Patents by Inventor Akihisa Fujimoto

Akihisa Fujimoto 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: 9292433
    Abstract: A memory card includes a memory controller configured to perform control for sending and receiving a command signal, a response signal, a data signal, and a status signal in synchronization with a clock signal, and a memory-side pattern signal storage unit configured to store a tuning pattern signal to be sent to a host device. The tuning pattern signal is used by the host device to adjust the phase of the clock signal for use as a sampling clock signal. The memory card sends a first tuning pattern signal through a command line and a second tuning pattern signal through a data line concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9244620
    Abstract: A storage device includes a semiconductor memory storing data. A controller instructs to write data to the semiconductor memory in accordance with a request the controller receives. A register holds performance class information showing one performance class required to allow the storage device to demonstrate best performance which the storage device supports, of performance classes specified in accordance with performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20150331479
    Abstract: A host apparatus, into which a card having a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is inserted, issues a check command to the card. The check command instructs to send information on whether the card supports a termination process in which the card shifts into a state ready for a stop of power supply from the host apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Akihisa FUJIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150317102
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system, such as a SDIO card, includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a control section, a memory, an extended function section, and an extension register. The extended function section is controlled by the control section. A first command reads data from the extension register in units of given data lengths. A second command writes data to the extension register in units of given data lengths. A extension register includes a first area, and second area different from the first area, information configured to specify a type of the extended function and controllable driver, and address information indicating a place to which the extended function is assigned, the place being on the extension register, are recorded in the first area, and the second area includes the extended function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Akihisa FUJIMOTO, Hiroyuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9146866
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a device. The device includes a decoder, a generation circuit, a register, and a modifier. The decoder analyzes a command of a received packet. The generation circuit generates a unique device number in accordance with information in the packet. The register holds the generated unique device number. The modifier updates and outputs the packet. When a packet issued by a host is a command packet, among broadcast packets which return to the host through one or more devices, for determining the unique device number, the command packet includes parameters of an initial value and final value of device number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9141398
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a semiconductor system may be disclosed. The semiconductor system according to the one embodiment may include, for example, a plurality of electronic devices and a host apparatus. The host apparatus may simultaneously initialize the plurality of electronic devices in units of group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9128635
    Abstract: A host apparatus, into which a card having a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is inserted, issues a check command to the card. The check command instructs to send information on whether the card supports a termination process in which the card shifts into a state ready for a stop of power supply from the host apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9122630
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the host controller includes a register set to issue command, and a direct memory access (DMA) unit and accesses a system memory and a device. First, second, third and fourth descriptors are stored in the system memory. The first descriptor includes a set of a plurality of pointers indicating a plurality of second descriptors. Each of the second descriptors comprises the third descriptor and fourth descriptor. The third descriptor includes a command number, etc. The fourth descriptor includes information indicating addresses and sizes of a plurality of data arranged in the system memory. The DMA unit sets, in the register set, the contents of the third descriptor forming the second descriptor, from the head of the first descriptor as a start point, and transfers data between the system memory and the host controller in accordance with the contents of the fourth descriptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20150242135
    Abstract: A storage device includes a semiconductor memory storing data. A controller instructs to write data to the semiconductor memory in accordance with a request the controller receives. A register holds performance class information showing one performance class required to allow the storage device to demonstrate best performance which the storage device supports, of performance classes specified in accordance with performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa FUJIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150234598
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory having physical storage areas that includes a user area externally accessible and are divided into management units and a control unit. The control unit receives a control command having a first argument to designate a sequential write area and a read command or a write command, assigns a management unit represented by an address of the read command or the write command as the sequential write area, and changes memory access control by judging whether an address of a memory access command to access the user area indicates access in the sequential write area whose size is equivalent to the management unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa FUJIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150234596
    Abstract: A host device is configured to read and write information from and into a card and to supply a supply voltage that belongs to a first voltage range or a second voltage range which is lower than the first voltage range, and issues a voltage identification command to the card. The voltage identification command includes a voltage range identification section, an error detection section, and a check pattern section. The voltage range identification section includes information indicating which one of the first voltage range and the second voltage range the supply voltage belongs. The error detection section has a pattern configured to enable the card which has received the voltage identification command to detect errors in the voltage identification command. The check pattern section has a preset pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa FUJIMOTO
  • Patent number: 9110781
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory which has memory areas, and a controller has a first mode and a second mode. Upon receipt of write data, the controller writes data in the memory areas while managing correspondence between logical addresses of write data and memory areas which store corresponding write data. A plurality of the memory areas constitutes a management unit. The controller in the first mode is able to write pieces of data in respective memory areas and configured to maintain data in memory areas in one management unit which contains data to be updated. The controller in the second mode writes pieces of data in respective memory areas in the ascending order of logical addresses of the pieces of data and invalidates data in memory areas in one management unit which contains updated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9104539
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system, such as a SDIO card, includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a control section, a memory, an extended function section, and an extension register. The extended function section is controlled by the control section. A first command reads data from the extension register in units of given data lengths. A second command writes data to the extension register in units of given data lengths. A extension register includes a first area, and second area different from the first area, information configured to specify a type of the extended function and controllable driver, and address information indicating a place to which the extended function is assigned, the place being on the extension register, are recorded in the first area, and the second area includes the extended function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Akihisa Fujimoto, Hiroyuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9052843
    Abstract: A host device is configured to read and write information from and into a card and to supply a supply voltage that belongs to a first voltage range or a second voltage range which is lower than the first voltage range, and issues a voltage identification command to the card. The voltage identification command includes a voltage range identification section, an error detection section, and a check pattern section. The voltage range identification section includes information indicating which one of the first voltage range and the second voltage range the supply voltage belongs. The error detection section has a pattern configured to enable the card which has received the voltage identification command to detect errors in the voltage identification command. The check pattern section has a preset pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9052836
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a non-transitory medium, a controller, a memory, an extension function section, and an extension register. The controller controls the non-transitory medium. The memory which is serving as a work area is connected to the controller. The extension function section is controlled by the controller. The extension register which is provided on the memory is provided with a certain block length capable of defining an extension function of the extension function section. The controller processes a first command to write header data of a command to operate the extension function section to the extension function section through the extension register, and a second command to read header data of a response from the extension function section through the extension register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Shinichi Matsukawa, Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9026723
    Abstract: A storage device includes a semiconductor memory storing data. A controller instructs to write data to the semiconductor memory in accordance with a request the controller receives. A register holds performance class information showing one performance class required to allow the storage device to demonstrate best performance which the storage device supports, of performance classes specified in accordance with performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20150120984
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the host controller includes a register set to issue command, and a direct memory access (DMA) unit and accesses a system memory and a device. First, second, third and fourth descriptors are stored in the system memory. The first descriptor includes a set of a plurality of pointers indicating a plurality of second descriptors. Each of the second descriptors comprises the third descriptor and fourth descriptor. The third descriptor includes a command number, etc. The fourth descriptor includes information indicating addresses and sizes of a plurality of data arranged in the system memory. The DMA unit sets, in the register set, the contents of the third descriptor forming the second descriptor, from the head of the first descriptor as a start point, and transfers data between the system memory and the host controller in accordance with the contents of the fourth descriptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa FUJIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8959260
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the host controller includes a register set to issue command, and a direct memory access (DMA) unit and accesses a system memory and a device. First, second, third and fourth descriptors are stored in the system memory. The first descriptor includes a set of a plurality of pointers indicating a plurality of second descriptors. Each of the second descriptors comprises the third descriptor and fourth descriptor. The third descriptor includes a command number, etc. The fourth descriptor includes information indicating addresses and sizes of a plurality of data arranged in the system memory. The DMA unit sets, in the register set, the contents of the third descriptor forming the second descriptor, from the head of the first descriptor as a start point, and transfers data between the system memory and the host controller in accordance with the contents of the fourth descriptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20150033090
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a host controller includes a command generator and detector. The command generator generates a command having a retransmission flag in an argument, and transmits the generated command to a memory device. The detector detects timeout if a response from the memory device cannot be recognized within a defined time. When transmitting an initial command, the host controller clears the retransmission flag and transmits the command. If the detector detects timeout, the host controller sets the retransmission flag, and retransmits the same command as the initial command to the device. If a normal response corresponding to the initial command or retransmitted command is received, the host controller recognizes that the command is correctly executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Akihisa FUJIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8930613
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a controller, an extended function section, and an extension register. The controller controls the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device. The extended function section is controlled by the controller. The extension register which is provided with a certain block length capable of defining an extended function of the extended function section. The controller processes a first command to write header data of a command to operate the extended function section to the extended function section through the extension register, and a second command to read header data of a response from the extended function section through the extension register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinichi Matsukawa, Akihisa Fujimoto