Patents by Inventor Charles L. Ingalls

Charles L. Ingalls 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: 20190325940
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated memory assembly having a first memory array deck over a second memory array deck. A first series of conductive lines extends across the first memory array deck, and a second series of conductive lines extends across the second memory array deck. A first conductive line of the first series and a first conductive line of the second series are coupled with a first component through a first conductive path. A second conductive line of the first series and a second conductive line of the second series are coupled with a second component through a second conductive path. The first and second conductive lines of the first series extend through first isolation circuitry to the first and second conductive paths, respectively; and the first and second conductive lines of the second series extend through second isolation circuitry to the first and second conductive paths, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Patent number: 10431282
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for memory array bit inversion are described. A memory cell (e.g., a ferroelectric memory cell) may be written with a charge associated with a logic state that may be the inverse of the intended logic state of the cell. That is, the actual logic state of one or more memory cells may be inverted, but the intended logic state of the memory cells may remain unchanged. Different sets of transistors may be configured around a sense component of a cell to enable reading and writing of intended and inverted logic states from or to the cell. For instance, a first set of transistors may be used to read the logic state currently stored at a memory cell, while a second set of transistors may be used to read a logic state inverted from the currently stored logic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Ingalls, Scott J. Derner
  • Patent number: 10431284
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. A first value may be written to a first memory cell and a second value may be written to a second memory cell. Each value may have a corresponding voltage when the memory cells are discharged onto their respective digit lines. The voltage on each digit line after a read operation may be temporarily stored at a node in electronic communication with the respective digit line. A conductive path may be established between the nodes so that charge sharing occurs between the nodes. The voltage resulting from the charge sharing may be used to adjust a reference voltage that is used by other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott James Derner, Christopher John Kawamura, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Patent number: 10431291
    Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a memory array having at least one memory cell. The memory device further includes a sense amplifier circuit configured to read data from the at least one memory cell, write data to the at least one memory cell, or a combination thereof. The memory device additionally includes a first bus configured to provide a first electric power to the sense amplifier circuit, and a second bus configured to provide a second electric power to a second circuit, wherein the first bus and the second bus are configured to be electrically coupled to each other to provide for the first electric power and the second electric power to the at least one memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Tae H. Kim, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Publication number: 20190287579
    Abstract: A sense amplifier construction comprises a first n-type transistor and a second n-type transistor above the first n-type transistor. A third p-type transistor is included and a fourth p-type transistor is above the third p-type transistor. A lower voltage activation line is electrically coupled to n-type source/drain regions that are elevationally between respective gates of the first and second n-type transistors. A higher voltage activation line is electrically coupled to p-type source/drain regions that are elevationally between respective gates of the third and fourth p-type transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Ingalls, Scott J. Derner
  • Publication number: 20190279984
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus having memory cells which include capacitors. Bitline pairs couple with each of the memory cells. One of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a first comparative bitline and the other of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a second comparative bitline. The bitline pairs extend to sense amplifiers which compare electrical properties of the first and second comparative bitlines to one another. The memory cells are subdivided amongst a first memory cell set using a first set of bitline pairs and a first set of sense amplifiers, and a second memory cell set using a second set of bitline pairs and a second set of sense amplifiers. The second set of bitline pairs has the same bitlines as the first set of bitline pairs, but in a different pairing arrangement as compared to the first set of bitline pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Michael Amiel Shore, Charles L. Ingalls, Steve V. Cole
  • Patent number: 10403388
    Abstract: Methods, systems, techniques, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. Groups of cells may be operated in different ways depending, for example, on a relationship between cell plates of the group of cells. Cells may be selected in pairs in order to accommodate an electric current relationship, such as a short, between cells that make up the pair. Cells may be arranged in cell plate groups, and a pair of cells may include a first cell plate from one cell plate group and a second cell plate from the same cell plate group or from another, adjacent cell plate group. So a pair of cell plates may include cell plates from different cell plate groups. The first and second cell plates may be selected as a pair or a group based at least in part on the electric current relationship between the cell plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Fackenthal, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Publication number: 20190267074
    Abstract: Systems and methods using a three-dimensional memory device with a number of memory cells disposed vertically in a number of pillars arranged along a horizontal direction can be used in a variety of applications. In various embodiments, pillars of memory cells may be disposed between lower and upper digitlines respectively coupled to different sense amplifiers to provide read/write operations and refresh operations. In various embodiments, a three-dimensional memory device having an array of memory cells vertically arranged in pillars may include a sense amplifier and digitline with a static random access memory cache, where the static random access memory cache is disposed below the array of memory cells in the same die. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Fredrick David Fishburn, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Patent number: 10372566
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for storing operational information related to operation of a non-volatile array are described. For example, the operational information may be stored in a in a subarray of a memory array for use in analyzing errors in the operation of memory array. In some examples, an array driver may be located between a command decoder and a memory array. The array driver may receive a signal pattern used to execute an access instruction for accessing non-volatile memory cells of a memory array and may access the first set of non-volatile memory cells according to the signal pattern. The array driver may also store the access instruction (e.g., the binary representation of the access instruction) at a non-volatile subarray of the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Kawamura, Scott James Derner, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Patent number: 10366738
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated memory assembly having a first memory array deck over a second memory array deck. A first series of conductive lines extends across the first memory array deck, and a second series of conductive lines extends across the second memory array deck. A first conductive line of the first series and a first conductive line of the second series are coupled with a first component through a first conductive path. A second conductive line of the first series and a second conductive line of the second series are coupled with a second component through a second conductive path. The first and second conductive lines of the first series extend through first isolation circuitry to the first and second conductive paths, respectively; and the first and second conductive lines of the second series extend through second isolation circuitry to the first and second conductive paths, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Patent number: 10360966
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. A memory array may be operated in a half density mode, in which a subset of the memory cells is designated as reference memory cells. Each reference memory cell may be paired to an active memory cell and may act as a reference signal when sensing the active memory cell. Each pair of active and reference memory cells may be connected to a single access line. Sense components (e.g., sense amplifiers) associated with reference memory cells may be deactivated in half density mode. The entire memory array may be operated in half density mode, or a portion of the array may operate in half density mode and the remainder of the array may operate in full density mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Patent number: 10347635
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus having memory cells which include capacitors. Bitline pairs couple with each of the memory cells. One of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a first comparative bitline and the other of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a second comparative bitline. The bitline pairs extend to sense amplifiers which compare electrical properties of the first and second comparative bitlines to one another. The memory cells are subdivided amongst a first memory cell set using a first set of bitline pairs and a first set of sense amplifiers, and a second memory cell set using a second set of bitline pairs and a second set of sense amplifiers. The second set of bitline pairs has the same bitlines as the first set of bitline pairs, but in a different pairing arrangement as compared to the first set of bitline pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Michael Amiel Shore, Charles L. Ingalls, Steve V. Cole
  • Publication number: 20190206480
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for sense line architectures for semiconductor memories are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first array region including first portions of a plurality of sense lines and memory cells coupled to the first portions of the plurality of sense lines and further includes a second array region including second portions of the plurality of sense lines and memory cells coupled to the second portions of the plurality of sense lines. An array gap is disposed between the first and second array regions and includes third portions of the plurality of sense lines and does not include any memory cells. Each third portion of the plurality of sense lines includes conductive structures having vertical components configured to couple the first portions and second portions of the plurality of sense lines to provide an electrically continuous sense lines through the first and second array regions and the array gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Toby D. Robbs, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Patent number: 10339985
    Abstract: A sense amplifier construction comprises a first n-type transistor and a second n-type transistor above the first n-type transistor. A third p-type transistor is included and a fourth p-type transistor is above the third p-type transistor. A lower voltage activation line is electrically coupled to n-type source/drain regions that are elevationally between respective gates of the first and second n-type transistors. A higher voltage activation line is electrically coupled to p-type source/drain regions that are elevationally between respective gates of the third and fourth p-type transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Ingalls, Scott J. Derner
  • Publication number: 20190147934
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. A first value may be written to a first memory cell and a second value may be written to a second memory cell. Each value may have a corresponding voltage when the memory cells are discharged onto their respective digit lines. The voltage on each digit line after a read operation may be temporarily stored at a node in electronic communication with the respective digit line. A conductive path may be established between the nodes so that charge sharing occurs between the nodes. The voltage resulting from the charge sharing may be used to adjust a reference voltage that is used by other components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Scott James Derner, Christopher John Kawamura, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Publication number: 20190019544
    Abstract: Some memory circuitry comprises a stack of multiple tiers individually comprising memory cells individually comprising an elevationally-extending transistor. The tiers individually comprise multiple access lines that individually electrically couple together a row of the memory cells in that individual tier. The tiers individually comprise access-line-driver circuitry comprising an elevationally-extending transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Charles L. Ingalls, Tae H. Kim
  • Publication number: 20190006365
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus having memory cells which include capacitors. Bitline pairs couple with each of the memory cells. One of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a first comparative bitline and the other of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a second comparative bitline. The bitline pairs extend to sense amplifiers which compare electrical properties of the first and second comparative bitlines to one another. The memory cells are subdivided amongst a first memory cell set using a first set of bitline pairs and a first set of sense amplifiers, and a second memory cell set using a second set of bitline pairs and a second set of sense amplifiers. The second set of bitline pairs has the same bitlines as the first set of bitline pairs, but in a different pairing arrangement as compared to the first set of bitline pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Micron Technology , Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Michael Amiel Shore, Charles L. Ingalls, Steve V. Cole
  • Patent number: 10163483
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. A first value may be written to a first memory cell and a second value may be written to a second memory cell. Each value may have a corresponding voltage when the memory cells are discharged onto their respective digit lines. The voltage on each digit line after a read operation may be temporarily stored at a node in electronic communication with the respective digit line. A conductive path may be established between the nodes so that charge sharing occurs between the nodes. The voltage resulting from the charge sharing may be used to adjust a reference voltage that is used by other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Scott James Derner, Christopher John Kawamura, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Publication number: 20180350420
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for memory array bit inversion are described. A memory cell (e.g., a ferroelectric memory cell) may be written with a charge associated with a logic state that may be the inverse of the intended logic state of the cell. That is, the actual logic state of one or more memory cells may be inverted, but the intended logic state of the memory cells may remain unchanged. Different sets of transistors may be configured around a sense component of a cell to enable reading and writing of intended and inverted logic states from or to the cell. For instance, a first set of transistors may be used to read the logic state currently stored at a memory cell, while a second set of transistors may be used to read a logic state inverted from the currently stored logic state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Charles L. Ingalls, Scott J. Derner
  • Publication number: 20180315467
    Abstract: A sensing system can read from a memory cell configured to store a data bit and to produce a differential signal indicating a data state of the memory cell. The data state can be selected from three data states. An example of the system can include a pair of bit lines, a pair of sense amplifiers (SAs), and a data output circuit. The bit lines are coupled to the memory cell to receive the differential signal. The SAs are each independently coupled to the bit lines through an isolation circuit. The data output circuit can receive outputs from the SAs and indicate the data state of the memory cell based on the outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, Charles L. Ingalls, Scott J. Derner