Patents Examined by Son L. Mai
  • Patent number: 11699465
    Abstract: A memory device that operates at high speed is provided. The memory device includes first and second memory cells, first and second bit lines, first and second switches, and a sense amplifier. The sense amplifier comprises a first node and a second node. The first memory cell is electrically connected to the first node through the first bit line and the first switch, and the second memory cell is electrically connected to the second node through the second bit line and the second switch. The sense amplifier amplifies the potential difference between the first node and the second node. The first memory cell and the second memory cell include an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Onuki, Shuhei Nagatsuka
  • Patent number: 11688453
    Abstract: A method of operating a memory device includes; receiving a refresh command, performing a refresh operation on a target row of a bank memory array, and providing status information to a memory controller for an adjacent row, relative to the target row, during a refresh operation period defining a refresh operation performed by the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taek Woon Kim, Jang Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 11688442
    Abstract: A clock signal processing circuit includes a clock buffer configured to generate a pair of second clock signals with opposite phases after receiving a pair of first clock signals with opposite phases and configured to fix the second clock signals to determined levels according to a control signal until toggling of the first clock signals begins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Gi Moon Hong
  • Patent number: 11682463
    Abstract: A memory device includes a voltage generator that provides a read voltage to a selected word line and provides a pass voltage to a plurality of unselected word lines, and a deterioration level detection circuit. The selected word line and the unselected word lines are connected to a plurality of memory cells. The deterioration level detection circuit detects a deterioration level of memory cells connected to the selected word line based on data of memory cells that receive the read voltage. The memory cells connected to the selected word line and the memory cells that receive the read voltage are included in the plurality of memory cells. The voltage generator changes the pass voltage provided to the unselected word lines based on the deterioration level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Han Jun Lee, Seung Bum Kim, Il Han Park
  • Patent number: 11670370
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses, and methods of operating the apparatuses. Some of the apparatuses include a data line, a first memory cell string including first memory cells located in different levels of the apparatus, first access lines to access the first memory cells, a first select gate coupled between the data line and the first memory cell string, a first select line to control the first select gate, a second memory cell string including second memory cells located in different levels of the apparatus, second access lines to access the second memory cells, the second access lines being electrically separated from the first access lines, a second select gate coupled between the data line and the second memory cell string, a second select line to control the second select gate, and the first select line being in electrical contact with the second select line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Yip
  • Patent number: 11664067
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device outputs a sequence of differently delayed calibration data timing signals to a DRAM component via a data-signal timing line as part of a timing calibration operation and then stores a delay value, based on at least one of the calibration data timing signals, that compensates for a difference in signal propagation times over the data-signal timing line and a command/address-signal timing line. After the timing calibration operation, the integrated circuit device outputs write data to the DRAM component and outputs a write data timing signal, delayed according to the delay value, to via the data-signal timing line to time reception of the first write data within the DRAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 11636888
    Abstract: A memory system includes memory chips connected to each other. Each of the memory chips includes a memory array, a read/write data strobe pin, a look-up table storage device, a chip number identification circuit, and a control logic circuit. The memory array stores data. The read/write data strobe pin is connected to read/write data strobe pins of other memory chips. The look-up table storage device stores a plurality of trimming shift values related to a number of chip connections in advance. The chip number identification circuit identifies a current number of chip connections according to a state information, and finds a selected trimming shift value from the look-up table storage device. The control logic circuit transmits a data signal in response to a clock signal, and adjusts a setup hold time between the clock signal and the data signal according to the selected trimming shift value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Kaoru Mori
  • Patent number: 11631470
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip may include a memory, a power supply line, a noise generator and a switch. The power supply line may include first and second power supply line portions. The power supply line may be configured to provide a power supply signal through each of the first power supply line portion and the second power supply line portion. The noise generator may be connected to the second power supply line portion. The noise generator may be configured to receive the power supply signal from the second power supply line portion, and output a noisy power supply signal based on the power supply signal. The switch may be coupled to the memory, the first power supply line portion, and the noise generator. The switch may be configured to selectively electrically connect the memory to one of the first power supply line portion and the noise generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Szu Huat Goh, Shaalini Sivaramakrishnan, Li Song, Wei Fong Soh
  • Patent number: 11621024
    Abstract: A calibration device which is configured for calibrating a memory is provided. The calibration device includes an input terminal, a first pull-up circuit, and a first comparator. The input terminal is coupled to an external resistor. The first pull-up circuit is coupled to the input terminal, and configured to receive a power supply voltage. The first pull-up circuit includes a plurality of first pull-up units. The first pull-up units are coupled to each other in parallel. The first comparator is coupled to the input terminal. The first comparator is configured to receive a proportion voltage which is corresponding to the power supply voltage, and output a first control signal to the first pull-up units, such that a resistance of each of the first pull-up units is equal to a resistance of the external resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: JIANGSU ADVANCED MEMORY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., SILOAM HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jui-Jen Wu, Toshio Sunaga, Cho-Fan Chen
  • Patent number: 11621038
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to an improved driver for non-binary signaling are described. A driver for a signal line may include a set of drivers of a first type and a set of drivers of a second type. When the driver drives the signal line using multiple drivers of the first type, at least one additional driver of the first type may compensate for non-linearities associated with one or more other drivers of the first type, which may have been calibrated at other voltages. The at least one additional driver of the first type may be calibrated for use at a particular voltage, to compensate for non-linearities associated with the one or more other drivers of the first type as exhibited at that particular voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shindeok Kang, Timothy M. Hollis, Dragos Dimitriu
  • Patent number: 11615826
    Abstract: A memory system includes a memory device and a processing device operatively coupled with the memory device. The processing device perform operations comprising: responsive to receiving a memory access command, determining that the memory access command is a dual-address command comprising a source address and a destination address; generating a first content addressable memory (CAM) entry associated with a read command of the dual-address command, wherein the first CAM entry references the source address; generating a second CAM entry associated with a write command of the dual-address command, wherein the second CAM entry references the destination address; inserting the first CAM entry and the second CAM entry into a CAM; and issuing, to the memory device, the read command associated with the first CAM entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fangfang Zhu, Chih-Kuo Kao, Yueh-Hung Chen, Jiangli Zhu
  • Patent number: 11615822
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an enable signal generation circuit configured to activate, when a write operation is performed, a termination enable signal earlier than a time point when a write latency elapses, by a duration amount of an entry offset period; and a data input and output circuit configured to receive, when the write operation is performed, data later than the time point when the write latency elapses, based on the termination enable signal, wherein the data input and output circuit receives the data after the write latency elapses by a duration amount of a first data reception delay period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Min Su Park, Seung Wook Oh, Jin Il Chung
  • Patent number: 11610640
    Abstract: Various aspects include methods and devices for implementing the methods for error checking a memory system. Aspects may include receiving, from a row buffer of a memory, access data corresponding to a column address of a memory access, in which the row buffer has data of an activation unit of the memory corresponding to a row address of the memory access, determining multiple error correction codes (ECCs) for the access data using the column address, and checking the access data for an error utilizing at least one of the multiple ECCs. In some aspects, the multiple ECCs may include a first ECC having data from an access unit of the memory corresponding with the column address, and at least one second ECC having data from the access unit and data from the activation unit other than from the access unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventor: Katherine H. Chiang
  • Patent number: 11605441
    Abstract: A memory system includes a memory module having a plurality of memory devices therein. A memory controller is configured to transmit commands and addresses to the memory module in synchronization with a clock, input/output data to and from the memory module in synchronization with a data transfer clock, and perform system error correction operations on data read from the memory module. The plurality of memory devices perform on-die error correction operations, which are different from each other according to a physical location of the stored read data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Inventors: Sunghye Cho, Kiheung Kim, Sungrae Kim, Junhyung Kim, Kijun Lee, Myungkyu Lee, Changyong Lee, Sanguhn Cha
  • Patent number: 11605405
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for power switching for embedded memory are described. A system may be configured with circuitry (e.g., power supply switching circuitry) coupled with or between a power supply and a power input node of a memory device, which may support selectively coupling or isolating the memory device and the power supply based on various conditions. For example, the circuitry may be configured for a selective coupling or a selective isolation based on a voltage level of the power supply satisfying various voltage thresholds. The circuitry may also be configured to support various input or output signaling, such as transmitting an indication of an isolation from the power supply, transmitting an indication to perform a memory initialization, or receiving an indication or command to perform a power cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rainer Frank Bonitz
  • Patent number: 11600339
    Abstract: An operation method for a memory device is provided. The operation method includes: increasing a dummy word line voltage to a first dummy word line voltage during a pre-tum on period; increasing the dummy word line voltage from the first dummy word line voltage to a second dummy word line voltage during a read period; and lowering the dummy word line voltage after the read period is finished. Wherein the first dummy word line voltage is lower than the second dummy word line voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Cheng, Chun-Chang Lu, Wen-Jer Tsai
  • Patent number: 11587628
    Abstract: One or more write operations are performed on a memory component. First data stored at the memory component is read. A determination is made as to whether an error rate associated with the first data stored at the memory component exceeds an error rate threshold. If the error rate exceeds the error rate threshold, a threshold value is adjusted. A determination is made as to whether a number of the plurality of write operations performed on the memory component since performance of a refresh operation on the memory component exceeds the threshold value. In response to determining that the number of write operations performed on the memory component exceeds the threshold value, a memory cell of the memory component is identified based on the plurality of write operations. Second data stored at memory cells of the memory component that are proximate to the identified memory cell is refreshed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fangfang Zhu, Jiangli Zhu, Ying Yu Tai
  • Patent number: 11587638
    Abstract: A memory sub-system configured to generate or update a model for reading memory cells in a memory device. For example, in response to a processing device of a memory sub-system transmitting to a memory device read commands that are configured to instruct the memory device to retrieve data from a group of memory cells formed on an integrated circuit die in the memory device, the memory device may measure signal and noise characteristics of the group of memory cells during execution of the read commands. Based on the signal and noise characteristics the memory sub-system can generate or update, measured during the execution of the read commands a model of changes relevant to reading data from the group of memory cells. The changes can be a result of damage, charge loss, read disturb, cross-temperature effect, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fitzpatrick, Sivagnanam Parthasarathy, Patrick Robert Khayat, AbdelHakim S. Alhussien
  • Patent number: 11581024
    Abstract: A memory module may include: a battery; a plurality of devices including a first memory, a second memory, and a controller; and a power management integrated circuit configured to adjust a level of a battery power, received from the battery, and configured to supply a power supply voltage to each of the plurality of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Kug Lym, Jong Bum Park, Kyoung Lae Cho
  • Patent number: 11574662
    Abstract: A memory device as provided may apply a pulse amplitude modulation method to data (DQ) signal transmission/reception and may scale a DQ signal according to an operating frequency condition, so as to improve data transmission performance and effectively improve power consumption. The memory device includes a memory cell array, and a data input/output circuit configured to scale a DQ signal that includes data read from the memory cell array and output the scaled DQ signal. The data input/output circuit is configured to scale the DQ signal based on an n-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAMn) (where n is 4 or a greater integer) with a DQ parameter that corresponds an operating frequency condition and output the DQ signal. Other aspects include memory controllers that communicate with the memory devices, and memory systems that include the memory devices and memory controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventors: Sucheol Lee, Younghoon Son, Hyunyoon Cho, Youngdon Choi, Junghwan Choi