Patents by Inventor Dean D. Gans

Dean D. Gans 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: 20240134798
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communications. A request for data located in a memory page of a memory array may be received at a device, and a value of a prefetch counter associated with the memory page may be identified. A portion of the memory page that includes the requested data may then be communicated between a memory array and memory bank of the device based on the value of the prefetch counter. For instance, the portion of the memory page may be selected based on the value of the prefetch counter. A second portion of the memory page may be communicated to a buffer of the device, and the value of the prefetch counter may be modified based on a relationship between the first portion of the memory page and the second portion of the memory page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Robert Nasry Hasbun, Dean D. Gans, Sharookh Daruwalla
  • Publication number: 20240127878
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of operating memory devices in which refresh management operations can be scheduled on an as-needed basis for those memory portions where activity (e.g., activations in excess of a predetermined threshold) warrants a refresh management operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a memory including a memory location, and circuitry configured to determine a count corresponding to a number of activations at the memory location, to schedule a refresh management operation for the memory location in response to the count exceeding a first predetermined threshold, and to decrease the count by an amount corresponding to the first predetermined threshold in response to executing the scheduled refresh management operation. The circuitry may be further configured to disallow, in response to determining that the count has reached a maximum permitted value, further activations at the memory location until after the count has been decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Timothy B. Cowles, Dean D. Gans, Jiyun Li, Nathaniel J. Meier, Randall J. Rooney
  • Patent number: 11955977
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for lookahead duty cycle adjustment of a clock signal. Clock signals may be provided to a semiconductor device, such as a memory device, to synchronize one or more operations. A duty cycle adjuster (DCA) of the device may adjust the clock signal(s) based on a duty code determined during an initialization of the device. While the device is in operation, a lookahead DCA (LA DCA) may test a number of different adjustments to the clock signal(s), the results of which may be determined by a duty cycle monitor (DCM). The results of the DCM may be used to select one of the tested adjustments, which may be used to update the duty code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventor: Dean D. Gans
  • Patent number: 11955162
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for input receiver circuits and receiver masks for electronic memory are disclosed. Embodiments of the disclosure include memory receiver masks having shapes other than rectangular shapes. For example, a receiver mask according to some embodiments of the disclosure may have a hexagonal shape. Other shapes of receiver masks may also be included in other embodiments of the disclosure. Circuits, timing, and operating parameters for achieving non-rectangular and various shapes of receiver mask are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventors: Dean D. Gans, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 11947412
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of operating memory devices in which maintenance operations can be scheduled on an as-needed basis for those memory portions where activity (e.g., operations in excess of a predetermined threshold) warrants a maintenance operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a memory including a memory location, and circuitry configured to determine a count corresponding to a number of operations at the memory location, to schedule a maintenance operation for the memory location in response to the count exceeding a first predetermined threshold, and to decrease the count by an amount corresponding to the first predetermined threshold in response to executing the scheduled maintenance operation. The circuitry may be further configured to disallow, in response to determining that the count has reached a maximum permitted value, further operations at the memory location until after the count has been decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Dean D. Gans
  • Publication number: 20240096394
    Abstract: A method of operating a memory device is provided, comprising determining a number of operations corresponding to a memory location during a first timing period; and scheduling an extra refresh operation for the memory location after the first timing period when the determined number of operations exceeds a predetermined threshold. A memory device is provided, comprising a memory including a memory location; and circuitry configured to: determine a number of operations corresponding to the memory location during a first timing period; and schedule an extra refresh operation for the memory location after the first timing period when the determined number of operations exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventor: Dean D. Gans
  • Patent number: 11915788
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a latency indication in a memory system or sub-system are described. An interface controller of a memory system may transmit an indication of a time delay (e.g., a wait signal) to a host in response to receiving an access command from the host. The interface controller may transmit such an indication when a latency associated with performing the access command is likely to be greater than a latency anticipated by the host. The interface controller may determine a time delay based on a status of buffer or a status of memory device, or both. The interface controller may use a pin designated and configured to transmit a command or control information to the host when transmitting a signal including an indication of a time delay. The interface controller may use a quantity, duration, or pattern of pulses to indicate a duration of a time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventors: Robert Nasry Hasbun, Dean D. Gans, Sharookh Daruwalla
  • Patent number: 11914874
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses related to memory operation with multiple sets of latencies are disclosed. A memory device or system that includes a memory device may be operable with one or several sets of latencies (e.g., read, write, or write recovery latencies), and the memory device or system may apply a set of latencies depending on which features of the memory device are enabled. For example, control circuitry may be configured to enable one or more features during operations on a memory array, and the control circuitry may apply a set of latency values based on a number or type of features that are enabled. The sets of latency values may depend, for example, on whether various control features (e.g., dynamic voltage frequency scaling) are enabled, and a device may operate within certain frequency ranges irrespective of other characteristics (e.g., mode register values) or latencies applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventors: Dean D. Gans, Yoshiro Riho, Shunichi Saito, Osamu Nagashima
  • Patent number: 11907546
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to a memory system or scheme that includes a first memory device configured for low-energy access operations and a second memory device configured for storing high-density information and operations of the same are described. The memory system may include an array configured for high-density information and may interface with a host via a controller and a cache or another array of a relatively fast memory type. The memory system may support signals communicated according to one or several modulation schemes, including a modulation scheme or schemes that employ two, three, or more voltage levels (e.g., NRZ, PAM4). The memory system may include, e.g., separate channels configured to communicate using different modulation schemes between a host and between memory arrays or memory types within the memory system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Dean D. Gans
  • Patent number: 11901037
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for writing and storing parameter codes for operating parameters, and selecting between the parameter codes to set an operating condition for a memory are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first mode register and a second mode register. The first mode register is configured to store first and second parameter codes for a same operating parameter. The second mode register is configured to store a parameter code for a control parameter to select between the first and second parameter codes to set a current operating condition for the operating parameter. An example method includes storing in a first register a first parameter code for an operating parameter used to set a first memory operating condition, and further includes storing in a second register a second parameter code for the operating parameter used to set a second memory operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventors: Dean D. Gans, Daniel C. Skinner
  • Patent number: 11894044
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for a multi-bit duty cycle monitor. A clock signal may be provided to a memory in order to synchronize one or more operations of the memory. The clock signal may have a duty cycle which is adjusted by a duty cycle adjustor of the memory. The duty cycle of the adjusted clock signal may be monitored by a multi-bit duty cycle monitor. The multi-bit duty cycle monitor may provide a multi-bit signal which indicates if the duty cycle of the adjusted clock signal is above or below a target duty cycle value (or if the duty cycle is outside tolerances around the target duty cycle). The multi-bit duty cycle monitor may provide the multi-bit signal while access operations of the memory are occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventor: Dean D. Gans
  • Publication number: 20240004814
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for communicating data with stacked memory dies are described. A first semiconductor die may communicate with an external computing device using a binary-symbol signal including two signal levels representing one bit of data. Semiconductor dies may be stacked on one another and include internal interconnects (e.g., through-silicon vias) to relay an internal signal generated based on the binary-symbol signal. The internal signal may be a multi-symbol signal modulated using a modulation scheme that includes three or more levels to represent more than one bit of data. The multi-level symbol signal may simplify the internal interconnects. A second semiconductor die may be configured to receive and re-transmit the multi-level symbol signal to semiconductor dies positioned above the second semiconductor die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Robert Nasry Hasbun, Timothy M. Hollis, Jeffrey P. Wright, Dean D. Gans
  • Publication number: 20230420032
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for input receiver circuits and receiver masks for electronic memory are disclosed. Embodiments of the disclosure include memory receiver masks having shapes other than rectangular shapes. For example, a receiver mask according to some embodiments of the disclosure may have a hexagonal shape. Other shapes of receiver masks may also be included in other embodiments of the disclosure. Circuits, timing, and operating parameters for achieving non-rectangular and various shapes of receiver mask are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Dean D. Gans, John D. Porter
  • Publication number: 20230418471
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for configurable memory array bank architectures are described. An example apparatus includes a mode register configured to store information related to bank architecture and a memory array including a plurality of memory banks. The plurality of memory banks are configured to be arranged in a bank architecture based at least in part on the information related to bank architecture stored in the mode register.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Dean D. Gans, Shunichi Saito
  • Patent number: 11837272
    Abstract: A method of operating a memory device is provided, comprising determining a number of operations corresponding to a memory location during a first timing period; and scheduling an extra refresh operation for the memory location after the first timing period when the determined number of operations exceeds a predetermined threshold. A memory device is provided, comprising a memory including a memory location; and circuitry configured to: determine a number of operations corresponding to the memory location during a first timing period; and schedule an extra refresh operation for the memory location after the first timing period when the determined number of operations exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Dean D. Gans
  • Patent number: 11822477
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communications. A request for data located in a memory page of a memory array may be received at a device, and a value of a prefetch counter associated with the memory page may be identified. A portion of the memory page that includes the requested data may then be communicated between a memory array and memory bank of the device based on the value of the prefetch counter. For instance, the portion of the memory page may be selected based on the value of the prefetch counter. A second portion of the memory page may be communicated to a buffer of the device, and the value of the prefetch counter may be modified based on a relationship between the first portion of the memory page and the second portion of the memory page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Nasry Hasbun, Dean D. Gans, Sharookh Daruwalla
  • Patent number: 11810610
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of operating memory devices in which refresh management operations can be scheduled on an as-needed basis for those memory portions where activity (e.g., activations in excess of a predetermined threshold) warrants a refresh management operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a memory including a memory location, and circuitry configured to determine a count corresponding to a number of activations at the memory location, to schedule a refresh management operation for the memory location in response to the count exceeding a first predetermined threshold, and to decrease the count by an amount corresponding to the first predetermined threshold in response to executing the scheduled refresh management operation. The circuitry may be further configured to disallow, in response to determining that the count has reached a maximum permitted value, further activations at the memory location until after the count has been decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy B. Cowles, Dean D. Gans, Jiyun Li, Nathaniel J. Meier, Randall J. Rooney
  • Patent number: 11775460
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for communicating data with stacked memory dies are described. A first semiconductor die may communicate with an external computing device using a binary-symbol signal including two signal levels representing one bit of data. Semiconductor dies may be stacked on one another and include internal interconnects (e.g., through-silicon vias) to relay an internal signal generated based on the binary-symbol signal. The internal signal may be a multi-symbol signal modulated using a modulation scheme that includes three or more levels to represent more than one bit of data. The multi-level symbol signal may simplify the internal interconnects. A second semiconductor die may be configured to receive and re-transmit the multi-level symbol signal to semiconductor dies positioned above the second semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Nasry Hasbun, Timothy M. Hollis, Jeffrey P. Wright, Dean D. Gans
  • Publication number: 20230238038
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for writing and storing parameter codes for operating parameters, and selecting between the parameter codes to set an operating condition for a memory are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first mode register and a second mode register. The first mode register is configured to store first and second parameter codes for a same operating parameter. The second mode register is configured to store a parameter code for a control parameter to select between the first and second parameter codes to set a current operating condition for the operating parameter. An example method includes storing in a first register a first parameter code for an operating parameter used to set a first memory operating condition, and further includes storing in a second register a second parameter code for the operating parameter used to set a second memory operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Dean D. Gans, Daniel C. Skinner
  • Patent number: 11698726
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for configurable memory array bank architectures are described. An example apparatus includes a mode register configured to store information related to bank architecture and a memory array including a plurality of memory banks. The plurality of memory banks are configured to be arranged in a bank architecture based at least in part on the information related to bank architecture stored in the mode register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean D. Gans, Shunichi Saito