Patents by Inventor Daniele Vimercati

Daniele Vimercati 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: 20200294573
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for differential amplifier schemes for sensing memory cells are described. In one example, a memory apparatus may include a differential amplifier having a first input node configured to be coupled with a memory cell and having an output node configured to be coupled with a sense component. In some examples, the memory apparatus may also include a capacitor having a first node coupled with the first input node, and a first switching component configured to selectively couple a second node of the capacitor with the output node. The differential amplifier may configured such that a current at the output node is proportional to a difference between a voltage at the first input node of the differential amplifier and a voltage at the second input node of the differential amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Daniele Vimercati, Stefan Frederik Schippers, Xinwei Guo
  • Publication number: 20200279590
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for self-referencing sensing schemes with coupling capacitance are described. A sense component of a memory device may include a capacitive coupling between two nodes of the sense component. The capacitive coupling may, in some examples, be provided by a capacitive element of the sense component or an intrinsic capacitance between features of the sense component. An example of a method employing such a sense component for detecting a logic state stored by a memory cell may include generating a first sense signal at one of the nodes while the node is coupled with the memory cell, and generating a second sense signal at the other of the nodes while the other node is coupled with the memory cell. The sense signals may be based at least in part on the capacitive coupling between the two nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Mahdi Jamali, William A. Melton, Daniele Vimercati, Xinwei Guo, Yasuko Hattori
  • Publication number: 20200265885
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for offset cancellation for latching in memory devices are described. A memory device may include a sense component comprising a first and second transistor. In some cases, a memory device may further include a first capacitor coupled to the first transistor and a second capacitor coupled to the second transistor and a first switching component coupled between a voltage source and the first capacitor and the second capacitor. For example, the first switching component may be activated, a reference voltage may be applied to the sense component, and the first switching component may then be deactivated. In some examples, a voltage offset may be measured across both the first and the second capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Publication number: 20200259497
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for section-based data protection in a memory device are described. In one example, a memory device may include a set memory sections each having memory cells configured to be selectively coupled with access lines of the respective memory section. A method of operating the memory device may include selecting at least one of the sections for a voltage adjustment operation based on a determined value of a timer, and performing the voltage adjustment operation on the selected section by activating each of a plurality of word lines of the selected section. The voltage adjustment operation may include applying an equal voltage to opposite terminals of the memory cells, which may allow built-up charge, such as leakage charge accumulating from access operations of the selected memory section, to dissipate from the memory cells of the selected section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Richard E. Fackenthal, Daniele Vimercati, Jahanshir Javanifard
  • Patent number: 10741234
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for self-referencing memory cells are described. A reference value for a cell may be created through multiple sense operations on the cell. The cell may be sensed several times and an average of at least two sensing operations may be used as a reference for another sense operation. For example, the cell may be sensed and the resulting charge stored at a capacitor. The cell may be biased to one state, sensed a second time, and the resulting charge stored at another capacitor. The cell may be biased to another state, sensed a third time, and the resulting charge stored to another capacitor. The values from the second and third sensing operations may be averaged and used as a reference value in a comparison with value of the first sensing operation to determine a logic state of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Patent number: 10692547
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for self-referencing sensing schemes with coupling capacitance are described. A sense component of a memory device may include a capacitive coupling between two nodes of the sense component. The capacitive coupling may, in some examples, be provided by a capacitive element of the sense component or an intrinsic capacitance between features of the sense component. An example of a method employing such a sense component for detecting a logic state stored by a memory cell may include generating a first sense signal at one of the nodes while the node is coupled with the memory cell, and generating a second sense signal at the other of the nodes while the other node is coupled with the memory cell. The sense signals may be based at least in part on the capacitive coupling between the two nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahdi Jamali, William A. Melton, Daniele Vimercati, Xinwei Guo, Yasuko Hattori
  • Patent number: 10692564
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a memory device are described. A sense amplifier may be used to precharge an access line to increase the reliability of the sensing operation. The access line may then charge share with the memory cell and a capacitor, which may be a reference capacitor, which may result in high-level states and low-level states on the access line. By precharging the access line with the sense amplifier and implementing charge sharing between the access line and a capacitor, the resulting high-level state and the low-level states on the access line may account for any offset voltage associated with the sense amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Publication number: 20200185019
    Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques for compensating for noise, such as a leakage current, in a memory array are described. Leakage currents may, for example, be introduced onto a digit line from unselected memory cells. In some cases, a compensation component may be coupled with the digit line during a first phase of a read operation, before the target memory cell has been coupled with the digit line. The compensation component may sample a current on the digit line and store a representation of the sampled current. During a second phase of the read operation, the target memory cell may be coupled with the digit line. During the second phase, the compensation component may compensate for leakage or other parasitic effects by outputting a current on the digit line during the read operation based on the stored representation of the sampled current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Patent number: 10679689
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for offset cancellation for latching in memory devices are described. A memory device may include a sense component comprising a first and second transistor. In some cases, a memory device may further include a first capacitor coupled to the first transistor and a second capacitor coupled to the second transistor and a first switching component coupled between a voltage source and the first capacitor and the second capacitor. For example, the first switching component may be activated, a reference voltage may be applied to the sense component, and the first switching component may then be deactivated. In some examples, a voltage offset may be measured across both the first and the second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Patent number: 10672457
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for differential amplifier schemes for sensing memory cells are described. In one example, a memory apparatus may include a differential amplifier having a first input node configured to be coupled with a memory cell and having an output node configured to be coupled with a sense component. In some examples, the memory apparatus may also include a capacitor having a first node coupled with the first input node, and a first switching component configured to selectively couple a second node of the capacitor with the output node. The differential amplifier may configured such that a current at the output node is proportional to a difference between a voltage at the first input node of the differential amplifier and a voltage at the second input node of the differential amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniele Vimercati, Stefan Frederik Schippers, Xinwei Guo
  • Patent number: 10665285
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for section-based data protection in a memory device are described. In one example, a memory device may include a set memory sections each having memory cells configured to be selectively coupled with access lines of the respective memory section. A method of operating the memory device may include selecting at least one of the sections for a voltage adjustment operation based on a determined value of a timer, and performing the voltage adjustment operation on the selected section by activating each of a plurality of word lines of the selected section. The voltage adjustment operation may include applying an equal voltage to opposite terminals of the memory cells, which may allow built-up charge, such as leakage charge accumulating from access operations of the selected memory section, to dissipate from the memory cells of the selected section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Fackenthal, Daniele Vimercati, Jahanshir Javanifard
  • Publication number: 20200152243
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for self-referencing sensing schemes with coupling capacitance are described. A sense component of a memory device may include a capacitive coupling between two nodes of the sense component. The capacitive coupling may, in some examples, be provided by a capacitive element of the sense component or an intrinsic capacitance between features of the sense component. An example of a method employing such a sense component for detecting a logic state stored by a memory cell may include generating a first sense signal at one of the nodes while the node is coupled with the memory cell, and generating a second sense signal at the other of the nodes while the other node is coupled with the memory cell. The sense signals may be based at least in part on the capacitive coupling between the two nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Mahdi Jamali, William A. Melton, Daniele Vimercati, Xinwei Guo, Yasuko Hattori
  • Publication number: 20200118613
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a memory device are described. A sense amplifier may be used to precharge an access line to increase the reliability of the sensing operation. The access line may then charge share with the memory cell and a capacitor, which may be a reference capacitor, which may result in high-level states and low-level states on the access line. By precharging the access line with the sense amplifier and implementing charge sharing between the access line and a capacitor, the resulting high-level state and the low-level states on the access line may account for any offset voltage associated with the sense amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Publication number: 20200105328
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for access line management for an array of memory cells are described. Some memory devices may include a plate that is coupled with memory cells associated with a plurality of digit lines and/or a plurality of word lines. Because the plate is coupled with a plurality of digit lines and/or word lines, unintended cross-coupling between various components of the memory device may be significant. To mitigate the impact of unintended cross-coupling between various components, the memory device may float unselected word lines during one or more portions of an access operation. Accordingly, a voltage of each unselected word line may relate to the voltage of the plate as changes in plate voltage may occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Publication number: 20200098414
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for access line management for an array of memory cells are described. Some memory devices may include a plate that is coupled with memory cells associated with a plurality of digit lines and/or a plurality of word lines. Because the plate is coupled with a plurality of digit lines and/or word lines, unintended cross-coupling between various components of the memory device may be significant. To mitigate the impact of unintended cross-coupling between various components, the memory device may float unselected word lines during one or more portions of an access operation. Accordingly, a voltage of each unselected word line may relate to the voltage of the plate as changes in plate voltage may occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Patent number: 10600467
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. Offsets in the threshold voltage of switching components (e.g., transistors) connected to digit lines may be compensated by using various operating techniques or additional circuit components, or both. For example, a switching component connected to a digit line may also be connected to an offset capacitor selected to compensate for a threshold voltage offset. The offset capacitor may be discharged in conjunction with a read operation, resulting in a threshold voltage applied to the switching component. This may enable all or substantially all of the stored charge of the ferroelectric memory cell to be extracted and transferred to a sense capacitor through the transistor. A sense amplifier may compare the voltage of the sense capacitor to a reference voltage in order to determine the stored logic state of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Publication number: 20200090768
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for techniques to mitigate disturbances of unselected memory cells in a memory array during an access operation are described. A shunt line may be formed between a plate of a selected memory cell and a digit line of the selected memory cell to couple the plate to the digit line during the access operation. A switching component may be positioned on the shunt line. The switching component may selectively couple the plate to the digit line based on instructions received from a memory controller. By coupling the plate to the digit line during the access operation, voltages resulting on the plate by changes in the voltage level of the digit line may be reduced in magnitude or may be altered in type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Daniele Vimercati, Mark Fischer, Adam D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20200090726
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for redundancy in a memory array are described. A memory array may include some memory cells that are redundant to other memory cells of the array. Such redundant memory cells may be used if a another memory cell is discovered to be defective in some way; for example, after the array is fabricated and before deployment, defects in portions of the array that affect certain memory cells may be identified. Memory cells may be designated as redundant cells for numerous other memory cells of the array so that a total number of redundant cells in the array is relatively small fraction of the total number of cells of the array. A configuration of switching components may allow redundant cells to be operated in a manner that supports redundancy for numerous other cells and may limit or disturbances to neighboring cells when accessing redundancy cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Daniele Vimercati, Xinwei Guo
  • Publication number: 20200066737
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for plate node configurations and operations for a memory array are described. A single plate node of a memory array may be coupled to multiple rows or columns of memory cells (e.g., ferroelectric memory cells) in a deck of memory cells. The single plate node may perform the functions of multiple plate nodes. The number of contacts to couple the single plate node to the substrate may be less than the number of contacts to couple multiple plate nodes to the substrate. Connectors or sockets in a memory array with a single plate node may define a size that is less than a size of the connectors or sockets with multiple plate nodes. In some examples, a single plate node of the memory array may be coupled to multiple lines of a memory cells in multiple decks of memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventor: Daniele Vimercati
  • Patent number: 10573355
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for self-referencing sensing schemes with coupling capacitance are described. A sense component of a memory device may include a capacitive coupling between two nodes of the sense component. The capacitive coupling may, in some examples, be provided by a capacitive element of the sense component or an intrinsic capacitance between features of the sense component. An example of a method employing such a sense component for detecting a logic state stored by a memory cell may include generating a first sense signal at one of the nodes while the node is coupled with the memory cell, and generating a second sense signal at the other of the nodes while the other node is coupled with the memory cell. The sense signals may be based at least in part on the capacitive coupling between the two nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahdi Jamali, William A. Melton, Daniele Vimercati, Xinwei Guo, Yasuko Hattori