Patents Examined by Thao Bui
-
Patent number: 8717808Abstract: Magnetic devices, magnetoresistive structures, and methods and techniques associated with the magnetic devices and magnetoresistive structures are presented. For example, a magnetic device is presented. The magnetic device includes a ferromagnet, an antiferromagnet coupled to the ferromagnet, and a nonmagnetic metal proximate to the ferromagnet. The antiferromagnet provides uniaxial anisotropy to the magnetic device. A resistance of the nonmagnetic metal is dependent upon a direction of a magnetic moment of the ferromagnet.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Guohan Hu, Jonathan Z. Sun
-
Patent number: 8717815Abstract: In one or more of the disclosed embodiments, a read operation is compensated for back pattern effect. A bit line current is generated by a read operation that biases the word lines. As part of a back pattern effect measurement phase, at predetermined time intervals an indication of the discharge status of the bit line is stored in a latch of a set of N latches coupled to each bit line. At the end of the measurement phase, the set of latches contains a multiple bit word that is an indication of the back pattern effect experienced by that particular series string of memory cells. This back pattern effect indication is used in subsequent read operations to adjust the timing of the operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Tommaso Vali, Violente Moschiano, Giovanni Santin
-
Patent number: 8717823Abstract: A series of programming pulses are applied to a memory cell to be programmed. A program verify pulse, at an initial program verify voltage, is applied to the memory cell after each programming pulse. The initial program verify voltage is a verify voltage that has been increased by a quick charge loss voltage. The quick charge loss voltage is subtracted from the initial program verify voltage after either a programming pulse has reached a certain reference voltage or a quantity of programming pulses has reached a pulse count threshold.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Taehoon Kim, Deping He, Jeffrey Alan Kessenich
-
Patent number: 8711607Abstract: A logic circuit in a system LSI is provided with a power switch so as to cut off the switch at the time of standby, reducing leakage current. At the same time, an SRAM circuit of the system LSI controls a substrate bias to reduce leakage current.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2011Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Renesas Electronics CorporationInventors: Masanao Yamaoka, Koichiro Ishibashi, Shigezumi Matsui, Kenichi Osada
-
Patent number: 8705284Abstract: A flash memory device includes a memory cell array made up of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. A first page of data is programmed in selected memory cells of the memory cell array, and a second page of data is subsequently programmed in the selected memory cells. The first page of data is programmed using a program voltage having a first start value, and the second page of data is programmed using a program voltage having a second start value determined by a programming characteristic of the selected memory cells.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2013Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Moo Sung Kim, Han-Jun Lee
-
Patent number: 8687458Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes an odd data clock buffer group configured to maintain or shift a phase of a multi-phase source clock signal, and output a first multi-phase clock signal, an even data clock buffer group configured to maintain or shift a phase of the multi-phase source clock signal, and output a second multi-phase clock signal, an odd data output buffer group configured to drive odd data in response to the first multi-phase clock signal and output the driven data to an odd data pad group, and an even data output buffer group configured to drive even data in response to the second multi-phase clock signal and output the driven data to an even data pad group, wherein the phases of clock signals of the first and second multi-phase clock signal are different from each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.Inventors: Dae Han Kwon, Chang Kyu Choi, Jun Woo Lee, Taek Sang Song
-
Patent number: 8675397Abstract: The present disclosure provides a dual port static random access memory (SRAM) cell. The dual-port SRAM cell includes a first and second inverters cross-coupled for data storage, each inverter includes a pull-up device (PU) and a plurality of pull-down devices (PDs); a plurality of pass gate devices configured with the two cross-coupled inverters; and at least two ports coupled with the plurality of pass gate devices (PGs) for reading and writing, wherein each of PU, PDs and PGs includes a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET), a ratio between a number of PDs in the SRAM cell and a number of PGs in the SRAM cell is greater than 1, and a number of FinFETs in the SRAM cell is equal to or greater than 12.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventor: Jhon Jhy Liaw
-
Patent number: 8675386Abstract: A memory device includes a memory unit including a plurality of first conductive lines and a plurality of second conductive lines that cross the first conductive lines, and a driving unit module coupled with the plurality of the first conductive lines through respective ones of a plurality of contacts and coupled with and the plurality of the second conductive lines through respective ones of the plurality of contacts, wherein as the first conductive lines become farther from the driving unit module along a direction that the second conductive lines extend, the respective contacts of the first conductive lines have lower resistance values.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.Inventor: Seok-Pyo Song
-
Patent number: 8670263Abstract: A data holding device according to the present invention includes a loop structure portion LOOP for holding data using a plurality of logic gates (NAND3 and NAND4) connected in a loop, a nonvolatile storage portion (NVM) for storing in a nonvolatile manner the data held in the loop structure portion (LOOP) by using the hysteresis characteristics of ferroelectric elements, a circuit separating portion (SEP) for electrically separating the loop structure portion (LOOP) and the nonvolatile storage portion (NVM), and a set/reset controller (SRC) for generating a set signal (SNL) and reset signal (RNL) based on data stored in the nonvolatile storage portion (NVM), wherein the plurality of logic gates are each set and reset to an arbitrary output logic level in accordance with the set signal (SNL) and reset signal (RNL).Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiromitsu Kimura, Jun Iida, Koji Nigoriike, Yoshinobu Ichida
-
Patent number: 8665630Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems associated with memory cell operation are described. One or more methods of operating a memory cell include charging a capacitor coupled to the memory cell to a particular voltage level and programming the memory cell from a first state to a second state by controlling discharge of the capacitor through a resistive switching element of the memory cell.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Roy E. Meade, John K. Zahurak
-
Patent number: 8659947Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of memory blocks, each including a plurality of cell units and each configured as a unit of execution of an erase operation. Each of the cell units comprises a memory string, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a diode. The first transistor has one end connected to one end of the memory string. The second transistor is provided between the other end of the memory string and a second line. The diode is provided between the other end of the first transistor and a first line. The diode comprises a second semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and a third semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2013Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Hitoshi Iwai, Tomoki Higashi, Shinichi Oosera
-
Patent number: 8659948Abstract: A semiconductor device along with circuits including the same and methods of operating the same are described. The device comprises a memory cell consisting essentially of one transistor. The transistor comprises a gate, an electrically floating body region, and a source region and a drain region adjacent the body region. The device includes data sense circuitry coupled to the memory cell. The data sense circuitry comprises a word line coupled to the gate region and a bit output coupled to the source region or the drain region.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Serguei Okhonin, Mikhail Nagoga, Cedric Bassin
-
Patent number: 8654556Abstract: A Registered DIMM (RDIMM) system with reduced electrical loading on the data bus for increases memory capacity and operation frequency. In one embodiment, the data bus is buffered on the DIMM. In another embodiment, the data bus is selectively coupled to a group of memory chips via switches.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2008Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Montage Technology Inc.Inventors: Larry Wu, Gang Shan, Yibo Jiang
-
Patent number: 8638634Abstract: A device includes a backup power supply configured to provide power to an external system upon loss of primary system power, the backup power provided by at least one capacitor; logic to create, while the capacitor is available as the backup power supply to the external system, a transient elevation of the capacitor's stored potential above a upper predetermined operating potential of the capacitor; logic to obtain measurements of the capacitor's output voltage during the transient elevation of the capacitor's stored potential; and logic to determine a capacitance of the capacitor from the measurements; the device comprising multiple capacitors in series; logic to discharge each capacitor in series individually from the others; and logic to monitor for overcharging of any of the capacitors in series, and, during charging of the capacitors in series, to operate the discharge logic for any capacitor in the series that is in danger of overcharging.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2011Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: AgigA Tech Inc.Inventor: Lane Hauck
-
Patent number: 8630116Abstract: A NAND flash memory, in a read operation, a p-type semiconductor substrate is set at a ground potential, a bit line is charged to a first voltage, a source line, a n-type well and a p-type well are charged to a second voltage, which lies between a ground potential and a first voltage, and in a block not selected by said row decoder, said drain-side select gate line and said source-side select gate line are charged to a third voltage, which is higher than said ground potential and is equal to or lower than said second voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2012Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Hiroshi Maejima, Katsuaki Isobe
-
Patent number: 8625384Abstract: A synchronous type semiconductor storage device includes an array unit which includes a cell array and sense amplifiers. The synchronous type semiconductor storage device includes a read/write pulse generator which generates a read pulse signal and a write pulse signal according to a clock signal, the clock signal defining one cycle time of a read operation and a write operation with respect to the array unit as one cycle. The synchronous type semiconductor storage device includes a secondary amplifier which is activated according to the read pulse signal to read out data stored in the sense amplifiers through the read/write line. The synchronous type semiconductor storage device includes a write driver which is activated according to the write pulse signal to write data in the sense amplifiers through the read/write line.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Mariko Iizuka
-
Patent number: 8625329Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array including multiple first lines, multiple second lines crossing the first lines, and memory cells arranged at intersections between the first lines and the second lines and including variable resistive elements; and a control circuit which controls resistance values of the variable resistive elements in a way that a cell voltage is applied to the memory cell arranged at an intersection between a selected first line and a selected second line by applying first and second voltages to the selected first and second lines, respectively. The control circuit applies a voltage gradually raised or lowered from a first initial voltage as the first voltage to the selected first line, and a pulsing voltage as the second voltage to the selected second line.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroshi Maejima
-
Patent number: 8625350Abstract: A non-volatile memory system includes one or more non-volatile memory cells. Each non-volatile memory cell provides a floating gate, a coupling device, a first floating gate transistor, and a second floating gate transistor. The coupling device is located in a first conductivity region. The first floating gate transistor is located in a second conductivity region, and supplies read current sensed during a read operation. The second floating gate transistor is located in a third conductivity region. Such non-volatile memory cell further provides two transistors for injecting negative charge into the floating gate during a programming operation, and removing negative charge from the second floating gate transistor during an erase operation. The floating gate is shared by the first floating gate transistor, the coupling device, and the second floating gate transistor, and extends over active regions of the first floating gate transistor, the coupling device and the second floating gate transistor.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2012Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: eMemory Technology Inc.Inventors: Wen-Hao Ching, Shih-Chen Wang, Ching-Sung Yang
-
Patent number: 8625327Abstract: A domain wall motion type MRAM has: a magnetic recording layer 10 being a ferromagnetic layer having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy; a pair of current supply terminals 14a and 14b connected to the magnetic recording layer 10 for supplying a current to the magnetic recording layer 10; and an anti-ferromagnetic layer 45 being in contact with a first region R1 of the magnetic recording layer 10. The first region R1 includes a part of a current supply region RA of the magnetic recording layer 10 that is between the pair of current supply terminals 14a and 14b.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2009Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Tetsuhiro Suzuki, Shunsuke Fukami, Kiyokazu Nagahara, Norikazu Oshima, Nobuyuki Ishiwata
-
Patent number: 8625328Abstract: The variable resistance nonvolatile storage device reduces variations in a resistance value of a variable resistance element (100) in the low resistance state, performs stable operations, and includes an LR write circuit (500) (i) applying a voltage to a memory cell (102) so that a resistance state of the variable resistance element included in the memory cell is changed from high to low, and (ii) including a first driving circuit (510) and a second driving circuit (520) which apply voltages to the memory cell and which have connected output terminals. When applying a voltage to the memory cell, the first driving circuit supplies a first current, and the second driving circuit (i) supplies a second current when a voltage at the output terminal of the first driving circuit is higher than a reference voltage VREF, and (ii) is in a high impedance state when the voltage is lower than the VREF.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2010Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Tomotani, Kazuhiko Shimakawa, Ken Kawai