Patents by Inventor Debra M. Bell

Debra M. Bell 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: 11422713
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a memory error indicator related to high-reliability applications are described. A memory device may perform error detection procedures to monitor trends in the quantity of bit errors as an indication of the health of the memory device. A memory device may perform error detection procedures concurrently with refresh procedures to detect a quantity of errors (e.g., in a memory array) without degrading the performance of the device or the memory array. The memory device may compare a quantity of errors detected (e.g., in the memory array) with one or more previously detected quantities of errors to determine one or more differences in the quantities of errors. The memory device may generate an error metric based on the differences, and may determine whether the error metric satisfies a threshold. The memory device may output a status indicator (e.g., to a host device) based on whether the error metric satisfies the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Erika Prosser, Aaron P. Boehm, Debra M. Bell
  • Patent number: 11410713
    Abstract: Tracking circuitry may be used to determine if commands and/or command sequences include illegal commands and/or illegal command sequences. If the commands and/or command sequences include illegal commands and/or illegal command sequences, the tracking circuitry may activate signals that prevent execution of the commands and/or notice of the detected illegal commands and/or command sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Di Wu, Debra M. Bell, Anthony D. Veches, James S. Rehmeyer, Libo Wang
  • Patent number: 11409674
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with improved command/address bus utilization are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a plurality of external command/address terminals and a command decoder. The plurality of external command/address terminals are configured to receive a command as a corresponding plurality of command/address bits. A first set of the command/address bits indicate a read or write operation. A second set of the command/address bits indicate whether to execute a refresh operation. The memory device is configured to, in response to the first set of command/address bits, execute the read or write operation on a portion of a memory array. The memory device is further configured to, in response to the second set of command/address bits, execute the refresh operation to refresh at least one memory bank of the memory array when the second set of command/address bits indicate that the refresh operation should be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Vaughn N. Johnson, Kyle Alexander, Gary L. Howe, Brian T. Pecha, Miles S. Wiscombe
  • Patent number: 11379124
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to updating data lines for data generation in, for example, a memory device or a computing system that includes a memory device. Updating data lines can include updating a plurality of data lines. The plurality of data lines can provide data form the memory array responsive to a receipt of the access command. The plurality of data lines can also be updated responsive to a determination that an access command received at a memory device is unauthorized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Naveh Malihi
  • Publication number: 20220189540
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with partial array refresh control over memory regions in a memory array, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a memory array having a first memory region and a second memory region. The memory device is configured to write data to the memory array in accordance with a programming sequence by initially writing data to unutilized memory cells of the first memory region before initially writing data to unutilized memory cells of the second memory region. The memory device is further configured to determine that the data stored on the first and/or second memory regions is not consolidated, and to consolidate at least a portion of the data by rewriting the portion of the data to physically or logically contiguous memory cells of the first memory region and/or the second memory region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Dale H. Hiscock, Debra M. Bell, Michael Kaminski, Joshua E. Alzheimer, Anthony D. Veches, James S. Rehmeyer
  • Patent number: 11361808
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for selective row refreshes are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may include a refresh control circuit. The refresh control circuit may be configured to receive a target address associated with a target plurality of memory cells from an address bus. The refresh control circuit may further be configured to provide a proximate address to the address bus responsive, at least in part, to determining that a number of refresh operations have occurred. In some examples, a plurality of memory cells associated with the proximate address may be a plurality of memory cells adjacent the target plurality of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Jeff A. McClain, Brian P. Callaway
  • Publication number: 20220172771
    Abstract: Memory devices, systems including memory devices, and methods of operating memory devices are described, in which memory devices are configured to conditionally activate certain rows during refresh operations such that the memory devices can execute operations directed to the activated rows concurrently with the refresh operations. In some embodiments, the memory device receives an activate (ACT) command directed to a section of a memory bank while performing refresh operations for the memory bank. The memory device may carry out the ACT command if certain conditions are satisfied not to corrupt the data being refreshed. Subsequently, the memory device generates a signal to indicate the ACT command has been accepted to activate a row identified by the ACT command. Further, the memory device can perform subsequent access commands directed to the row, in parallel with the refresh operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Miles S. Wiscombe, Debra M. Bell, Brian T. Pecha, Vaughn N. Johnson, Kyle Alexander
  • Publication number: 20220172768
    Abstract: Memory devices, systems including memory devices, and methods of operating memory devices are described, in which memory devices are configured to monitor degradations in word line characteristics. The memory device may generate a reference signal in response to an access command directed to a memory array including a plurality of word lines, in some embodiments. The memory array may include a victim word line configured to accumulate adverse effects of executing multiple access commands at the word lines of the memory array. When the degradation in the word line characteristics causes reliability issues (e.g., corrupted data), the memory array is deemed unreliable, and may be blocked from memory operations. The memory device may compare the reference signal and a signal from the victim word line to determine whether preventive measures may be appropriate to avoid (or mitigate) such reliability issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Gitanjali T. Ghosh, Debra M. Bell, Arunmozhi R. Subramaniam, Roya Baghi, Deepika Thumsi Umesh, Sue-Fern Ng
  • Publication number: 20220148647
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with programmable refresh order and stagger times are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a first memory bank group and a second memory bank group. The memory device is configured, in response to a refresh command, to perform a first refresh operation on the first memory bank group at a first time and a second refresh operation on the second memory bank group at a second time after the first time. The memory device is further configured to perform, in response to a read or write command, a read or write operation on the first memory bank group, the second memory bank group, or both the first and second memory bank groups after beginning the first refresh operation and before completing the second refresh operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Vaughn N. Johnson, Debra M. Bell, Miles S. Wiscombe, Brian T. Pecha, Kyle Alexander
  • Publication number: 20220129185
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for scrub rate control for a memory device are described. For example, during a scrub operation, a memory device may perform an error correction operation on data read from a memory array of the memory device. The memory device may determine a quantity of errors detected or corrected during the scrub operation and determine a condition of the memory array based on the quantity of errors. The memory device may indicate the determined condition of the memory array to a host device. In some cases, the memory device may perform scrub operations based on one or more condition of the memory array. For example, as a condition of the memory array deteriorates, the memory device may perform scrub operations at an increased rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Aaron P. Boehm, Debra M. Bell
  • Publication number: 20220107905
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with improved command/address bus utilization are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a plurality of external command/address terminals and a command decoder. The plurality of external command/address terminals are configured to receive a command as a corresponding plurality of command/address bits. A first set of the command/address bits indicate a read or write operation. A second set of the command/address bits indicate whether to execute a refresh operation. The memory device is configured to, in response to the first set of command/address bits, execute the read or write operation on a portion of a memory array. The memory device is further configured to, in response to the second set of command/address bits, execute the refresh operation to refresh at least one memory bank of the memory array when the second set of command/address bits indicate that the refresh operation should be executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Vaughn N. Johnson, Kyle Alexander, Gary L. Howe, Brian T. Pecha, Miles S. Wiscombe
  • Publication number: 20220091938
    Abstract: Memory devices, systems including memory devices, and methods of operating memory devices are described, in which a host device may directly access a portion of memory array that is otherwise reserved for ECC functionality of a memory device. The memory array may correspond to a set of memory addresses, where each memory address of the set corresponds to a first portion of the memory array (e.g., user data plane) and to a second portion of the memory array (e.g., ECC plane). The second portion may be configured to store ECC data or second user data or metadata based on whether the ECC functionality is enabled or disabled. The memory device may determine a command directed to the memory address of the set is configured to access the first portion or the second portion based on a status of a pin associated with the command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Todd M. Buerkle, Debra M. Bell, Joshua E. Alzheimer
  • Patent number: 11282562
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for refresh-related activation in memory are described. A memory device may conduct a refresh operation to preserve the integrity of data. A refresh operation may be associated with a refresh time where the memory device is unable to execute or issue any commands (e.g., access commands). By posting (e.g., saving) one or more commands and/or row addresses during the refresh time, the memory device may be configured to execute the saved commands and/or re-open one or more rows associated with the saved row addresses at a later time (e.g., upon completion of the refresh operation). Accordingly, fewer commands may be issued to activate the memory cells after the refresh time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Kaminski, Anthony D. Veches, James S. Rehmeyer, Debra M. Bell, Dale Herber Hiscock, Joshua E. Alzheimer
  • Patent number: 11276454
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with partial array refresh control over memory regions in a memory array, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a memory array having a first memory region and a second memory region. The memory device is configured to write data to the memory array in accordance with a programming sequence by initially writing data to unutilized memory cells of the first memory region before initially writing data to unutilized memory cells of the second memory region. The memory device is further configured to determine that the data stored on the first and/or second memory regions is not consolidated, and to consolidate at least a portion of the data by rewriting the portion of the data to physically or logically contiguous memory cells of the first memory region and/or the second memory region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale H. Hiscock, Debra M. Bell, Michael Kaminski, Joshua E. Alzheimer, Anthony D. Veches, James S. Rehmeyer
  • Patent number: 11270757
    Abstract: Memory devices, systems including memory devices, and methods of operating memory devices are described, in which memory devices are configured to monitor degradations in word line characteristics. The memory device may generate a reference signal in response to an access command directed to a memory array including a plurality of word lines, in some embodiments. The memory array may include a victim word line configured to accumulate adverse effects of executing multiple access commands at the word lines of the memory array. When the degradation in the word line characteristics causes reliability issues (e.g., corrupted data), the memory array is deemed unreliable, and may be blocked from memory operations. The memory device may compare the reference signal and a signal from the victim word line to determine whether preventive measures may be appropriate to avoid (or mitigate) such reliability issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gitanjali T. Ghosh, Debra M. Bell, Arunmozhi R. Subramaniam, Roya Baghi, Deepika Thumsi Umesh, Sue-Fern Ng
  • Patent number: 11264075
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for selective row refreshes are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may include a refresh control circuit. The refresh control circuit may be configured to receive a target address associated with a target plurality of memory cells from an address bus. The refresh control circuit may further be configured to provide a proximate address to the address bus responsive, at least in part, to determining that a number of refresh operations have occurred. In some examples, a plurality of memory cells associated with the proximate address may be a plurality of memory cells adjacent the target plurality of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Jeff A. McClain, Brian P. Callaway
  • Publication number: 20220055631
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems related to sensor monitoring in a vehicle are described. In an example, a method can include receiving a trained artificial intelligence (AI) model at a memory device in a vehicle, transmitting the trained AI model to a processing resource in the vehicle, receiving, at the processing resource, data associated with a person located in the vehicle from a sensor included in a computing device and data associated with the vehicle from a sensor included in the vehicle, inputting the received data into the AI model at the processing resource, and sending a command in response to an output of the AI model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Srinivasa Anuradha Bulusu, Shannon M. Hansen, Debra M. Bell, Barbara J. Bailey
  • Patent number: 11257534
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a current monitor for a memory device are described. A memory device may monitor potential degradation of memory cells on the device by monitoring the amount of current drawn by one or more memory cells. As the memory cells degrade, the current supplied to the memory cells may change (e.g., increase due to additional leakage current. The memory device may indirectly monitor changes in the current supplied to the memory cells by monitoring a voltage of a node of a transistor that controls the amount of current supplied to the array of memory cells. The voltage at the control node may be compared to a reference voltage to determine whether the two voltages differ by a threshold amount, indicating that the memory cells are drawing more current. The memory device may output a status indicator when the voltages differ, for example, by the threshold amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Mircon Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristen M. Hopper, Debra M. Bell, Aaron P. Boehm
  • Publication number: 20220027066
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to memory authentication. Memory devices can be authenticated utilizing authentication codes. An authentication code can be generated based on information stored in a fuse array of the memory device. The authentication code can be stored in the memory device. The stored authentication code can be compared to a captured authentication code based on fuse array information broadcast to memory components of the memory device. The authenticity of the memory device can be determined based on the comparison and can result in placing the memory device in an unlocked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Rachael R. Carlson, Aparna U. Limaye, Diana C. Majerus, Debra M. Bell, Shea M. Morrison
  • Publication number: 20210392269
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods related to memory device sensors are described. Memory systems can include multiple types of memory devices including memory media and can write data to the memory media. Some types of memory devices include sensors embedded in the circuitry of the memory device that can generate data. The memory device can transmit the data generated by the embedded sensor using a sensor output coupled to another device. In an example, a method can include generating orientation data, including coordinates, of a memory device by measuring linear acceleration or rotational motion using a motion sensor embedded in circuitry of the memory device, receiving a signal that represents image data from an image sensor, and pairing the orientation data of the memory device with the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Zahra Hosseinimakarem, Debra M. Bell, Cheryl M. O'Donnell, Roya Baghi, Erica M. Gove