Patents by Inventor Dennis G. Montierth

Dennis G. Montierth 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: 20240062798
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a refresh control circuit with multiple timing circuits. The timing circuits may be used to control steal rates, e.g., the rate of refresh time slots dedicated to healing victim word lines of row hammers. The timing circuits may be controlled to allow independent adjustment of the steal rates for different victim word lines. Thus, different victim word lines may be refreshed at different rates and the different rates may be independent of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Timothy B. Cowles, Jiyun Li, Beau D. Barry, Matthew D. Jenkinson, Nathaniel J. Meier, Michael A. Shore, Adam J. Grenzebach, Dennis G. Montierth
  • Publication number: 20230420023
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a self-refresh state with decreased power consumption are described. A memory system may enter a self-refresh state to refresh a set of rows of memory cells at the memory system. Based on entering the self-refresh state, the memory system may execute a first set of refresh operations on the rows of memory cells according to a first rate. Additionally, the memory system may determine, while in the self-refresh state, whether to decrease the rate for executing the refresh operations to a second rate based on whether each of the rows of memory cells is refreshed according to the first rate. In cases that the memory system determines to decrease the rate for executing the refresh operations, the memory system may execute a set of second refresh operations on the rows of memory cells according to the second, slower, rate while in the self-refresh state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Shawn M. Hilde, Dennis G. Montierth, Garth N. Grubb
  • Patent number: 11798610
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a refresh control circuit with multiple timing circuits. The timing circuits may be used to control steal rates, e.g., the rate of refresh time slots dedicated to healing victim word lines of row hammers. The timing circuits may be controlled to allow independent adjustment of the steal rates for different victim word lines. Thus, different victim word lines may be refreshed at different rates and the different rates may be independent of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy B. Cowles, Jiyun Li, Beau D. Barry, Matthew D. Jenkinson, Nathaniel J. Meier, Michael A. Shore, Adam J. Grenzebach, Dennis G. Montierth
  • Patent number: 11670356
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for refresh address masking. A memory device may refresh word lines as part of refresh operation by cycling through the word lines in a sequence. However, it may be desirable to avoid activating certain word lines (e.g., because they are defective). Refresh masking logic for each bank may include a fuse latch which stores a selected address associated with a word line to avoid. When a refresh address is generated it may be compared to the selected address. If there is a match, a refresh stop signal may be activated, which may prevent refreshing of the word line(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Fujiwara, Harish V. Gadamsetty, Gary Howe, Dennis G. Montierth, Michael A. Shore, Jason M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20230020753
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for refresh address masking. A memory device may refresh word lines as part of refresh operation by cycling through the word lines in a sequence. However, it may be desirable to avoid activating certain word lines (e.g., because they are defective). Refresh masking logic for each bank may include a fuse latch which stores a selected address associated with a word line to avoid. When a refresh address is generated it may be compared to the selected address. If there is a match, a refresh stop signal may be activated, which may prevent refreshing of the word line(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Fujiwara, Harish V. Gadamsetty, Gary Howe, Dennis G. Montierth, Michael A. Shore, Jason M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20220382628
    Abstract: Memory devices, systems including memory devices, and methods of operating memory devices are described, in which a host device may disable ECC functions of the memory devices. When the ECC function is disabled by the host device, the memory device may deactivate various ECC periphery components coupled with an ECC circuit of the memory device to reduce power consumption of the memory device. In some cases, the memory device may disconnect an electrical power supply to the ECC periphery components. In other cases, the memory device may selectively disable the ECC periphery components or block an access command from reaching the ECC periphery components during an access operation. Further, the ECC array may be configured to replace faulty portions of a main array of the memory device when the ECC function is disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Boon Hor Lam, Karl L. Major, Loon Ming Ho, Dennis G. Montierth
  • Patent number: 11475938
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array having a plurality of memory cells and a column decoder circuit that is configured to provide at least one column select signal for selecting corresponding bit-lines for memory operations on the plurality of memory cells. The memory device also includes a column select section that is configured to route the at least one column select signal such that non-adjacent bit-lines are exclusively selected during a same column select access memory operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis G. Montierth, Boon Hor Lam, C Omar Benitez
  • Patent number: 11456049
    Abstract: Methods of testing memory devices are disclosed. A method may include reading from a number of memory addresses of a memory array of the memory device and identifying each memory address of the number of addresses as either a pass or a fail. The method may further include storing, for each identified fail, data associated with the identified fail in a buffer of the memory device. Further, the method may include conveying, to a tester external to the memory device, at least some of the data associated with each identified fail without conveying address data associated with each identified pass to the tester. Devices and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason M. Johnson, Dennis G. Montierth
  • Patent number: 11437116
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a memory array, a test circuit coupled to the memory array, a counter circuit coupled to the test circuit and an input/output (I/O) circuit coupled to the counter circuit. During a test operation, the test circuit may receive blocks of data from the memory array and compare the data to detect errors in the blocks of data. The counter circuit may increment a count value in response to detection of an error by the test circuit, and the I/O circuit may provide the count value to an output. The test circuit may also provide test comparison data based on the received blocks of data, and the I/O circuit may provide one of the count value and the test comparison data to the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian N. Mohr, Gregg D. Wolff, Christopher G. Wieduwilt, C. Omar Benitez, Dennis G. Montierth
  • Patent number: 11416333
    Abstract: Memory devices, systems including memory devices, and methods of operating memory devices are described, in which a host device may disable ECC functions of the memory devices. When the ECC function is disabled by the host device, the memory device may deactivate various ECC periphery components coupled with an ECC circuit of the memory device to reduce power consumption of the memory device. In some cases, the memory device may disconnect an electrical power supply to the ECC periphery components. In other cases, the memory device may selectively disable the ECC periphery components or block an access command from reaching the ECC periphery components during an access operation. Further, the ECC array may be configured to replace faulty portions of a main array of the memory device when the ECC function is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Boon Hor Lam, Karl L. Major, Loon Ming Ho, Dennis G. Montierth
  • Patent number: 11417383
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses, systems, and methods for dynamic refresh allocation. Memories may be subject to row hammer attacks, where one or more wordlines are repeatedly accessed to cause data degradation in victim rows nearby to the hammered wordlines. A memory may perform background auto-refresh operations, and targeted refresh operations where victim wordlines are refreshed. The memory may monitor access patterns to the memory in order to dynamically allocate the number of targeted refresh operations and auto-refresh operations in a set of refresh operations based on if a hammer attack is occurring and the type of hammer attack which is occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Jenkinson, Nathaniel J. Meier, Dennis G. Montierth
  • Patent number: 11302374
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses, systems, and methods for dynamic refresh allocation. Memories may be subject to row hammer attacks, where one or more wordlines are repeatedly accessed to cause data degradation in victim rows nearby to the hammered wordlines. A memory may perform background auto-refresh operations, and targeted refresh operations where victim wordlines are refreshed. The memory may monitor access patterns to the memory in order to dynamically allocate the number of targeted refresh operations and auto-refresh operations in a set of refresh operations based on if a hammer attack is occurring and the type of hammer attack which is occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Jenkinson, Nathaniel J. Meier, Dennis G. Montierth
  • Patent number: 11257566
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for storing an enable state of an address. The address may be broadcast from a fuse array to a fuse latch, and may be associated with enable information. The fuse latch may include a plurality of enable latch circuits, each of which may receive the enable information in common, and each of which may store the enable information as an enable bit. Each of the enable latch circuits may provide a respective enable signal based on a state of the stored enable bit. An enable logic circuit may provide an overall enable signal with a state determined by the states of all of the enable signals from the plurality of enable latch circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis G. Montierth
  • Publication number: 20220005541
    Abstract: Methods of testing memory devices are disclosed. A method may include reading from a number of memory addresses of a memory array of the memory device and identifying each memory address of the number of addresses as either a pass or a fail. The method may further include storing, for each identified fail, data associated with the identified fail in a buffer of the memory device. Further, the method may include conveying, to a tester external to the memory device, at least some of the data associated with each identified fail without conveying address data associated with each identified pass to the tester. Devices and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Jason M. Johnson, Dennis G. Montierth
  • Patent number: 11200942
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses, systems, and methods for lossy row access counting. Row addresses along a to address bus may be sampled. When the row address is sampled it may be compared to a plurality of stored addresses in a data storage unit. If the sampled address matches one of the stored addresses, a count value associated with that address may be updated in a first direction (such as being increased). Periodically, all of the count values may also be updated in a second direction (for example, decreased).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Jenkinson, Jiyun Li, Dennis G. Montierth, Nathaniel J. Meier
  • Publication number: 20210327491
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array having a plurality of memory cells and a column decoder circuit that is configured to provide at least one column select signal for selecting corresponding bit-lines for memory operations on the plurality of memory cells. The memory device also includes a column select section that is configured to route the at least one column select signal such that non-adjacent bit-lines are exclusively selected during a same column select access memory operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Dennis G. Montierth, Boon Hor Lam, C Omar Benitez
  • Publication number: 20210304813
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a refresh control circuit with multiple timing circuits. The timing circuits may be used to control steal rates, e.g., the rate of refresh time slots dedicated to healing victim word lines of row hammers. The timing circuits may be controlled to allow independent adjustment of the steal rates for different victim word lines. Thus, different victim word lines may be refreshed at different rates and the different rates may be independent of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Cowles, Jiyun Li, Beau D. Barry, Matthew D. Jenkinson, Nathaniel J. Meier, Michael A. Shore, Adam J. Grenzebach, Dennis G. Montierth
  • Patent number: 11087824
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array having a plurality of memory cells and a column decoder circuit that is configured to provide at least one column select signal for selecting corresponding bit-lines for memory operations on the plurality of memory cells. The memory device also includes a column select section that is configured to route the at least one column select signal such that non-adjacent bit-lines are exclusively selected during a same column select access memory operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis G. Montierth, Boon Hor Lam, C Omar Benitez
  • Patent number: 11069393
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a refresh control circuit with multiple timing circuits. The timing circuits may be used to control steal rates, e.g., the rate of refresh time slots dedicated to healing victim word lines of row hammers. The timing circuits may be controlled to allow independent adjustment of the steal rates for different victim word lines. Thus, different victim word lines may be refreshed at different rates and the different rates may be independent of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Cowles, Jiyun Li, Beau D. Barry, Matthew D. Jenkinson, Nathaniel J. Meier, Michael A. Shore, Adam J. Grenzebach, Dennis G. Montierth
  • Publication number: 20210217460
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array having a plurality of memory cells and a column decoder circuit that is configured to provide at least one column select signal for selecting corresponding bit-lines for memory operations on the plurality of memory cells. The memory device also includes a column select section that is configured to route the at least one column select signal such that non-adjacent bit-lines are exclusively selected during a same column select access memory operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Dennis G. Montierth, Boon Hor Lam, C Omar Benitez