Patents by Inventor Christopher John Kawamura

Christopher John Kawamura 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: 20240144983
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a sense amplifier with a single column select transistor, a local input/output line selectively couplable to a first bit line through the column select transistor, and a read/write gap comprising at least a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor may be couplable to a read select signal and a complimentary local input/output line and the second transistor is couplable to the complimentary local input/output line and a global input/output line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Luoqi Li, Huy Thanh Vo, Christopher John Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11948622
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for techniques for generating access line voltages are described. A system may use a first voltage supply and a second voltage supply that is configured to supply a lower voltage than the first voltage supply. The system may activate a first circuit to couple a node with the first voltage supply so that a first voltage develops on the node from the first voltage supply. The system may activate a second circuit to couple the node with the second voltage supply so that a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage develops on the node from the second voltage supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Brox, C. Omar Benitez, Johnathan L. Gossi, Christopher John Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11848042
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. In some examples, multi-level accessing, sensing, and other operations for ferroelectric memory may be based on sensing multiple charges, including a first charge associated with a dielectric of the memory cell and a second charge associated with a polarization of the memory cell. In some cases, multi-level accessing, sensing, and other operations may be based on transferring a first charge associated with a dielectric of the memory cell to a sense amplifier, isolating the sense amplifier, activating the sense amplifier, transferring a second charge associated with a polarization of the memory cell to the sense amplifier, and activating the sense amplifier a second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher John Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20230335179
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for techniques for generating access line voltages are described. A system may use a first voltage supply and a second voltage supply that is configured to supply a lower voltage than the first voltage supply. The system may activate a first circuit to couple a node with the first voltage supply so that a first voltage develops on the node from the first voltage supply. The system may activate a second circuit to couple the node with the second voltage supply so that a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage develops on the node from the second voltage supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Brox, C. Omar Benitez, Johnathan L. Gossi, Christopher John Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20220382658
    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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher John Kawamura, Scott James Derner, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Patent number: 11475934
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. A memory device may maintain a digit line voltage at a ground reference for a duration associated with biasing a ferroelectric capacitor of a memory cell. For example, a digit line that is in electronic communication with a ferroelectric capacitor may be virtually grounded while a voltage is applied to a plate of the ferroelectric capacitor, and the ferroelectric capacitor may be isolated from the virtual ground after a threshold associated with applying the voltage to the plate is reached. A switching component (e.g., a transistor) that is in electronic communication with the digit line and virtual ground may be activated to virtually ground the digit line and deactivated to isolate the digit line from virtual ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Kawamura, Scott James Derner
  • Patent number: 11392468
    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: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Kawamura, Scott James Derner, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Patent number: 11238913
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. A first ferroelectric memory cell may be initialized to a first state and a second ferroelectric memory cell may be initialized to a different state. Each state may have a corresponding digit line voltage. The digit lines of the first and second ferroelectric memory cells may be connected so that charge-sharing occurs between the two digit lines. The voltage resulting from the charge-sharing between the two digit lines may be used by other components as a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott James Derner, Christopher John Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11200937
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses related to a reprogrammable non-volatile latch are described. A latch may include ferroelectric cells, ferroelectric capacitors, a sense component, and other circuitry and components related to ferroelectric memory technology. The ferroelectric latch may be independent from (or exclusive of) a main ferroelectric memory array. The ferroelectric latch may be positioned anywhere in the memory device. In some instances, a ferroelectric latch may be positioned and configured to be dedicated to single piece of circuitry in the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott James Derner, Christopher John Kawamura, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Publication number: 20210335409
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. In some examples, multi-level accessing, sensing, and other operations for ferroelectric memory may be based on sensing multiple charges, including a first charge associated with a dielectric of the memory cell and a second charge associated with a polarization of the memory cell. In some cases, multi-level accessing, sensing, and other operations may be based on transferring a first charge associated with a dielectric of the memory cell to a sense amplifier, isolating the sense amplifier, activating the sense amplifier, transferring a second charge associated with a polarization of the memory cell to the sense amplifier, and activating the sense amplifier a second time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher John Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11127450
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a memory cell or memory cells are described. Cells of a memory array may be pre-written, which may include writing the cells to one state while a sense component is isolated from digit lines of the array. Read or write operations may be executed at the sense component while the sense component is isolated, and the cell may be de-isolated (e.g., connected to the digit lines) when write operations are completed. The techniques may include techniques accessing a memory cell of a memory array, isolating a sense amplifier from a digit line of the memory array based at least in part on the accessing of the cell, firing the sense amplifier, and pre-writing the memory cell of the memory array to a second data state while the sense amplifier is isolated. In some examples, the memory cell may include a ferroelectric memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott James Derner, Christopher John Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11056165
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. A portion of charge of a memory cell may be captured and, for example, stored using a capacitor or intrinsic capacitance of the memory array that includes the memory cell. The memory cell may be recharged (e.g., re-written). The memory cell may then be read, and a voltage of the memory cell may be compared to a voltage resulting from the captured charge. A logic state of the memory cell may be determined based at least in part on the voltage comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Kawamura, Scott James Derner
  • Patent number: 11017832
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. In some examples, multi-level accessing, sensing, and other operations for ferroelectric memory may be based on sensing multiple charges, including a first charge associated with a dielectric of the memory cell and a second charge associated with a polarization of the memory cell. In some cases, multi-level accessing, sensing, and other operations may be based on transferring a first charge associated with a dielectric of the memory cell to a sense amplifier, isolating the sense amplifier, activating the sense amplifier, transferring a second charge associated with a polarization of the memory cell to the sense amplifier, and activating the sense amplifier a second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher John Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20210104270
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a memory cell or memory cells are described. Cells of a memory array may be pre-written, which may include writing the cells to one state while a sense component is isolated from digit lines of the array. Read or write operations may be executed at the sense component while the sense component is isolated, and the cell may be de-isolated (e.g., connected to the digit lines) when write operations are completed. The techniques may include techniques accessing a memory cell of a memory array, isolating a sense amplifier from a digit line of the memory array based at least in part on the accessing of the cell, firing the sense amplifier, and pre-writing the memory cell of the memory array to a second data state while the sense amplifier is isolated. In some examples, the memory cell may include a ferroelectric memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Scott James Derner, Christopher John Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10950286
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for periphery fill and localized capacitance are described. A memory array may be fabricated with certain containers connected to provide capacitance rather than to operate as memory cells. For example, a memory cell having one or two transistors, or other switching components, and one capacitor, such as a ferroelectric or dielectric capacitor, may be electrically isolated from one or more containers sharing a common access line, and the isolated containers may be used as capacitors. The capacitors may be used for filtering in some examples. Or the capacitance may be used to boost or regulate voltage in, for example, support circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Kawamura, Scott James Derner
  • Publication number: 20210005239
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. A portion of charge of a memory cell may be captured and, for example, stored using a capacitor or intrinsic capacitance of the memory array that includes the memory cell. The memory cell may be recharged (e.g., re-written). The memory cell may then be read, and a voltage of the memory cell may be compared to a voltage resulting from the captured charge. A logic state of the memory cell may be determined based at least in part on the voltage comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher John Kawamura, Scott James Derner
  • Patent number: 10825501
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a memory cell or memory cells are described. Cells of a memory array may be pre-written, which may include writing the cells to one state while a sense component is isolated from digit lines of the array. Read or write operations may be executed at the sense component while the sense component is isolated, and the cell may be de-isolated (e.g., connected to the digit lines) when write operations are completed. The techniques may include techniques accessing a memory cell of a memory array, isolating a sense amplifier from a digit line of the memory array based at least in part on the accessing of the cell, firing the sense amplifier, and pre-writing the memory cell of the memory array to a second data state while the sense amplifier is isolated. In some examples, the memory cell may include a ferroelectric memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott James Derner, Christopher John Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20200227109
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. In some examples, multi-level accessing, sensing, and other operations for ferroelectric memory may be based on sensing multiple charges, including a first charge associated with a dielectric of the memory cell and a second charge associated with a polarization of the memory cell. In some cases, multi-level accessing, sensing, and other operations may be based on transferring a first charge associated with a dielectric of the memory cell to a sense amplifier, isolating the sense amplifier, activating the sense amplifier, transferring a second charge associated with a polarization of the memory cell to the sense amplifier, and activating the sense amplifier a second time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventor: Christopher John Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10706907
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. A portion of charge of a memory cell may be captured and, for example, stored using a capacitor or intrinsic capacitance of the memory array that includes the memory cell. The memory cell may be recharged (e.g., re-written). The memory cell may then be read, and a voltage of the memory cell may be compared to a voltage resulting from the captured charge. A logic state of the memory cell may be determined based at least in part on the voltage comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher John Kawamura, Scott James Derner
  • Publication number: 20200202917
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. A first ferroelectric memory cell may be initialized to a first state and a second ferroelectric memory cell may be initialized to a different state. Each state may have a corresponding digit line voltage. The digit lines of the first and second ferroelectric memory cells may be connected so that charge-sharing occurs between the two digit lines. The voltage resulting from the charge-sharing between the two digit lines may be used by other components as a reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Scott James Derner, Christopher John Kawamura