Patents by Inventor Alexander K. Mak

Alexander K. Mak 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: 9037902
    Abstract: Techniques, related to a flash memory device having a non-volatile memory array (NVM), for recovering from a write interrupt resulting from host-supplied memory voltage fault are disclosed. A memory controller is configured to control a response to an occurrence of the write-interrupt, the response including writing to the NVM, after the memory voltage is verified as being within an acceptable range, one or more of a safe copy of a portion of a first sector of upper-page data and a safe copy of a portion of a second sector of lower-page data, and terminating the write interrupt. Terminating the write-interrupt may include receiving new data from the host while avoiding sending an error message to the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Gautam Dusija, Jianmin Huang, Chris N. Avila, Grishma S. Shah, Yi-Chieh Chen, Alexander K. Mak, Farookh Moogat
  • Publication number: 20140281683
    Abstract: Techniques, related to a flash memory device having a non-volatile memory array (NVM), for recovering from a write interrupt resulting from host-supplied memory voltage fault are disclosed. A memory controller is configured to control a response to an occurrence of the write-interrupt, the response including writing to the NVM, after the memory voltage is verified as being within an acceptable range, one or more of a safe copy of a portion of a first sector of upper-page data and a safe copy of a portion of a second sector of lower-page data, and terminating the write interrupt. Terminating the write-interrupt may include receiving new data from the host while avoiding sending an error message to the host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gautam Dusija, Jianmin Huang, Chris N. Avila, Grishma S. Shah, Yi-Chieh Chen, Alexander K. Mak, Farookh Moogat
  • Patent number: 7262998
    Abstract: In a non-volatile memory system, when it is discovered that the voltage pump pulse provided by a charge pump for programming the memory cells does not match a reference voltage, the programming time period of the voltage pump pulse is adjusted to a value that remains substantially unchanged until the end of the programming cycle. In this manner, the fluctuation in the effective programming time period of the programming pulses is prevented for the remainder of the programming cycle so that a broadening of the threshold voltage distribution will not occur or will be reduced. This feature allows a short programming time period to be designated for the programming pulses for enhanced performance, while allowing the flexibility of increased program time period when the charge pump is operating under conditions that causes it to be slow and/or weak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Sandisk Corporation
    Inventors: Farookh Moogat, Yan Li, Alexander K. Mak
  • Patent number: 7110298
    Abstract: In a non-volatile memory system, when it is discovered that the voltage pump pulse provided by a charge pump for programming the memory cells does not match a reference voltage, the programming time period of the voltage pump pulse is adjusted to a value that remains substantially unchanged until the end of the programming cycle. In this manner, the fluctuation in the effective programming time period of the programming pulses is prevented for the remainder of the programming cycle so that a broadening of the threshold voltage distribution will not occur or will be reduced. This feature allows a short programming time period to be designated for the programming pulses for enhanced performance, while allowing the flexibility of increased program time period when the charge pump is operating under conditions that causes it to be slow and/or weak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Farookh Moogat, Yan Li, Alexander K. Mak
  • Patent number: 7102924
    Abstract: Techniques of overcoming a degradation of the apparent charge levels stored in one row of memory cells as a result of subsequently programming an adjacent row of memory cells. After storing the data of the subsequently programmed row elsewhere, the charge levels of its cells are driven to common level. The charge levels of the first row of cells then have a uniform influence from the charge levels of the second row, and, as a result, the chance of successfully reading the data stored in the first row is significantly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Long C. Pham, Alexander K. Mak
  • Patent number: 7095654
    Abstract: A multi-level non-volatile memory cell programming/lockout method and system are provided. The programming/lockout method and system advantageously prevent memory cells that charge faster than other memory cells from being over-programmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Khandker N. Quader, Khanh T. Nguyen, Feng Pan, Long C. Pham, Alexander K. Mak
  • Patent number: 6967872
    Abstract: A multi-level non-volatile memory cell programming/lockout method and system are provided. The programming/lockout method and system advantageously prevent memory cells that charge faster than other memory cells from being over-programmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Khandker N. Quader, Khanh T. Nguyen, Feng Pan, Long C. Pham, Alexander K. Mak
  • Patent number: 6944068
    Abstract: A multi-level non-volatile memory cell programming/lockout method and system are provided. The programming/lockout method and system advantageously prevent memory cells that charge faster than other memory cells from being over-programmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Khandker N. Quader, Khanh T. Nguyen, Feng Pan, Long C. Pham, Alexander K. Mak
  • Patent number: 6847553
    Abstract: Techniques of overcoming a degradation of the apparent charge levels stored in one row of memory cells as a result of subsequently programming an adjacent row of memory cells. After storing the data of the subsequently programmed row elsewhere, the charge levels of its cells are driven to common level. The charge levels of the first row of cells then have a uniform influence from the charge levels of the second row, and, as a result, the chance of successfully reading the data stored in the first row is significantly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Long C. Pham, Alexander K. Mak
  • Publication number: 20040179404
    Abstract: A multi-level non-volatile memory cell programming/lockout method and system are provided. The programming/lockout method and system advantageously prevent memory cells that charge faster than other memory cells from being over-programmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Khandker N. Quader, Khanh T. Nguyen, Feng Pan, Long C. Pham, Alexander K. Mak
  • Publication number: 20030137888
    Abstract: Techniques of overcoming a degradation of the apparent charge levels stored in one row of memory cells as a result of subsequently programming an adjacent row of memory cells. After storing the data of the subsequently programmed row elsewhere, the charge levels of its cells are driven to common level. The charge levels of the first row of cells then have a uniform influence from the charge levels of the second row, and, as a result, the chance of successfully reading the data stored in the first row is significantly increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Long C. Pham, Alexander K. Mak
  • Publication number: 20030112663
    Abstract: A multi-level non-volatile memory cell programming/lockout method and system are provided. The programming/lockout method and system advantageously prevent memory cells that charge faster than other memory cells from being over-programmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Khandker N. Quader, Khanh T. Nguyen, Feng Pan, Long C. Pham, Alexander K. Mak
  • Patent number: 6542407
    Abstract: Techniques of overcoming a degradation of the apparent charge levels stored in one row of memory cells as a result of subsequently programming an adjacent row of memory cells. After storing the data of the subsequently programmed row elsewhere, the charge levels of its cells are driven to common level. The charge levels of the first row of cells then have a uniform influence from the charge levels of the second row, and, as a result, the chance of successfully reading the data stored in the first row is significantly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Long C. Pham, Alexander K. Mak