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).

  • Publication number: 20190213073
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for generating probabilistic information for error correction using current integration are disclosed. An example method comprises sensing a first plurality of memory cells based on a first sense threshold, responsive to sensing the first plurality of cells, associating a first set of probabilistic information with the first plurality of memory cells, sensing a second plurality of memory cells based on a second sense threshold, responsive to sensing the second plurality of memory cells, associating a second set of probabilistic information with the second plurality of memory cells, and performing an error correction operation on the first and second pluralities of memory cells based, at least in part, on the first and second values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Khayat, Sivagnanam Parthasarathy, Mustafa N. Kaynak, Mark A. Helm, Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 10332603
    Abstract: Memory devices including an array of memory cells, a plurality of access lines selectively coupled to respective pluralities of memory cells of the array of memory cells, a plurality of first registers, a second register, a first multiplexer, a second multiplexer, and a decoder configured to selectively connect a corresponding access line to a selected voltage source of a plurality of voltage sources in response to the output of the second multiplexer, wherein the second multiplexer is configured to pass a selected one of the output of the second register and the output of the first multiplexer to its output, and wherein the first multiplexer is configured to pass a selected one of the outputs of the plurality of first registers to its output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Louie, Ali Mohammadzadeh, Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 10332601
    Abstract: Methods include applying a first voltage to channel regions of a plurality of memory cells; applying a lower second voltage to each access line of a plurality of access lines coupled to the memory cells other than a first set of access lines; applying a lower third voltage to the first set of access lines while applying the first voltage and the second voltage; determining a desired voltage level of the third voltage for a subsequent set of access lines; and applying the third voltage to the subsequent set of access lines while applying the first voltage and while applying the second voltage to each access line of the plurality of access lines other than the subsequent set of access lines. Methods further include methods of determining the desired voltage level for the third voltage for each set of access lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 10289484
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for determining likelihood of erroneous data bits stored in a plurality of memory cells. A sense circuit to perform a coarse sense operation to detect first memory cells of the plurality of memory cells that stored charge sufficiently above a transition voltage threshold where the first memory cells are unlikely to be erroneous. The sense circuit further performs a fine sense operation to sense second memory cells of the plurality of memory cells having stored charge near the transition voltage between adjacent logic states. The first memory cells remain unsensed during the fine sense operation. The second memory cells detected during the fine sense operation may have an increased likelihood of being erroneous. Responsive to a number of sensed second memory cells near the transition voltage exceeding a threshold, additional sensing operations are performed by the sense circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Khayat, Sivagnanam Parthasarathy, Mustafa N. Kaynak, Mark A. Helm, Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 10248500
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for determining likelihood of erroneous data bits stored in a plurality of memory cells. A sense circuit to perform a coarse sense operation to detect first memory cells of the plurality of memory cells that stored charge sufficiently above a transition voltage threshold where the first memory cells are unlikely to be erroneous. The sense circuit further performs a fine sense operation to sense second memory cells of the plurality of memory cells having stored charge near the transition voltage between adjacent logic states. The first memory cells remain unsensed during the fine sense operation. The second memory cells detected during the fine sense operation may have an increased likelihood of being erroneous. Responsive to a number of sensed second memory cells near the transition voltage exceeding a threshold, additional sensing operations are performed by the sense circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Khayat, Sivagnanam Parthasarathy, Mustafa N. Kaynak, Mark A. Helm, Aaron S. Yip
  • Publication number: 20190066797
    Abstract: Methods include applying a first voltage to channel regions of a plurality of memory cells; applying a lower second voltage to each access line of a plurality of access lines coupled to the memory cells other than a first set of access lines; applying a lower third voltage to the first set of access lines while applying the first voltage and the second voltage; determining a desired voltage level of the third voltage for a subsequent set of access lines; and applying the third voltage to the subsequent set of access lines while applying the first voltage and while applying the second voltage to each access line of the plurality of access lines other than the subsequent set of access lines. Methods further include methods of determining the desired voltage level for the third voltage for each set of access lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Publication number: 20180301195
    Abstract: Methods of operating a memory include applying a programming pulse having a particular voltage level to a selected access line connected to a plurality of memory cells selected for programming during a programming operation, concurrently enabling for programming each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells selected for programming while applying the programming pulse, applying a subsequent programming pulse having a plurality of different voltage levels to the selected access line, and, for each group of memory cells of a plurality of groups of memory cells of the plurality of memory cells selected for programming, enabling that group of memory cells for programming while the subsequent programming pulse has a corresponding voltage level of the plurality of different voltage levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 10037806
    Abstract: Methods of operating a memory include applying a programming pulse having a particular voltage level to a selected access line connected to selected memory cells of a programming operation, assigning the selected memory cells to respective groups of memory cells each having a different range of threshold voltages, determining a respective value of VgVt for each group of memory cells, applying a subsequent programming pulse to the selected access line and having a particular voltage level determined in response to the value of VgVt for a particular group of memory cells, enabling the selected memory cells of the particular group of memory cells for programming while the subsequent programming pulse has the particular voltage level, and repeating for a next group of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 10014061
    Abstract: Apparatus having a plurality of strings of series-connected memory cells, and methods of their operation, where each of the strings of series-connected memory cells is selectively connected to the same data line through a respective plurality of select gates connected in series between that string and the data line. One select gate of each of the pluralities of select gates has a threshold voltage within a first range of threshold voltages, and each remaining select gate of each of the pluralities of select gates has a threshold voltage within a second range of threshold voltages mutually exclusive from the first range of threshold voltages. Each of the select gates having a threshold voltage within the first range of threshold voltages has its control gate isolated from any of the other select gates having a threshold voltage within the first range of threshold voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron S. Yip, Mark A. Helm
  • Publication number: 20180137921
    Abstract: Memory devices including an array of memory cells, a plurality of access lines selectively coupled to respective pluralities of memory cells of the array of memory cells, a plurality of first registers, a second register, a first multiplexer, a second multiplexer, and a decoder configured to selectively connect a corresponding access line to a selected voltage source of a plurality of voltage sources in response to the output of the second multiplexer, wherein the second multiplexer is configured to pass a selected one of the output of the second register and the output of the first multiplexer to its output, and wherein the first multiplexer is configured to pass a selected one of the outputs of the plurality of first registers to its output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Louie, Ali Mohammadzadeh, Aaron S. Yip
  • Publication number: 20180081753
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for generating probabilistic information for error correction using current integration are disclosed. An example method comprises sensing a first plurality of memory cells based on a first sense threshold, responsive to sensing the first plurality of cells, associating a first set of probabilistic information with the first plurality of memory cells, sensing a second plurality of memory cells based on a second sense threshold, responsive to sensing the second plurality of memory cells, associating a second set of probabilistic information with the second plurality of memory cells, and performing an error correction operation on the first and second pluralities of memory cells based, at least in part, on the first and second values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Khayat, Sivagnanam Parthasarathy, Mustafa N. Kaynak, Mark A. Helm, Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 9875802
    Abstract: Memory devices are configured to store a number of access line biasing patterns to be applied during a memory device operation performed on a particular row of memory cells in the memory device. Memory devices are further configured to support modification of the stored bias patterns, providing flexibility in biasing access lines through changes to the bias patterns stored in the memory device. Methods and devices further facilitate performing memory device operations under multiple biasing conditions to evaluate and characterize the memory device by adjustment of the stored bias patterns without requiring an associated hardware change to the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Louie, Ali Mohammadzadeh, Aaron S. Yip
  • Publication number: 20170330627
    Abstract: Methods of operating a memory include applying a programming pulse having a particular voltage level to a selected access line connected to selected memory cells of a programming operation, assigning the selected memory cells to respective groups of memory cells each having a different range of threshold voltages, determining a respective value of VgVt for each group of memory cells, applying a subsequent programming pulse to the selected access line and having a particular voltage level determined in response to the value of VgVt for a particular group of memory cells, enabling the selected memory cells of the particular group of memory cells for programming while the subsequent programming pulse has the particular voltage level, and repeating for a next group of memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Publication number: 20170271014
    Abstract: Methods of operating a memory include determining indications of programming voltages sufficient to program respective groups of memory cells of a plurality of groups of memory cells to a particular range of threshold voltages, applying a stepped programming pulse to a selected access line connected to each memory cell of the plurality of groups of memory cells, and enabling each group of memory cells for programming when a voltage level of the stepped programming pulse corresponds to the respective indication of the programming voltage sufficient to program that group of memory cells to the particular range of threshold voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 9767909
    Abstract: Methods of operating a memory include determining indications of programming voltages sufficient to program respective groups of memory cells of a plurality of groups of memory cells to a particular range of threshold voltages, applying a stepped programming pulse to a selected access line connected to each memory cell of the plurality of groups of memory cells, and enabling each group of memory cells for programming when a voltage level of the stepped programming pulse corresponds to the respective indication of the programming voltage sufficient to program that group of memory cells to the particular range of threshold voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Publication number: 20170076806
    Abstract: Memory devices are configured to store a number of access line biasing patterns to be applied during a memory device operation performed on a particular row of memory cells in the memory device. Memory devices are further configured to support modification of the stored bias patterns, providing flexibility in biasing access lines through changes to the bias patterns stored in the memory device. Methods and devices further facilitate performing memory device operations under multiple biasing conditions to evaluate and characterize the memory device by adjustment of the stored bias patterns without requiring an associated hardware change to the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Louie, Ali Mohammadzadeh, Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 9589978
    Abstract: In an example, a memory device includes a staircase comprising a flight of stairs and a plurality of pass transistors directly under the staircase. The stairs of the flight of stairs are respectively coupled to different tiers of memory cells, and a different pass transistor of the plurality of pass transistors is coupled to each of the stairs of the flight of stairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 9514829
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods are disclosed, such as devices configured to store a number of access line biasing patterns to be applied during a memory device operation performed on a particular row of memory cells in the memory device. Memory devices are further configured to support modification of the stored bias patterns, providing flexibility in biasing access lines through changes to the bias patterns stored in the memory device. Methods and devices further facilitate performing memory device operations under multiple biasing conditions to evaluate and characterize the memory device by adjustment of the stored bias patterns without requiring an associated hardware change to the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Louie, Ali Mohammadzadeh, Aaron S. Yip
  • Publication number: 20160086672
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods are disclosed, such as devices configured to store a number of access line biasing patterns to be applied during a memory device operation performed on a particular row of memory cells in the memory device. Memory devices are further configured to support modification of the stored bias patterns, providing flexibility in biasing access lines through changes to the bias patterns stored in the memory device. Methods and devices further facilitate performing memory device operations under multiple biasing conditions to evaluate and characterize the memory device by adjustment of the stored bias patterns without requiring an associated hardware change to the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Louie, Ali Mohammadzadeh, Aaron S. Yip
  • Patent number: 9251860
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a memory device includes a stack of tiers of memory cells, a tier of local devices at a level above the stack of tiers of memory cells, and a tier of global devices at substantially a same level as the tier of local devices. A local device may provide selective access to a data line. A global device may provide selective access to a global access line. A tier of memory cells may be selectively coupled to a global access line by the global device of the tier of global devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron S. Yip, Mark A. Helm, Ramin Ghodsi