Patents by Inventor Aaron S. Yip

Aaron S. Yip has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11950512
    Abstract: An acoustic imaging system coupled to a sensing plate to define an imaging surface. The acoustic imaging system includes an array of piezoelectric acoustic transducers coupled to the sensing plate opposite the imaging surface and formed using a thin-film manufacturing process over an application-specific integrated circuit that, in turn, is configured to leverage the array of piezoelectric actuators to generate an image of an object at least partially wetting to the imaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ehsan Khajeh, Aaron S. Tucker, Andrew W. Joyce, Brian M. King, Giovanni Gozzini, Jason S. Griesbach, Marcus C. Yip, Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Gordon S. Franza, Henry H. Yang
  • Publication number: 20240071501
    Abstract: Microelectronic devices include a stack having a vertically alternating sequence of insulative and conductive structures arranged in tiers. Slit structures extend through the stack, dividing the stack into blocks. A first series of stadiums—within the stack of a first block of a pair of the blocks—includes at least one stadium having multiple parallel sets of staircases. A second series of stadiums—within the stack of a second block of the pair of blocks—includes at least one additional stadium having additional multiple parallel sets of staircases that are mirrored, across one of the slit structures, to the multiple parallel sets of staircases of the first series. In methods of fabrication, common mask openings are used to form the mirrored staircase profiles once stadiums are already at substantially their final depths in the stack structure. Electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Lifang Xu, Umberto Maria Meotto, Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 11915758
    Abstract: Memory devices might include a first storage element, a second storage element, a data line, and a controller. The first storage element is to store a first data bit. The second storage element is to store a second data bit. The data line is selectively connected to the first storage element, the second storage element, and a memory cell. The controller is configured to apply one of four voltage levels to the data line based on the first data bit and the second data bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hao T. Nguyen, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki, Erwin E. Yu, Dheeraj Srinivasan, Sheyang Ning, Lawrence Celso Miranda, Aaron S. Yip, Yoshihiko Kamata
  • Patent number: 11688463
    Abstract: A memory device comprises a substrate and a memory array disposed above the substrate, the memory array comprising a plurality of vertically stacked layers, each vertically stacked layer comprising a plurality of word lines. The memory device further comprises a plurality of vertical string driver circuits disposed above the memory array, wherein each of the plurality of vertical string driver circuits comprises one or more semiconductor devices coupled to a respective one of the plurality of word lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron S. Yip, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20230134814
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a first die comprising a memory array region comprising a stack structure comprising vertically alternating conductive structures and insulative structures, and vertically extending strings of memory cells within the stack structure. The first die further comprises first control logic region comprising a first control logic devices including at least a word line driver. The microelectronic device further comprise a second die attached to the first die, the second die comprising a second control logic region comprising second control logic devices including at least one page buffer device configured to effectuate a portion of control operations of the vertically extending string of memory cells. Related microelectronic devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Aaron S. Yip, Kunal R. Parekh, Akira Goda
  • Patent number: 11636886
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array with memory blocks each having a plurality of memory cells, and one or more current monitors configured to measure current during post-deployment operation of the memory device; and a controller configured to identify a bad block within the memory blocks based on the measured current, and disable the bad block for preventing access thereof during subsequent operations of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron S. Yip, Theodore T. Pekny
  • Publication number: 20230112381
    Abstract: Control logic in a memory device receives a request to program data to a block of a memory array of the memory device, the block comprising a plurality of sub-blocks, and identifies a first sub-block of the plurality of sub-blocks to be programmed with at least a portion of the data. The control logic further causes a plurality of control signals to be applied to a plurality of logical select gate layers positioned at a drain-side of the block to activate the first sub-block, and causes a program signal to be applied to a selected wordline of the block to program at least the portion of the data to a memory cell in the first sub-block and associated with the selected wordline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Publication number: 20230092320
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a first die and a second die attached to the first die. The first die comprises a memory array region comprising a stack structure comprising vertically alternating conductive structures and insulative structures, vertically extending strings of memory cells within the stack structure, and first bond pad structures vertically neighboring the vertically extending strings of memory cells. The second die comprises a control logic region comprising control logic devices configured to effectuate at least a portion of control operations for the vertically extending string of memory cells, second bond pad structures in electrical communication with the first bond pad structures, and signal routing structures located at an interface between the first die and the second die. Related microelectronic devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Akira Goda, Kunal R. Parekh, Aaron S. Yip
  • Publication number: 20230059543
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array comprising a plurality of memory planes, wherein the plurality of memory planes are arranged in a plurality of independent plane groups, and wherein each of the plurality of independent plane groups comprises one or more of the plurality of memory planes. The memory device further includes a plurality of independent analog driver circuits coupled to the memory array, wherein a respective one of the plurality of independent analog driver circuits is associated with a respective one of the plurality of independent plane groups. The memory device further includes a common analog circuit coupled to the memory array, wherein the common analog circuit is shared by the plurality of independent analog driver circuits and the plurality of independent plane groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Andrea Giovanni Xotta, Dheeraj Srinivasan, Ali Mohammadzadeh, Karl D. Schuh, Guido Luciano Rizzo, Jung Sheng Hoei, Michele Piccardi, Tommaso Vali, Umberto Siciliani, Rohitkumar Makhija, June Lee, Aaron S. Yip, Daniel J. Hubbard
  • Patent number: 11587919
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a first die comprising a memory array region comprising a stack structure comprising vertically alternating conductive structures and insulative structures, and vertically extending strings of memory cells within the stack structure. The first die further comprises first control logic region comprising a first control logic devices including at least a word line driver. The microelectronic device further comprise a second die attached to the first die, the second die comprising a second control logic region comprising second control logic devices including at least one page buffer device configured to effectuate a portion of control operations of the vertically extending string of memory cells. Related microelectronic devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron S. Yip, Kunal R. Parekh, Akira Goda
  • Publication number: 20230039026
    Abstract: Memory devices might include a first latch to store a first data bit; a second latch to store a second data bit; a data line selectively connected to the first latch, the second latch, and a string of series-connected memory cells; and a controller configured to bias the data line during a programing operation of a selected memory cell. The controller may with the first data bit equal to 0 and the second data bit equal to 0, bias the data line to a first voltage level; with the first data bit equal to 1 and the second data bit equal to 0, bias the data line to a second voltage level; with the first data bit equal to 0 and the second data bit equal to 1, bias the data line to a third voltage level; and with the first data bit equal to 1 and the second data bit equal to 1, bias the data line to a fourth voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Hao T. Nguyen, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki, Erwin E. Yu, Dheeraj Srinivasan, Sheyang Ning, Lawrence Celso Miranda, Aaron S. Yip, Yoshihiko Kamata
  • Patent number: 11574685
    Abstract: Apparatus might include a controller configured to cause the apparatus to program a plurality of memory cells from a first data state to a second data state higher than the first data state, determine a respective first voltage level of a control gate voltage deemed to cause each memory cell of a first and second subset of memory cells of the plurality of memory cells to reach the second data state, determine a respective second voltage level of a control gate voltage deemed sufficient to cause each memory cell of the first subset of memory cells to reach a third data state higher than the second data state, and determine a respective second voltage level of a control gate voltage deemed sufficient to cause each memory cell of the second subset of memory cells to reach a fourth data state higher than the third data state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 11562791
    Abstract: Memory devices might include a first latch to store a first data bit; a second latch to store a second data bit; a data line selectively connected to the first latch, the second latch, and a string of series-connected memory cells; and a controller configured to bias the data line during a programing operation of a selected memory cell. The controller may with the first data bit equal to 0 and the second data bit equal to 0, bias the data line to a first voltage level; with the first data bit equal to 1 and the second data bit equal to 0, bias the data line to a second voltage level; with the first data bit equal to 0 and the second data bit equal to 1, bias the data line to a third voltage level; and with the first data bit equal to 1 and the second data bit equal to 1, bias the data line to a fourth voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hao T. Nguyen, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki, Erwin E. Yu, Dheeraj Srinivasan, Sheyang Ning, Lawrence Celso Miranda, Aaron S. Yip, Yoshihiko Kamata
  • Patent number: 11545456
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a first die and a second die attached to the first die. The first die comprises a memory array region comprising a stack structure comprising vertically alternating conductive structures and insulative structures, vertically extending strings of memory cells within the stack structure, and first bond pad structures vertically neighboring the vertically extending strings of memory cells. The second die comprises a control logic region comprising control logic devices configured to effectuate at least a portion of control operations for the vertically extending string of memory cells, second bond pad structures in electrical communication with the first bond pad structures, and signal routing structures located at an interface between the first die and the second die. Related microelectronic devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Goda, Kunal R. Parekh, Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 11404125
    Abstract: Methods of operating a memory, and memories configured to perform such methods, might include applying a programming pulse having a plurality of different voltage levels to a selected access line during a programming operation, and for each group of memory cells of a plurality of groups of memory cells of a plurality of memory cells selected for programming, enabling that group of memory cells for programming during a respective portion of the duration of the programming pulse of a corresponding voltage level of the plurality of different voltage levels, wherein memory cells of the plurality of memory cells selected for programming and having a particular intended data state are members of more than one of the groups of memory cells, and at least one of the groups of memory cells comprises a memory cell having the particular intended data state and a memory cell having a different intended data state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Publication number: 20220238554
    Abstract: A memory device stores data in non-volatile memory. The memory device includes a non-volatile memory array. The memory array includes tiers for accessing data stored in blocks of the memory array, including a block having a left block portion and a right block portion. A first staircase is positioned between the left block portion and the right block portion, and a bottom portion of the first staircase includes steps corresponding to first tiers of the left block portion. A second staircase is positioned between the left block portion and the right block portion, and a top portion of the second staircase includes steps corresponding to second tiers of the right block portion. The steps of the first staircase and the steps of the second staircase descend in opposite directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 11335700
    Abstract: A memory device stores data in non-volatile memory. The memory device includes a non-volatile memory array. The memory array includes tiers for accessing data stored in blocks of the memory array, including a block having a left block portion and a right block portion. A first staircase is positioned between the left block portion and the right block portion, and a bottom portion of the first staircase includes steps corresponding to first tiers of the left block portion. A second staircase is positioned between the left block portion and the right block portion, and a top portion of the second staircase includes steps corresponding to second tiers of the right block portion. The steps of the first staircase and the steps of the second staircase descend in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 11329058
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure having tiers each including a conductive structure and an insulating structure, the stack structure comprises a staircase region comprising staircase structures, a select gate contact region, and a memory array region between the staircase region and the select gate contact region; contact structures on steps of the staircase structures; string drivers coupled to the contact structures and comprising transistors underlying and within horizontal boundaries of the staircase region; a triple well structure underlying the memory array region; a select gate structure between the stack structure and the triple well structure; semiconductive pillar structures within horizontal boundaries of the memory array region and extending through the stack structure and the select gate structure to the triple well structure; and a select gate contact structure within horizontal boundaries of the select gate contact region and extending through the stack structure to the sele
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Publication number: 20220076751
    Abstract: A memory device comprises a substrate and a memory array disposed above the substrate, the memory array comprising a plurality of vertically stacked layers, each vertically stacked layer comprising a plurality of word lines. The memory device further comprises a plurality of vertical string driver circuits disposed above the memory array, wherein each of the plurality of vertical string driver circuits comprises one or more semiconductor devices coupled to a respective one of the plurality of word lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Aaron S. Yip, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20220052010
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a first die and a second die attached to the first die. The first die comprises a memory array region comprising a stack structure comprising vertically alternating conductive structures and insulative structures, vertically extending strings of memory cells within the stack structure, and first bond pad structures vertically neighboring the vertically extending strings of memory cells. The second die comprises a control logic region comprising control logic devices configured to effectuate at least a portion of control operations for the vertically extending string of memory cells, second bond pad structures in electrical communication with the first bond pad structures, and signal routing structures located at an interface between the first die and the second die. Related microelectronic devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Akira Goda, Kunal R. Parekh, Aaron S. Yip