Patents by Inventor Antoine Khoueir

Antoine Khoueir 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: 9858002
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for open block stability scanning. When a solid state memory block remains in an open state, where the block is only partially filled with written data, for a prolonged period of time, a circuit may perform a scan on the block to determine the stability of the stored data. When the scan indicates that the data is below a stability threshold, the data may be refreshed by reading the data and writing it to a new location. When the scan indicates that the data is above a stability threshold, the circuit may extend the time period in which the block may remain in the open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Ryan James Goss, Antoine Khoueir, Ara Patapoutian
  • Publication number: 20170329532
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving data refresh in flash memory are described. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a first garbage collection unit (GCU) of the storage system, computing a parity function in relation to the first GCU, identifying a data impairment in a first block, the first block being from the N blocks in the first GCU, removing the first block from the first GCU after identifying the data impairment in the first block, and recomputing the parity function when the first block is not cloned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Ryan J. Goss, Antoine Khoueir, Ara Patapoutian
  • Patent number: 9786677
    Abstract: A memory device may include a memory unit having multiple channel structures connected to a common source and drain in parallel. The memory unit can include floating gate structures including control gates connected to word lines and charge trap layers to store charge to form tiered floating gate memory cells. In some embodiments, rows and columns of memory units can be connected to form a three dimensional memory device. A method of fabricating a memory unit having tiered channel structures utilizing common source and drain elements and 3D memory device utilizing rows and columns of memory units having multiple channel structures connected to the common source and drain elements in parallel is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Antoine Khoueir, Frank R Dropps
  • Publication number: 20170277448
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing a solid state memory, such as but not limited to a NAND flash memory. In some embodiments, a storage device includes a non-volatile solid state memory and a control circuit configured to transfer user data between the memory and a host device. The control circuit maintains, in a local memory, a data structure indicative of measured readback error rates associated with memory locations in the memory in relation to erasure counts associated with the memory locations. The control circuit retires a subset of the memory locations identified by the data structure from further availability to store user data from the host device responsive to the measured readback error rates, and responsive to the erasure counts of said memory locations indicating the memory has reached an end of life (EOL) condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Antoine Khoueir, Ara Patapoutian, David S. Ebsen, Ryan J. Goss
  • Patent number: 9727459
    Abstract: First and second data representation are stored in first and second blocks of a non-volatile, solid-state memory. The first and second blocks share series-connected bit lines. The first and second blocks are selected and other blocks of the non-volatile, solid-state memory that share the bit lines are deselected. The bit lines are read to determine a combination of the first and second data representations. The combination may include a union or an intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Antoine Khoueir, Ryan James Goss, Jon Trantham, Kevin Gomez, Frank Dropps
  • Publication number: 20170133098
    Abstract: Systems and methods for low latency acquisition of soft data from a memory cell based on a sensing time and/or a leakage current are described. In one embodiment, the systems and methods may include applying a first read voltage to a word line of a page of memory cells selected by a processor of a flash memory device for a read operation, applying a pass voltage to word lines associated with one or more different pages of memory cells of the memory block, upon applying the first read voltage sensing whether a bit line of a memory cell in the selected page conducts, measuring a side effect associated with sensing whether the bit line of the memory cell in the selected page conducts, and assigning a LLR value to the memory cell as a soft LDPC input based at least in part on the measured side effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Young Pil KIM, Antoine Khoueir, Namoh Hwang
  • Patent number: 9589655
    Abstract: Systems and methods for low latency acquisition of soft data from a memory cell based on a sensing time and/or a leakage current are described. In one embodiment, the systems and methods may include applying a first read voltage to a word line of a page of memory cells selected by a processor of a flash memory device for a read operation, applying a pass voltage to word lines associated with one or more different pages of memory cells of the memory block, upon applying the first read voltage sensing whether a bit line of a memory cell in the selected page conducts, measuring a side effect associated with sensing whether the bit line of the memory cell in the selected page conducts, and assigning a LLR value to the memory cell as a soft LDPC input based at least in part on the measured side effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Young Pil Kim, Antoine Khoueir, Namoh Hwang
  • Patent number: 9576649
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory array. In accordance with some embodiments, a block of solid-state non-volatile memory cells are each programmed to an associated programmed state responsive to a respective amount of accumulated charge. A charge loss compensation circuit adds a relatively small amount of additional charge to the respective amount of accumulated charge in each of the memory cells to maintain the associated programmed states of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Antoine Khoueir, Young Pil Kim
  • Patent number: 9489148
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller capable of being coupled to a host interface and a memory device. The memory device includes two or more non-hierarchical, non-volatile memory units having different minimum addressable data unit sizes. The controller is configured to at least perform determining a workload indicator of a data object being stored in the memory device via the host interface. The controller selects one of the memory units in response to the workload indicator of the data object corresponding to the minimum addressable data unit size of the selected memory unit corresponding to the workload indicator. The data object is stored in the selected memory unit in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Ryan James Goss, Jon D. Trantham, Antoine Khoueir, David Scott Ebsen, Mark Allen Gaertner, Kevin Gomez
  • Publication number: 20160293250
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory array. In accordance with some embodiments, a block of solid-state non-volatile memory cells are each programmed to an associated programmed state responsive to a respective amount of accumulated charge. A charge loss compensation circuit adds a relatively small amount of additional charge to the respective amount of accumulated charge in each of the memory cells to maintain the associated programmed states of the cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Antoine Khoueir, Young Pil Kim
  • Publication number: 20160247080
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a mass storage unit and a plurality of circuit modules including a machine learning module, a programmable state machine module, and input/output interfaces. Switching circuitry is configured to selectively couple the circuit modules. Configuration circuitry is configured to access configuration data from the mass storage unit and to operate the switching circuitry to connect the circuit modules according to the configuration data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Jon Trantham, Kevin Arthur Gomez, Frank Dropps, Antoine Khoueir, Scott Younger
  • Patent number: 9424129
    Abstract: Methods and systems that include receiving data to be written to a NAND array in a controller; and writing the data to the NAND array, the NAND array including both type A NAND cells and type B NAND cells, wherein the type A NAND cells and the type B NAND cells have at least one structural difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Young Pil Kim, Antoine Khoueir, Rodney Virgil Bowman
  • Patent number: 9378830
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory array. In accordance with some embodiments, data are written to a set of solid-state non-volatile memory cells so that each memory cell in the set is written to an associated initial programmed state. Drift in the programmed state of a selected memory cell in the set is detected, and the selected memory cell is partially reprogrammed to return the selected memory cell to the associated initial programmed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Antoine Khoueir, Varun Voddi, Rodney Virgil Bowman
  • Patent number: 9349444
    Abstract: Two or more workload indicators affecting a memory cell of a resistance-based, non-volatile memory are measured. The two or more workload indicators are applied to a transfer function that predicts a resistance shift and/or resistance noise variance in response to the two or more workload indicators. A result of the transfer function is applied to shift and/or determine a threshold resistance used for at least one of a program operation and a read operation affecting the memory cell. An error rate of the memory cell is reduced as a result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Ara Patapoutian, Ryan James Goss, Antoine Khoueir
  • Publication number: 20160098646
    Abstract: A connection between a user device and a network server is established. Via the connection, a deep learning network is formed for a processing task. A first portion of the deep learning network operates on the user device and a second portion of the deep learning network operates on the network server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin Arthur Gomez, Frank Dropps, Ryan James Goss, Jon Trantham, Antoine Khoueir
  • Publication number: 20160054940
    Abstract: First and second data representation are stored in first and second blocks of a non-volatile, solid-state memory. The first and second blocks share series-connected bit lines. The first and second blocks are selected and other blocks of the non-volatile, solid-state memory that share the bit lines are deselected. The bit lines are read to determine a combination of the first and second data representations. The combination may include a union or an intersection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Antoine Khoueir, Ryan James Goss, Jon Trantham, Kevin Gomez, Frank Dropps
  • Patent number: 9263142
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data in a memory, such as but not limited to a flash memory array. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an array of memory cells and a dual polarity charge pump. The dual polarity charge pump has a positive polarity voltage source which applies a positive voltage to a charge storage device to program a selected memory cell to a first programming state, and a negative polarity voltage source which applies a negative voltage to the charge storage device to program the selected memory cell to a different, second programming state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: YoungPil Kim, Dadi Setiadi, Wei Tian, Antoine Khoueir, Rodney V. Bowman
  • Patent number: 9231086
    Abstract: Memory arrays that include a first memory cell having a channel; a first insulator; a floating gate; a second insulator; and a control gate, wherein the first insulator is positioned between the channel and the floating gate, the second insulator is positioned between the floating gate and the control gate; and a second memory cell having a channel; a first insulator; a floating gate; a second insulator; and a control gate, wherein the first insulator is positioned between the channel and the floating gate, the second insulator is positioned between the floating gate and the control gate, wherein the first memory cell and the second memory cell are positioned parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Antoine Khoueir, YoungPil Kim, Rodney Virgil Bowman
  • Publication number: 20150324691
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells and a map that assigns connections between nodes of a neural network to the memory cells. Memory devices containing nonvolatile memory cells and applicable circuitry for reading and writing may operate with the map. Information stored in the memory cells can represent weights of the connections. One or more neural processors can be present and configured to implement the neural network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Frank Dropps, Antoine Khoueir, Kevin Arthur Gomez, Jon Trantham
  • Publication number: 20150310937
    Abstract: Methods and systems that include receiving data to be written to a NAND array in a controller; and writing the data to the NAND array, the NAND array including both type A NAND cells and type B NAND cells, wherein the type A NAND cells and the type B NAND cells have at least one structural difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Young Pil Kim, Antoine Khoueir, Rodney Virgil Bowman