Patents by Inventor Byung-Gil Choi

Byung-Gil Choi 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: 8040716
    Abstract: A method of controlling the voltage of a sub-wordline in a variable resistive memory device includes switchably passing a voltage from a main wordline to the sub-wordline, and substantially blocking forward current flow from the sub-wordline to a variable resistive memory cell of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Gil Choi, Woo-Yeong Cho
  • Patent number: 8027192
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of memory banks, each including a plurality of nonvolatile resistive memory cells (e.g. PRAM cells). The device also includes a write global bitline shared by the memory banks and a read global bitline shared by the memory banks. The device further includes a control circuit configured to write data to a selected nonvolatile memory cell in a first memory bank using the write global bitline while reading data from a selected nonvolatile memory cell in a second memory bank using the read global bitline such that a discharge time period of the write global bitline is longer than a quenching time period of a write current which flows through the nonvolatile memory cell of the first memory bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-Gil Choi
  • Patent number: 8023320
    Abstract: A resistance-change random access memory device includes a resistance-change memory cell array having a plurality of resistance-change memory cells, where a plurality of word lines are connected to respective first terminals of the plurality of resistance-change memory cells. A plurality of bit lines are disposed perpendicular to the word lines and connected to respective second terminals of the plurality of resistance-change memory cells. The device also includes a plurality of discharge elements that are capable of connecting or disconnecting respective bit lines from a discharge voltage, where the discharge elements connect the respective bit lines to the discharge voltage before write and read operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hye-jin Kim, Kwang-ho Kim, Young-kug Moon, Byung-gil Choi
  • Patent number: 8023319
    Abstract: The phase change memory device includes a plurality of memory banks, a plurality of local conductor lines connected to the plurality of memory banks, at least one global conductor line connected to the plurality of local conductor lines, and at least one repair control circuit configured to selectively replace at least one of the at least one global conductor line with at least one redundant global conductor line and configured to selectively replace at least one of the plurality of local conductor lines with at least one redundant local conductor line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Beak-Hyung Cho, Byung-Gil Choi, Joon-Min Park
  • Patent number: 8009476
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a variable resistance semiconductor memory device including: a plurality of memory blocks belonging to different memory sectors and alternately arranged in a memory bank including the memory sectors so as to be adjacent to each other; and a line selecting unit simultaneously selecting word lines of the plurality of memory blocks and simultaneously selecting bit lines of the memory blocks belonging to the same memory sector among the plurality of memory blocks in an access operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-Gil Choi
  • Patent number: 8004925
    Abstract: A variable resistive memory device includes memory sectors, memory cells in each of the memory sectors, sub-wordlines including a first in signal communication with at least a first pair of the memory cells in a first sector and a second in signal communication with at least a second pair of the memory cells in a second sector, local bitlines where each is in signal communication a memory cell, a local bitline selecting signal generator in signal communication with local bitline selecting signal paths, a first local bitline selecting signal path in signal communication with a first pair of the local bitlines, and a second local bitline selecting signal path in signal communication with a second pair of the plurality of local bitlines, where a first of the first pair of local bitlines is in signal communication with a first of the first pair of the memory cells in the first sector and a second of the first pair of local bitlines is in signal communication with a second of the second pair of the memory cells in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-Gil Choi
  • Patent number: 7978539
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a non-volatile memory cell array. Memory cells of the non-volatile memory cell array are resistance based, and each memory cell has a resistance that changes over time after data is written into the memory cell. A write address buffer is configured to store write addresses associated with data being written into the non-volatile memory cell array, and a read unit is configured to perform a read operation to read data from the non-volatile memory cell array. The read unit is configured to control a read current applied to the non-volatile memory cell array during the read operation based on whether a read address matches one of the stored write addresses and at least one indication of settling time of the data being written into the non-volatile memory cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Jin Lee, Byung Gil Choi
  • Patent number: 7974118
    Abstract: A resistance variable memory device includes a memory cell array, a sense amplifier circuit, and a column selection circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of block units and a plurality of word line drivers, where each of the block units is connected between adjacent word line drivers and includes a plurality of memory blocks. The sense amplifier circuit includes a plurality of sense amplifier units, where each of the sense amplifier units provides a read current to a corresponding block unit and includes a plurality of sense amplifiers. The column selection circuit is connected between the memory cell array and the sense amplifier circuit and selects at least one of the plurality of memory blocks in response to a column selection signal to apply the read current from the sense amplifier circuit to the selected memory block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Gil Choi, Du-Eung Kim
  • Patent number: 7974116
    Abstract: A variable resistance memory device includes a variable resistance memory cell array including a plurality of variable resistance memory cells; a plurality of global word lines configured to drive the variable resistance memory cell array; and a plurality of local word line decoders. Each of the plurality of local word line decoders includes a first transistor having a gate connected to the global word line. A voltage greater than an operation voltage of one or more of the plurality of local word line decoders is applied to a selected one of the plurality of global word lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-gil Choi, Kwang-ho Kim
  • Patent number: 7961508
    Abstract: A phase-change random access memory includes a memory block including a plurality of memory columns corresponding to the same column address and using different input/output paths; a redundancy memory block including a plurality of redundancy memory columns using different input/output paths; and an input/output controller repairing at least one of the plurality of memory columns using at least one of the plurality of redundancy memory columns, and controlling the number of memory columns simultaneously repaired using redundancy memory columns in response to an input/output repair mode control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Gil Choi, Du-Eung Kim, Woo-Yeong Cho, Hye-Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 7948794
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes multiple memory blocks divided into multiple memory block groups. Each memory block group includes at least two memory blocks of the multiple memory blocks. The nonvolatile memory device also includes a main word line common to the memory blocks, and multiple sub-word lines corresponding to the memory blocks. Sub-word lines of the multiple sub-word lines located within the same memory block group are electrically connected to each other, and sub-word lines of the multiple sub-word lines located in different memory block are electrically isolated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-Gil Choi
  • Patent number: 7929337
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes at least one write global bit line connected to a plurality of local bit lines and at least one read global bit line connected to the local bit lines. The phase-change memory device having the write global bit line and the read global bit line suppress coupling noise generated during a read-while-write operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-gil Choi, Beak-hyung Cho
  • Patent number: 7885098
    Abstract: In one aspect, a non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a phase phase-change memory cell array including a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, and a plurality of phase-change memory cells, where each the phase-change memory cells includes a phase-change resistive element and a diode connected in series between a word line and a bit line among the plurality of word lines and bit lines of the phase-change memory cell array. The memory device of this aspect further includes a sense node which is selectively connected to a bit line of the phase-change memory cell array, a boosting circuit which generates a boosted voltage which is greater than an internal power supply voltage, a pre-charge and biasing circuit which is driven by the boosted voltage to pre-charge and bias the sense node, and a sense amplifier connected to the sense node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Hwan Ro, Woo-Yeong Cho, Byung-Gil Choi
  • Publication number: 20110026303
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device comprising: a plurality of memory banks, each of which operates independently and includes a plurality of resistance memory cells, each cell including a variable resistive element having a resistance varying depending on stored data; a plurality of global bit lines, each global bit line being shared by the plurality of memory banks; a temperature compensation circuit including one or more reference cells; and a data read circuit which is electrically connected to the plurality of global bit lines and performs a read operation by supplying at least one of the resistance memory cells with a current varying according to resistances of the reference cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Byung-Gil Choi, Beak-hyung Cho, Jun Soo Bae, Kwang-Jin Lee
  • Publication number: 20110026306
    Abstract: A resistance variable memory device includes a memory cell array, a sense amplifier circuit, and a column selection circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of block units and a plurality of word line drivers, where each of the block units is connected between adjacent word line drivers and includes a plurality of memory blocks. The sense amplifier circuit includes a plurality of sense amplifier units, where each of the sense amplifier units provides a read current to a corresponding block unit and includes a plurality of sense amplifiers. The column selection circuit is connected between the memory cell array and the sense amplifier circuit and selects at least one of the plurality of memory blocks in response to a column selection signal to apply the read current from the sense amplifier circuit to the selected memory block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung-Gil Choi, Du-Eung KIM
  • Patent number: 7881103
    Abstract: A phase-change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a bit line and a word line arranged on the semiconductor substrate to intersect each other, and a phase-change material strip interposed between the bit line and the word line and extending lengthwise in a direction that is substantially parallel to at least a portion of the word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Du-eung Kim, Chang-soo Lee, Woo-yeong Cho, Byung-gil Choi
  • Patent number: 7881101
    Abstract: Nonvolatile memory devices include a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells and a write circuit that is operable to write data to the nonvolatile memory cells over a plurality of consecutive division write periods by generating a plurality of write pulses whose peaks do not coincide with one another to the nonvolatile memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Ran Kim, Ki-Won Lim, Byung-Gil Choi, Ki-Sung Kim
  • Publication number: 20100329057
    Abstract: In a method of discharging bit-lines for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device performing a read-while-write operation. The method include discharging a global write bit-line to a ground voltage based on a write command within a first period. the method also includes maintaining the discharged voltage of the global write bit-line in the ground voltage during a second period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Yong-Jun Lee, Byung-Gil Choi, Du-Eung Kim
  • Publication number: 20100320433
    Abstract: A variable resistance memory device includes a substrate, a plurality of active lines formed on the substrate, are uniformly separated, and extend in a first direction, a plurality of switching devices formed on the active lines and are separated from one another, a plurality of variable resistance devices respectively formed on and connected to the switching devices, a plurality of local bit lines formed on the variable resistance devices, are uniformly separated, extend in a second direction, and are connected to the variable resistance devices, a plurality of local word lines formed on the local bit lines, are uniformly separated, and extend in the first direction, a plurality of global bit lines formed on the local word lines, are uniformly separated, and extend in the second direction, and a plurality of global word lines formed on the global bit lines, are uniformly separated, and extend in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Yu-hwan Ro, Byung-gil Choi, Woo-yeong Cho, Hyung-rok Oh
  • Patent number: 7852666
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory using a resistance material includes first and second memory-cell blocks having different block address information and each including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells; a global bitline common to the first and second memory-cell blocks; first and second local bitlines corresponding to the first and second memory-cell blocks, respectively, and coupled to each other; and a common bitline selection circuit interposed between the first and second memory-cell blocks and coupled between the first and second local bitlines and the global bitline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-Yong Choi, Byung-Gil Choi