Patents Examined by Sultana Begum
  • Patent number: 11908540
    Abstract: A semiconductor system includes a semiconductor apparatus and a control device. The semiconductor apparatus performs a preset operation in response to a command signal. The control device controls a temperature adjustment operation so that first temperature information and second temperature information correspond to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: In Jong Jang
  • Patent number: 11908509
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to operations for managing the quality of an input signal received by a device and for providing feedback in real-time. A controller can provide a reference signal to the device for the input quality check. The memory can implement the input quality check by counting the number of transitions of the reference signal for a set time period and store the resulting count value(s). The memory can use the count value(s) to determine a condition or a quality for the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Riley, Scott E. Smith, Jennifer E. Taylor, Gary L. Howe
  • Patent number: 11910605
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage includes a stack, columns, and first, second, third, fourth, and fifth insulators. The stack includes first conductive layers, and second and third conductive layers below and above the first conductive layers, respectively. The columns penetrate the stack in a first direction. The first and second insulators penetrate the stack and are separated from each other in a second direction. The third insulator is between the first and second insulators in a third direction. The third insulator includes first and second portions apart from each other in the second direction. The fourth insulator is between the first and second portions. The fifth insulator is between the first and second portions above the fourth insulator. The second conductive layer includes two electrically-separated regions, between which the third and fourth insulators are provided. The third conductive layer includes two electrically-separated regions between which the third and fifth insulators are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Gen Kuribayashi, Shigeki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11901030
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array, a reference voltage generator and a driver circuit. The memory array includes a memory cell. The reference voltage generator is configured to generate a reference voltage based on a threshold voltage of a select transistor of the memory cell. The driver circuit is coupled to the reference voltage generator and is configured to generate at least one of a bit line voltage and a word line voltage according to the reference voltage, wherein the memory cell is driven by the at least one of the bit line voltage or the word line voltage, and the reference voltage generator comprises a resistor that is configured to sense the threshold voltage of the select transistor through a current flowing through the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hung-Chang Yu
  • Patent number: 11894041
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an internal mode control circuit suitable for generating a burst control signal, a blocking control signal and an internal voltage control signal based on a refresh cycle when an internal mode is performed in a self-refresh operation, a refresh control circuit suitable for generating a refresh signal for performing a refresh operation every refresh cycle when the self-refresh operation is performed, generating the refresh signal every set cycle based on the burst control signal when the internal mode is performed, and blocking the generation of the refresh signal based on the blocking control signal, and an internal voltage generation circuit suitable for adjusting a level of an internal voltage for the refresh operation based on the internal voltage control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Se Won Lee, Tae Kyun Shin, Jun Sang Lee
  • Patent number: 11894044
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for a multi-bit duty cycle monitor. A clock signal may be provided to a memory in order to synchronize one or more operations of the memory. The clock signal may have a duty cycle which is adjusted by a duty cycle adjustor of the memory. The duty cycle of the adjusted clock signal may be monitored by a multi-bit duty cycle monitor. The multi-bit duty cycle monitor may provide a multi-bit signal which indicates if the duty cycle of the adjusted clock signal is above or below a target duty cycle value (or if the duty cycle is outside tolerances around the target duty cycle). The multi-bit duty cycle monitor may provide the multi-bit signal while access operations of the memory are occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventor: Dean D. Gans
  • Patent number: 11894040
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device with a novel structure. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of constant current circuits each given a digital signal. The constant current circuits each include a first transistor to a third transistor. The first transistor has a function of making a first current corresponding to set analog potential flow therethrough. The second transistor has a function of controlling the first current flowing between a source and a drain of the first transistor, in response to the digital signal. The third transistor has a function of holding the analog potential supplied to a gate of the first transistor, by being turned off. The first transistor to the third transistor each include a semiconductor layer including an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ikeda, Hitoshi Kunitake
  • Patent number: 11894038
    Abstract: Disclosed is a memory device including a magnetic memory element. The memory device includes a memory cell array including a first region and a second region, the second region configured to store a value of a write voltage, the write voltage based on a value of a reference resistor for determining whether a programmed memory cell is in a parallel state or anti-parallel state, a voltage generator configured to generate a code value based on the value of the write voltage, and a write driver configured to drive a write current based on the code value, the write current being a current for storing data in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daeshik Kim
  • Patent number: 11894064
    Abstract: The memory device includes a block with a plurality of memory cells arranged in a plurality of data word lines, which are arranged in sub-blocks that are not separated from one another by physical joints or by dummy word lines. A controller is configured to erase the memory cells of a selected sub-block of the plurality of sub-blocks without erasing the memory cells of the unselected sub-blocks. The controller reads data of the edge one word lines of the unselected sub-blocks adjacent the selected sub-block and stores this data in a temporary location external of the block before erasing the memory cells of the selected sub-block. The controller then re-programs the data that is being temporarily stored back into the memory cells of the edge word lines of the unselected sub-blocks after erase of the selected sub-block is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Xiang Yang
  • Patent number: 11887655
    Abstract: A sense amplifier includes an amplification module and a control module electrically connected to the amplification module. Herein, in a case of reading a data in a memory cell on a first bit line, at an offset compensation stage of the sense amplifier, the control module is arranged to configure the amplification module to include a first diode structure, a first current mirror structure, and a first inverter with an input terminal and an output terminal connected to each other. In a case of reading a data in a memory cell on a second bit line, at the offset compensation stage of the sense amplifier, the control module is arranged to configure the amplification module to include a second diode structure, a second current mirror structure, and a second inverter with an input terminal and an output terminal connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: ANHUI UNIVERSITY, CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Wenjuan Lu, Junlin Ge, Jun He, Zhan Ying, Xin Li, Kanyu Cao, Chunyu Peng, Zhiting Lin, Xiulong Wu, Junning Chen
  • Patent number: 11889774
    Abstract: A structure including a bottom electrode, a phase change material layer, the phase change material layer includes a similar lattice constant as a lattice constant of the substrate, a top electrode on and vertically aligned with the phase change material layer, a dielectric material horizontally isolating the bottom electrode from the top electrode and the phase change material layer. A structure including a phase change material layer selected from amorphous silicon, amorphous germanium and amorphous silicon germanium, a top electrode on the phase change material layer, a bottom electrode, a dielectric material isolating the bottom electrode from the top electrode and the phase change material layer. Forming a bottom electrode, forming a phase change material layer adjacent to the bottom electrode, forming a top electrode above the phase change material, forming a dielectric material horizontally isolating the bottom electrode from the top electrode and the phase change material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Devendra K. Sadana, Ning Li, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari
  • Patent number: 11881282
    Abstract: A memory device including a memory die including an internally-powered thermometer to determine a first measured operating temperature value of the memory die; detect the first measured operating temperature value satisfies one of a first condition or a second condition; and generate a first signal indicating an out-of-range operating temperature of the memory die in response to one of the first condition or the second condition being satisfied by the first measured operating temperature value. The memory die also including an externally-powered thermometer to: determine a second measured operating temperature value of the memory die; detect the second measured operating temperature value satisfies one of the first condition or the second condition; and generate a second signal indicating the out-of-range operating temperature of the memory die in response to one of the first condition or the second condition being satisfied by the second measured operating temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yui Shimizu, Manik Advani, Michele Piccardi
  • Patent number: 11875850
    Abstract: The application provides a content addressable memory (CAM) memory device, a CAM memory cell and a method for searching and comparing data thereof. The CAM memory device includes: a plurality of CAM memory strings; and an electrical characteristic detection circuit. In data searching, a search data is compared with a storage data stored in the CAM memory strings, the CAM memory strings generate a plurality of memory string currents, the electrical characteristic detection circuit detects the memory string currents to generate a plurality of sensing results, or detects a plurality of match line voltages on a plurality of match lines coupled to the CAM memory string to generate the plurality of search results. The storage data and the search data is a range storage data and a single-bit search data, or the storage data and the search data is a single-bit storage data and a range search data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Po-Hao Tseng
  • Patent number: 11869600
    Abstract: Memory cell sensing by charge sharing between two sense nodes is disclosed. A first sense node and a second sense node are pre-charged and the second node is discharged initiating charge sharing between the first sense node and the second sense node that results in an improved sense margin. Sensing circuitry disclosed herein may include one or more pre-charge circuits, sense enable circuits, and charge-sharing circuits. The increased sense margin achieved by sensing circuitry disclosed herein provides better noise immunity and more accurate sensing results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Jiawei Xu, Anirudh Amarnath, Hiroki Yabe
  • Patent number: 11862225
    Abstract: A comparison circuit includes a reference adjustment module, a signal receiving module, and a control module. The reference adjustment module is configured to receive a first reference signal and output a second reference signal. The reference adjustment module is further configured to receive an adjustment signal, and unidirectionally adjust the equivalent coefficient within a preset value interval when the adjustment signal is received. The signal receiving module is configured to receive the second reference signal and an external signal. The control module is configured to: receive an enable signal and the comparison signal; and during a period of continuously receiving the enable signal, when the comparison signal jumps, terminate the output of the adjustment signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Zhiqiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11854649
    Abstract: A processing device in a memory sub-system monitors a temperature associated with a block of a memory device, the block comprising a plurality of wordlines. The processing device further determines a first amount of time between when memory cells associated with a first wordline of the plurality of wordlines of the block were written and when memory cells associated with a last wordline of the plurality of wordlines of the block were written. That first amount of time is normalized according to the temperature associated with the block. The processing device further determines, based at last in part on the first amount of time and on an associated scaling factor, an estimate of when the block will reach a uniform charge loss state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Khayat, Steven Michael Kientz, Sivagnanam Parthasarathy, Mustafa N. Kaynak, Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu
  • Patent number: 11837307
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed including a memory device and a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device can perform operations including performing, on data residing in a block of the memory device, an error-handling operation of a plurality of error-handling operations, wherein an order of the plurality of error-handling operations is based on a voltage offset bin associated with the block, wherein the voltage offset bin defines a set of threshold voltage offsets to be applied to a base voltage read level during read operations; and responsive to determining that the error-handling operation has failed to recover the data, adjusting the order of the plurality of error-handling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Shane Nowell, Mustafa N. Kaynak, Sampath K. Ratnam, Peter Feeley, Sivagnanam Parthasarathy, Devin M. Batutis, Xiangang Luo
  • Patent number: 11823765
    Abstract: The present application provides a storage system including a data port. The data port includes a data output unit. The data output unit includes: a pull-up unit having a control terminal, a first terminal and a second terminal, a first input signal being inputted to the control terminal, the first terminal being electrically connected to a power supply, the second terminal being connected to an output terminal of the data output unit, and the pull-up unit being a first NMOS transistor; and a pull-down unit having a control terminal, a first terminal and a second terminal, a second input signal being inputted to the control terminal, the first terminal being electrically connected to a ground terminal, and the second terminal being connected to the output terminal of the data output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Shuliang Ning
  • Patent number: 11817158
    Abstract: An operation method of a nonvolatile memory device which includes a memory block having wordlines includes performing an erase on the memory block, performing a block verification on the memory block by using a 0-th erase verification voltage, performing a delta verification on the memory block by using a first erase verification voltage different from the 0-th erase verification voltage when a result of the block verification indicates a pass, and outputting information about an erase result of the memory block based on the result of the block verification or a result of the delta verification. The delta verification includes generating delta counting values respectively corresponding to wordline groups by using the first erase verification voltage, generating a delta value based on the delta counting values, and comparing the delta value and a first reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Doo-Yeun Jung, Young-Jin Cho, Bu-Il Nam, Nari Lee, Yeji Nam, Sangyong Yoon
  • Patent number: 11809719
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a memory device that is capable of performing write training operations. Prior approaches for write training involve storing a long data pattern into the memory followed by reading the long data pattern to determine whether the data was written to memory correctly. Instead, the disclosed memory device stores a first data pattern (e.g., in a FIFO memory within the memory device) or generates the first data pattern (e.g., using PRBS) that is compared with a second data pattern being transmitted to the memory device by an external memory controller. If data patterns match, then the memory device stores a pass status in a register, otherwise a fail status is stored in the register. The memory controller reads the register to determine whether the write training passed or failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gautam Bhatia, Robert Bloemer