Patents Examined by Pho M. Luu
  • Patent number: 11978516
    Abstract: A memory system having a dynamic supply voltage to sense amplifiers. The supply voltage has a higher magnitude when charging inhibited bit lines during a program operation and a lower magnitude when verifying/sensing memory cells. Reducing the magnitude of the supply voltage saves power and/or current. However, if the lower magnitude were used when the inhibited bit lines are charged during the program operations, some of the memory cells that should be inhibited from programming might experience at least some programming. Using the higher magnitude supply voltage during bit line charging of the program operation assures that the inhibited bit lines are charged to a sufficient voltage to keep drain side select gates of NAND strings off so that the NAND channel will boost properly to inhibit programming of such memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Yanjie Wang, Ohwon Kwon, Kou Tei, Tai-Yuan Tseng, Yasue Yamamoto, Yonggang Wu, Guirong Liang
  • Patent number: 11978524
    Abstract: A data storage device includes a memory device including a plurality of wordlines, each wordline having a plurality of cells, and a cell statistics generator (CSG) disposed on the memory device. The CSG includes logic configured to receive a plurality of left read senses and a plurality of right read senses for the plurality of cells of a wordline, determine a plurality of first windows and a plurality of second windows, determine a left window sum and a right window sum, determine a deviation parameter and a dispersion parameter based on the left window sum and the right window sum, and determine one or more characteristics of the plurality of cells based on the deviation parameter and the dispersion parameter. The deviation parameter and the dispersion parameter are used to describe a number of errors of the left read sense and the right read sense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonas Goode, Richard Galbraith, Henry Yip, Vinh Hoang
  • Patent number: 11972786
    Abstract: Provided are a function switchable random access memory, including: two electromagnetic portions configured to connect a current; a magnetic recording portion between the two electromagnetic portions and including a spin-orbit coupling layer and a magnetic tunnel junction; a pinning region between each of the electromagnetic portions and the magnetic recording portion; a cut-off region on a side of each of the electromagnetic portions opposite to the pinning region, the spin-orbit coupling layer is configured to generate a spin current under an action of the current; the two electromagnetic portions is configured to generate two magnetic domains with magnetization pointing in opposite directions under an action of the spin current; the magnetic tunnel junction is configured to generate a magnetic domain wall based on the two opposite magnetic domains and is configured to drive the magnetic domain wall to reciprocate under the action of the spin current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF SEMICONDUCTORS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Kaiyou Wang, Yu Sheng
  • Patent number: 11974440
    Abstract: A memory device includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells; and a page buffer circuit provided in a page buffer region including a main region and a cache region provided in a first horizontal direction, and including a first page buffer unit and a second page buffer unit adjacent to each other in a second horizontal direction in the main region. A first sensing node of the first page buffer unit includes a first lower metal pattern, and a first upper metal pattern, and electrically connected to the first lower metal pattern. A second sensing node of the second page buffer unit includes a second lower metal pattern, and a second upper metal pattern, electrically connected to the second lower metal pattern, and not adjacent to the first upper metal pattern in the second horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongsung Cho, Inho Kang, Ansoo Park, Jeunghwan Park, Dongha Shin, Jeawon Jeong
  • Patent number: 11972839
    Abstract: A memory system includes a memory device including an interface circuit and a semiconductor memory, and a controller to generate a command for controlling the memory device. The interface circuit receives the command from the controller; determines whether the command is for the semiconductor memory or the interface circuit; and when it is determined that the command is for the interface circuit, performs a blocking operation to block transfer of the command between the interface circuit and the semiconductor memory and performs an internal operation of the interface circuit. The internal operation includes a signal controlling operation, a training operation, a read operation, an on-die termination operation, a ZQ calibration operation, or a driving force control operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Kyun Park, Young Sik Koh, Seung Jin Park, Dong Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11967362
    Abstract: A memory device includes multiple memory cells configured to store data. The memory device also includes multiple digit lines each configured to carry data to and from a respective memory cell. The memory device further includes multiple sense amplifiers each selectively coupled to respective digit lines and including first and second NMOS transistors and first and second gut nodes coupled to the first and second NMOS transistors, respectively. Each sense amplifier is configured to perform threshold compensation for the first and second NMOS transistors by storing respective voltages at the first and second gut nodes that are proportional to the respective threshold voltages of the first and second NMOS transistors. The sense amplifier also amplifies a differential voltage between the first and second gut nodes by charging the first gut node and discharging the second gut node based at least in part on respective charges of the digit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Christopher K. Morzano, Christopher J. Kawamura, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Patent number: 11955172
    Abstract: An atomic orbital based memory storage is provided that includes a plurality of surface atoms forming dangling bonds (DBs) and a subset of the plurality of surface atoms passivated with spatial control to form covalent bonds with hydrogen, deuterium, or a combination thereof. The atomic orbital based data storage that can be rewritten and corrected as needed. The resulting data storage is also archival and capable of high data densities than any known storage as the data is retained in a binary storage or a given orbital being passivated or a dangling bond (DB). A method of forming and reading the atomic orbital data storage is also provided. The method including selectively removing covalent bonds to form dangling bonds (DBs) extending from a surface atom by hydrogen lithography and imaging the covalent bonds spatially to read the atomic orbital data storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: National Research Council of Canada, Quantum Silicon Inc., The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Roshan Achal, Robert A. Wolkow, Jason Pitters, Martin Cloutier, Mohammad Rashidi, Marco Taucer, Taleana Huff
  • Patent number: 11948647
    Abstract: A first digitally-controlled pump voltage level is established for a charge pump coupled to a wordline of a memory device of a memory sub-system. A determination is made whether a measured digitally-controlled voltage level of the wordline and the first digitally-controlled pump voltage level satisfy a condition. In response to determining that the condition is satisfied, a signal is generated to adjust the first digitally-controlled pump voltage level to a second digitally-controlled pump voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michele Piccardi
  • Patent number: 11942178
    Abstract: A circuit includes a reference voltage node, first and second data lines, a sense amplifier, first and second switching devices coupled between the first and second data lines and first and second input terminals of the sense amplifier, third and fourth switching devices coupled between the first and second data lined and first and second nodes, fifth and sixth switching devices coupled between the first and second nodes and the reference voltage node, and first and second capacitive devices coupled between the first and second nodes and second and first input terminals. Each of the first through fourth switching devices is switched on and each of the fifth and sixth switching devices is switched off in a first operational mode, and each of the first through fourth switching devices is switched off and each of the fifth and sixth switching devices is switched on in a second operational mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jui-Jen Wu, Win-San Khwa, Jen-Chieh Liu, Meng-Fan Chang
  • Patent number: 11942127
    Abstract: A magnetic memory device includes a spin orbit torque (SOT) generator configured to generate a SOT, and a vertical magnetic recording layer connected to a main surface of the SOT generator at one end thereof, and is configured to record information using a SOT generated by the SOT generator and a current flowing in the vertical magnetic recording layer in combination. The magnetic memory device includes an insulating layer on one end of the vertical magnetic recording layer in an extension direction of the vertical magnetic recording layer, and a fixed layer on the insulating layer in the extension direction of the vertical magnetic recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Sonobe, Takeshi Kato
  • Patent number: 11935614
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for command triggered power gating for a memory device are described. Row logic circuitry for a memory array may be powered up (on) or powered down (off) independent of at least some other components of a memory device. For example, the row logic circuitry may be on when a bank of the memory array is an active state but may be off when the bank is in a stand-by or power-down state. Additionally or alternatively, error correction circuitry for a memory array may be powered up (on) or powered down (off) independent of at least some other components of a memory device. For example, the error correction circuitry may be on during an access portion of an access sequence but may otherwise be off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Akamatsu, Kwang-Ho Cho
  • Patent number: 11937433
    Abstract: An example of an apparatus includes a plurality of memory cells. At least a portion of the memory cells have a bottom electrode with each bottom electrode being at least partially electrically isolated from remaining ones of the bottom electrodes. At least one resistive interconnect electrically couples two or more of the bottom electrodes. The resistive interconnect is arranged to discharge at least a portion of excess charge from the two or more bottom electrodes. Additional apparatuses and methods of forming the apparatuses are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 11935620
    Abstract: A memory device for memory cell programming and erasing with refreshing operation is disclosed. The memory device includes multiple location-related memory cells and a refresh module. The location-related memory cells are coupled to a bit line on which a selecting voltage is applied. The refresh module rewrites a stored data of a first cell of the location-related memory cells to the first cell of the location-related memory cells in response to an operation count being smaller than a number N. N is related to the number of the location-related memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yue-Der Chih, Cheng-Hsiung Kuo, Gu-Huan Li, Chien-Yin Liu
  • Patent number: 11935589
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a wake-up operation of a memory circuit. The memory circuit is configured to precharge the bit lines of a memory array sequentially during wakeup. A sleep signal is received by the first bit line of a memory cell and then a designed delay occurs prior to the precharge of a second complementary bit line. The sleep signal may then precharge the bit lines of a second memory cell with further delay between the precharge of each bit line. The memory circuit is configured to precharge both bit lines of a memory cell at the same time when an operation associated with that cell is designated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sanjeev Kumar Jain, Ruchin Jain, Arun Achyuthan, Atul Katoch
  • Patent number: 11925123
    Abstract: This spin-orbit torque type magnetization rotational element (10) is provided with: a spin-orbit torque wiring (2); a first ferromagnetic layer (1) that is laminated on the spin-orbit torque wiring; a first nonmagnetic metal layer (3) and a second nonmagnetic metal layer (4) that are connected to the spin-orbit torque wiring at positions flanking the first ferromagnetic layer in a plan view from the second direction, and a first insulating layer (31) surrounding the spin-orbit torque wiring, wherein the gravity center (G) of the first ferromagnetic layer is positioned on a side closer to the first nonmagnetic metal layer or the second nonmagnetic metal layer than is a reference point (S) located at the center between the first and second nonmagnetic metal layers in the first direction, and the first insulating layer is any one selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, and magnesium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Komura, Tomoyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11923020
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of memory cell transistors, a first word line, a controller, and a storage circuit. Each of the plurality of memory cell transistors stores a plurality of pieces of bit data. The first word line is connected to a plurality of first memory cell transistors in the plurality of memory cell transistors. The controller performs a loop process including repetition of a program loop including a program operation and a first verification operation. The storage circuit stores status information. The controller performs the loop process, then performs a second verification operation, and stores first status data corresponding to a result of the loop process and second status data corresponding to a result of the second verification operation in the storage circuit, in a write operation using the plurality of first memory cell transistors as targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ishii, Yuji Nagai, Makoto Miakashi, Tomoko Kajiyama, Hayato Konno
  • Patent number: 11923023
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for debug capabilities of a memory system with a pin are described. An apparatus may include a memory system that includes a plurality of pins of a first type that are configured to communicate information as part of operating the memory system and a pin of a second type. The apparatus may also include a circuit coupled with the memory system, the circuit including a resistor that is coupled with the pin of the second type. The memory system may include a controller that selects a value for the resistor and generates a code as part of a memory management operation to determine one or more operating conditions of the memory system based on selecting the value. The memory system controller may also determine an error associated with the code based on generating the code and the selected value of the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jingwei Cheng
  • Patent number: 11922995
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to an artificial intelligence accelerator in memory are disclosed. An apparatus can include a number of registers configured to enable the apparatus to operate in an artificial intelligence mode to perform artificial intelligence operations and an artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator configured to perform the artificial intelligence operations using the data stored in the number of memory arrays. The AI accelerator can include hardware, software, and or firmware that is configured to perform operations associated with AI operations. The hardware can include circuitry configured as an adder and/or multiplier to perform operations, such as logic operations, associated with AI operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Alberto Troia
  • Patent number: 11915734
    Abstract: A spin-orbit torque magnetoresistive random-access memory device formed by fabricating a spin-Hall-effect (SHE) layer above and in electrical contact with a transistor, forming a spin-orbit-torque (SOT) magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) cell stack disposed above and in electrical contact with the SHE rail, wherein the SOT-MRAM cell stack comprises a free layer, a tunnel junction layer, and a reference layer, forming a cylindrical diode structure above and in electrical contact with the SOT-MRAM cell stack, forming a write line disposed in electrical contact with the SHE rail, and forming a read line disposed above and adjacent to an outer cylindrical electrode of the diode structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pouya Hashemi, Takashi Ando, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 11915790
    Abstract: A memory system includes a memory device including an interface circuit and a semiconductor memory, and a controller to generate a command for controlling the memory device. The interface circuit receives the command from the controller; determines whether the command is for the semiconductor memory or the interface circuit; and when it is determined that the command is for the interface circuit, performs a blocking operation to block transfer of the command between the interface circuit and the semiconductor memory and performs an internal operation of the interface circuit. The internal operation includes a signal controlling operation, a training operation, a read operation, an on-die termination operation, a ZQ calibration operation, or a driving force control operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Kyun Park, Young Sik Koh, Seung Jin Park, Dong Hyun Lee