe latch control circuit includes a read command control unit that receives a first signal and generates a read signal in response to a control signal. In the pipe latch control circuit, the read command control unit selects, in response to the control signal, the first signal or selects a second signal obtained by delaying the first signal according to an internal clock, and generates the selected first or second signal as the read signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Chun Seok Jeong
  • Patent number: 8873297
    Abstract: Methods for programming select gates, memory devices, and memory systems are disclosed. In one such method for programming, a program inhibit voltage is transferred from a source to unselected bit lines. Bit line-to-bit line capacitance, between the unselected bit lines and selected bit lines to be program inhibited, boosts the bit line voltage of the selected, inhibited bit lines to a target inhibit voltage. In one embodiment, the voltage on the selected, inhibited bit line can be increased in a plurality of inhibit steps whereby either one, two, or all of the steps can be used during the programming of unprogrammed select gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yamada, Aaron Yip
  • Patent number: 8867278
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a non-volatile memory cell array including a plurality of word lines, a voltage generator configured to generate a first high-voltage using a supply voltage and a second high-voltage using an external voltage which is higher than the supply voltage, and a word line selection circuit configured. The word line selection circuit is configured apply, during a program operation of the memory cell array, the first high-voltage to a selected word line among the plurality of word lines, and the second high-voltage to unselected word lines among the plurality of word lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sangchul Kang, Seokcheon Kwon, Soo-Woong Le
  • Patent number: 8854892
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes lifetime markers for memory devices. One or more embodiments include determining a read disturb value, a quantity of erase pulses, and/or a quantity of soft program pulses associated with a number of memory cells, and providing an indicator of an advance and/or retreat of the read disturb value, the quantity of erase pulses, and/or the quantity of soft program pulses relative to a lifetime marker associated with the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd A. Marquart
  • Patent number: 8854886
    Abstract: A method of programming a nonvolatile memory includes: applying a common program pulse to program cells within each page of a memory region including two or more pages; applying one or more different program pulses to the program cells within each page of the memory region, according to target threshold voltages of the program cells; and programming each page of the memory region such that the program cells have their own target threshold voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Seok-Jin Joo
  • Patent number: 8848454
    Abstract: A method for programming a non-volatile memory cell is described. The memory cell includes a substrate, a gate over the substrate, a charge-trapping structure at least between the substrate and the gate, and first and second S/D regions in the substrate beside the gate. The method includes performing a channel-initiated secondary electron (CHISEL) injection process to inject electrons to the charge-trapping structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Feng-Ji Tsai, Shen-De Wang, Wen-Chung Chang, Ya-Huei Huang, Chien-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 8842490
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of selectively setting a memory command clock as a memory buffer reference clock. An apparatus configured for setting a memory command clock as a memory buffer reference clock may include a memory buffer configured to interface between a host and memory, and reference clock selection logic configured to selectively set a memory command clock as a memory buffer reference clock. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tuan M. Quach, Cuong D. Dinh
  • Patent number: 8830781
    Abstract: A storage apparatus writes data to a storage drive or reads data from a storage drive in response to an I/O request sent from a server. The storage apparatus includes a plurality of AC-DC power supplies supplying the storage drive with drive power is provided with a plurality of power supply paths provided for the respective AC-DC power supplies. A plurality of gate units are provided to the respective power supply paths and configured to stop supplying drive power to the storage drive through the corresponding power supply path when detecting voltage abnormality in the drive power supplied from the AC-DC power supply to the storage drive. The power supply paths allow each of the storage drives belonging to a same RAID group to receive the supply of the drive power from the AC-DC power supplies through different power supply paths, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryohei Oguro, Yosuke Tsuyuki
  • Patent number: 8824183
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory is formed as an array of memory elements that are formed across multiple layers of planes positioned at different distances above a semiconductor substrate. The memory elements reversibly change a level of electrical conductance in response to a voltage difference being applied across them. The three-dimensional array includes a two-dimensional array of pillar lines acting as local vertical bit lines through the multiple layers of planes which together with arrays of word lines on each plane are used to access the memory elements. The three-dimensional memory is formed over a CMOS substrate with an intermediate pillar select layer. The pillar select layer is formed with a plurality of pillar select devices which are switching transistors formed outside the CMOS and serve to switch selected rows of pillar lines to corresponding metal lines on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sandisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: George Samachisa, Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 8817566
    Abstract: A memory system includes: a controller configured to provide a hidden auto refresh command; and a memory configured to perform a refresh operation in response to the hidden auto refresh command. The controller and the memory communicate with each other so that each refresh address of the controller and the memory has the same value as each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Hoon Shin, Hyung Dong Lee, Jeong Woo Lee, Young Suk Moon