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).

  • Publication number: 20200387422
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for persistent health monitoring for volatile memory devices are described. A memory device may determine that an operating condition associated with an array of memory cells on the device, such as a temperature, current, voltage, or other metric of health status is outside of a range associated with a risk of device degradation. The memory device may monitor a duration over which the operating condition is outside of the range, and may determine whether the duration satisfies a threshold. In some cases, the memory device may store an indication of when (e.g., each time) the duration satisfied the threshold. The memory device may store the one or more indications in one or more non-volatile storage elements, such as fuses, which may enable the memory device to maintain a persistent indication of a cumulative duration over which the memory device is operated with operating conditions outside of the range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Kristen M. Hopper, Erika Prosser, Aaron P. Boehm
  • Publication number: 20200357461
    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: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Dale H. Hiscock, Debra M. Bell, Michael Kaminski, Joshua E. Alzheimer, Anthony D. Veches, James S. Rehmeyer
  • Patent number: 10832754
    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: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristen M. Hopper, Debra M. Bell, Aaron P. Boehm
  • Publication number: 20200343249
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first pull-down transistor, a second pull-down transistor, a first pull-up transistor and a second pull-up transistor. The first pull-down transistor has a first conductive-gate-body at a first level, and has an n-channel-device-active-region at a second level vertically offset from the first level. The first pull-up transistor has a second conductive-gate-body at the first level, and has a p-channel-device-active-region at the second level. The second pull-down transistor has a third conductive-gate-body at the second level, and has an n-channel-device-active-region at the first level. The second pull-up transistor has a fourth conductive-gate-body at the second level, and has a p-channel-device-active-region at the first level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Debra M. Bell
  • Publication number: 20200342931
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for phase charge sharing are described. In some memory systems or memory devices, one or more decoders may be used to bias access lines of a memory die. The decoders may transfer voltage or current between a first conductive line of the decoder and a second conductive line of the decoder via a shorting device. Transferring the voltage or current may be performed as part of or in association with an operation (e.g., an activate or pre-charge operation) to access one or more memory cells of the memory die. In some examples, the decoders may transfer voltage or current between a first conductive line of a decoder associated with a first refresh activity and a second conductive line of the decoder associated with a second refresh activity via a shorting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: James R. Rehmeyer, George B. Raad, Debra M. Bell, Markus H. Geiger, Anthony D. Veches
  • Patent number: 10803926
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with on-die data transfer capability, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes an array of memory cells and a plurality of input/output lines operably connecting the array to data pads of the device. In some embodiments, the memory device can further include a global cache and/or a local cache. The memory device can be configured to internally transfer data stored at a first location in the array to a second location in the array without outputting the data from the memory device. To transfer the data, the memory device can copy data on one row of memory cells to another row of memory cells, directly write data to the second location from the first location using data read/write lines of the input/output lines, and/or read the data into and out of the global cache and/or the local cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale H. Hiscock, Debra M. Bell, Michael Kaminski, Joshua E. Alzheimer, Anthony D. Veches, James S. Rehmeyer
  • Patent number: 10803969
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to authenticating memory. 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 compared to an externally provided authentication code to authenticate the memory device. The memory device may be authenticated to ensure that the memory device is not a security threat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Shea M. Morrison, Aparna U. Limaye, Diana C. Majerus, Rachael R. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20200301590
    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: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Naveh Malihi
  • Patent number: 10762946
    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 system includes a memory controller and a memory device operably connected to the memory controller. The memory device includes (i) a memory array having a plurality of memory cells arranged in a plurality of memory regions and (ii) inhibit circuitry. In some embodiments, the inhibit circuitry is configured to disable one or more memory regions of the plurality of memory regions from receiving refresh commands such that memory cells of the one or more memory regions are not refreshed during refresh operations of the memory device. In these and other embodiments, the memory controller is configured to track memory regions that include utilized memory cells and/or to write data to the memory regions in accordance with a programming sequence of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale H. Hiscock, Debra M. Bell, Michael Kaminski, Joshua E. Alzheimer, Anthony D. Veches, James S. Rehmeyer
  • Patent number: 10748600
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for phase charge sharing are described. In some memory systems or memory devices, one or more decoders may be used to bias access lines of a memory die. The decoders may transfer voltage or current between a first conductive line of the decoder and a second conductive line of the decoder via a shorting device. Transferring the voltage or current may be performed as part of or in association with an operation (e.g., an activate or pre-charge operation) to access one or more memory cells of the memory die. In some examples, the decoders may transfer voltage or current between a first conductive line of a decoder associated with a first refresh activity and a second conductive line of the decoder associated with a second refresh activity via a shorting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Rehmeyer, George B. Raad, Debra M. Bell, Markus H. Geiger, Anthony D. Veches
  • Patent number: 10741566
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first pull-down transistor, a second pull-down transistor, a first pull-up transistor and a second pull-up transistor. The first pull-down transistor has a first conductive-gate-body at a first level, and has an n-channel-device-active-region at a second level vertically offset from the first level. The first pull-up transistor has a second conductive-gate-body at the first level, and has a p-channel-device-active-region at the second level. The second pull-down transistor has a third conductive-gate-body at the second level, and has an n-channel-device-active-region at the first level. The second pull-up transistor has a fourth conductive-gate-body at the second level, and has a p-channel-device-active-region at the first level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Debra M. Bell
  • Patent number: 10734044
    Abstract: A write-in date circuit in a semiconductor device may include multiple input buffers, each receiving multiple data bits in a serial data stream. The circuit may include a first circuit coupled to a first and a second input buffers. The first circuit may be further coupled to receive a DQS signal and latch a first data bit selected from the first input buffer or the second input buffer responsive to the DQS signal. The second circuit may be coupled to the first and second input buffers and configured to latch a second data bit selected from the first input buffer or the second input buffer responsive to the DQS signal. The first circuit may latch the first data bit responsive to a rising edge of the DQS signal and the second circuit may latch the second data bit responsive to a falling edge of the DQS signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Debra M. Bell
  • Patent number: 10725952
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to accessing status information. One example apparatus comprises a host and a memory device coupled to the host. The memory device includes a controller configured to provide, to a status arbiter, a status signal indicating whether a status register of the controller contains generated status information. Responsive to the status signal indicating that the status register contains the generated status information, the controller can also provide the status information from the controller to the status arbiter via a status intermediary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Debra M. Bell
  • Publication number: 20200227113
    Abstract: A memory device may include a phase driver circuit that may output a first voltage for refreshing a plurality of memory cells. The memory device may also include a plurality of word line driver circuits that may receive the first voltage via the phase driver circuit, such that each word line driver circuit of the plurality of word line driver circuits may provide the first voltage to a respective word line associated with a respective portion of the plurality of memory cells. In addition, each word line driver circuit may refresh the respective portion of the plurality of memory cells based on a respective word line enable signal provided to a first switch of the respective word line driver circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: James S. Rehmeyer, Debra M. Bell, George B. Raad, Brian P. Callaway, Joshua E. Alzheimer
  • Publication number: 20200211636
    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 system includes a memory controller and a memory device operably connected to the memory controller. The memory device includes (i) a memory array having a plurality of memory cells arranged in a plurality of memory regions and (ii) inhibit circuitry. In some embodiments, the inhibit circuitry is configured to disable one or more memory regions of the plurality of memory regions from receiving refresh commands such that memory cells of the one or more memory regions are not refreshed during refresh operations of the memory device. In these and other embodiments, the memory controller is configured to track memory regions that include utilized memory cells and/or to write data to the memory regions in accordance with a programming sequence of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Dale H. Hiscock, Debra M. Bell, Michael Kaminski, Joshua E. Alzheimer, Anthony D. Veches, James S. Rehmeyer
  • Publication number: 20200211626
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with on-die data transfer capability, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes an array of memory cells and a plurality of input/output lines operably connecting the array to data pads of the device. In some embodiments, the memory device can further include a global cache and/or a local cache. The memory device can be configured to internally transfer data stored at a first location in the array to a second location in the array without outputting the data from the memory device. To transfer the data, the memory device can copy data on one row of memory cells to another row of memory cells, directly write data to the second location from the first location using data read/write lines of the input/output lines, and/or read the data into and out of the global cache and/or the local cache.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Dale H. Hiscock, Debra M. Bell, Michael Kaminski, Joshua E. Alzheimer, Anthony D. Veches, James S. Rehmeyer
  • Publication number: 20200194054
    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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Kaminski, Anthony D. Veches, James S. Rehmeyer, Debra M. Bell, Dale Herber Hiscock, Joshua E. Alzheimer
  • Publication number: 20200185024
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for phase charge sharing are described. In some memory systems or memory devices, one or more decoders may be used to bias access lines of a memory die. The decoders may transfer voltage or current between a first conductive line of the decoder and a second conductive line of the decoder via a shorting device. Transferring the voltage or current may be performed as part of or in association with an operation (e.g., an activate or pre-charge operation) to access one or more memory cells of the memory die. In some examples, the decoders may transfer voltage or current between a first conductive line of a decoder associated with a first refresh activity and a second conductive line of the decoder associated with a second refresh activity via a shorting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: James S. Rehmeyer, George B. Raad, Debra M. Bell, Markus H. Geiger, Anthony D. Veches
  • Publication number: 20200058333
    Abstract: A write-in date circuit in a semiconductor device may include multiple input buffers, each receiving multiple data bits in a serial data stream. The circuit may include a first circuit coupled to a first and a second input buffers. The first circuit may be further coupled to receive a DQS signal and latch a first data bit selected from the first input buffer or the second input buffer responsive to the DQS signal. The second circuit may be coupled to the first and second input buffers and configured to latch a second data bit selected from the first input buffer or the second input buffer responsive to the DQS signal. The first circuit may latch the first data bit responsive to a rising edge of the DQS signal and the second circuit may latch the second data bit responsive to a falling edge of the DQS signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Debra M. Bell
  • Publication number: 20190393227
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first pull-down transistor, a second pull-down transistor, a first pull-up transistor and a second pull-up transistor. The first pull-down transistor has a first conductive-gate-body at a first level, and has an n-channel-device-active-region at a second level vertically offset from the first level. The first pull-up transistor has a second conductive-gate-body at the first level, and has a p-channel-device-active-region at the second level. The second pull-down transistor has a third conductive-gate-body at the second level, and has an n-channel-device-active-region at the first level. The second pull-up transistor has a fourth conductive-gate-body at the second level, and has a p-channel-device-active-region at the first level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Debra M. Bell