Patents by Inventor Chieko Nakashima

Chieko Nakashima 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: 8576608
    Abstract: A memory apparatus includes: a plurality of memory cells which includes a first resistance change element; and a read-out circuit which determines the size of a resistance value of the first resistance change element by comparing the resistance state of a memory cell selected among the plurality of memory cells to the resistance state of a reference memory cell, wherein the reference memory cell includes a second resistance change element, a resistance value of the second resistance change element with respect to an applied voltage is smaller than that in a high resistance state of the first resistance change element, and the second resistance change element shows the same resistance change characteristic as the first resistance change element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohito Tsushima, Makoto Kitagawa, Tsunenori Shiimoto, Chieko Nakashima, Hiroshi Yoshihara, Kentaro Ogata
  • Publication number: 20120212994
    Abstract: A memory apparatus includes: a plurality of memory cells which includes a first resistance change element; and a read-out circuit which determines the size of a resistance value of the first resistance change element by comparing the resistance state of a memory cell selected among the plurality of memory cells to the resistance state of a reference memory cell, wherein the reference memory cell includes a second resistance change element, a resistance value of the second resistance change element with respect to an applied voltage is smaller than that in a high resistance state of the first resistance change element, and the second resistance change element shows the same resistance change characteristic as the first resistance change element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohito Tsushima, Makoto Kitagawa, Tsunenori Shiimoto, Chieko Nakashima, Hiroshi Yoshihara, Kentaro Ogata
  • Publication number: 20110222355
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control voltage generation circuit including: a reference voltage generation circuit adapted to generate a reference voltage; and a voltage conversion circuit adapted to generate, based on the reference voltage, a control voltage to be supplied to the gate of a clamping transistor connected between a bit line and a sense amplifier to adjust the voltage of the bit line, wherein the voltage conversion circuit outputs a voltage, which is the sum of a voltage proportional to the reference voltage and a voltage equivalent to the threshold voltage of the clamping transistor, to the gate of the clamping transistor as the control voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Chieko Nakashima, Tomohiro Namise, Tsunenori Shiimoto
  • Patent number: 7471543
    Abstract: A storage device includes a memory cell having a storage element having a characteristic of changing from a state of a high resistance value to a state of a low resistance value by being supplied with a voltage equal to or higher than a first threshold voltage, and changing from a state of a low resistance value to a state of a high resistance value by being supplied with a voltage equal to or higher than a second threshold voltage different in polarity from the first threshold voltage, and a circuit element connected in series with the storage element, wherein letting R be a resistance value of the storage element after writing, V be the second threshold voltage, and I be a current that can be passed through the storage element at a time of erasure, R?V/I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Chieko Nakashima, Hidenari Hachino, Hajime Nagao, Nobumichi Okazaki
  • Patent number: 7372718
    Abstract: A storage device includes a storage element having characteristics such that the resistance value thereof changes from a high state to a low state as a result of an electrical signal higher than or equal to a first threshold signal being applied and changes from a low state to a high state as a result of an electrical signal higher than or equal to a second threshold signal whose polarity differs from that of the first threshold signal being applied; and a circuit element that is connected in series to the storage element and that serves as a load, the storage element and the circuit element forming a memory cell, and the memory cells being arranged in a matrix, wherein the resistance value of the circuit element when the storage element is read differs from the resistance value when the storage element is written or erased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Nagao, Hidenari Hachino, Tsutomu Sagara, Hironobu Mori, Nobumichi Okazaki, Wataru Ootsuka, Tomohito Tsushima, Chieko Nakashima
  • Patent number: 7242606
    Abstract: A storage apparatus includes memory devices each having a storage element with a characteristic that the application of an electric signal not lower than a first threshold signal allows the storage element to shift from a high resistance value state to a low resistance value state, and that the application of an electric signal not lower than a second threshold signal, which has a polarity different from that of the first threshold signal, allows the storage element to shift form a low resistance value state to a high resistance value state, and a circuit element connected to the storage element in series to be a load; wherein the memory devices are arranged in a matrix and one terminal of each of the memory devices is connected to a common line; and wherein an intermediate potential between a power supply potential and a ground potential is applied to the common line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenari Hachino, Nobumichi Okazaki, Wataru Otsuka, Tomohito Tsushima, Tsutomu Sagara, Chieko Nakashima, Hironobu Mori, Hajime Nagao
  • Patent number: 7209379
    Abstract: A storage device is proposed, which includes: a source line arranged along a row direction; a bit line arranged along a column direction; a storage element arranged at an intersection of the source line and the bit line; a writing circuit connected to one terminal of the bit line and applying a predetermined voltage to the bit line; and a voltage adjusting circuit connected to a storage element that is located closest to another terminal of the bit line; wherein the voltage adjusting circuit compares the voltage applied to the storage element located closest to the another terminal of the bit line with a setting voltage to thereby adjust the voltage that the writing circuit applies to the bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hironobu Mori, Hidenari Hachino, Chieko Nakashima, Tsutomu Sagara, Nobumichi Okazaki, Hajime Nagao
  • Publication number: 20070070682
    Abstract: A storage device includes a memory cell having a storage element having a characteristic of changing from a state of a high resistance value to a state of a low resistance value by being supplied with a voltage equal to or higher than a first threshold voltage, and changing from a state of a low resistance value to a state of a high resistance value by being supplied with a voltage equal to or higher than a second threshold voltage different in polarity from the first threshold voltage, and a circuit element connected in series with the storage element, wherein letting R be a resistance value of the storage element after writing, V be the second threshold voltage, and I be a current that can be passed through the storage element at a time of erasure, R?V/I.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Chieko Nakashima, Hidenari Hachino, Hajime Nagao, Nobumichi Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20060109316
    Abstract: A storage device includes a storage element having characteristics such that the resistance value thereof changes from a high state to a low state as a result of an electrical signal higher than or equal to a first threshold signal being applied and changes from a low state to a high state as a result of an electrical signal higher than or equal to a second threshold signal whose polarity differs from that of the first threshold signal being applied; and a circuit element that is connected in series to the storage element and that serves as a load, the storage element and the circuit element forming a memory cell, and the memory cells being arranged in a matrix, wherein the resistance value of the circuit element when the storage element is read differs from the resistance value when the storage element is written or erased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Hajime Nagao, Hidenari Hachino, Tsutomu Sagara, Hironobu Mori, Nobumichi Okazaki, Wataru Ootsuka, Tomohito Tsushima, Chieko Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20060067114
    Abstract: A storage apparatus includes memory devices each having a storage element with a characteristic that the application of an electric signal not lower than a first threshold signal allows the storage element to shift from a high resistance value state to a low resistance value state, and that the application of an electric signal not lower than a second threshold signal, which has a polarity different from that of the first threshold signal, allows the storage element to shift form a low resistance value state to a high resistance value state, and a circuit element connected to the storage element in series to be a load; wherein the memory devices are arranged in a matrix and one terminal of each of the memory devices is connected to a common line; and wherein an intermediate potential between a power supply potential and a ground potential is applied to the common line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Hidenari Hachino, Nobumichi Okazaki, Wataru Otsuka, Tomohito Tsushima, Tsutomu Sagara, Chieko Nakashima, Hironobu Mori, Hajime Nagao
  • Publication number: 20060067106
    Abstract: A storage device is proposed, which includes: a source line arranged along a row direction; a bit line arranged along a column direction; a storage element arranged at an intersection of the source line and the bit line; a writing circuit connected to one terminal of the bit line and applying a predetermined voltage to the bit line; and a voltage adjusting circuit connected to a storage element that is located closest to another terminal of the bit line; wherein the voltage adjusting circuit compares the voltage applied to the storage element located closest to the another terminal of the bit line with a setting voltage to thereby adjust the voltage that the writing circuit applies to the bit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Hironobu Mori, Hidenari Hachino, Chieko Nakashima, Tsutomu Sagara, Nobumichi Okazaki, Hajime Nagao