Patents by Inventor Erwin E. Yu

Erwin E. Yu 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: 12276686
    Abstract: Apparatus having an array of memory cells and a controller for access of the array of memory cells, wherein the controller is configured to cause the apparatus to apply a reference current to a selected access line, determine a time difference between a voltage level of a near end of the selected access line being deemed to exceed a first voltage level while applying the reference current and the voltage level of the near end of the selected access line being deemed to exceed a second voltage level while applying the reference current, and determine a capacitance value of the selected access line in response to a current level of the reference current, the time difference, and a voltage difference between the second voltage level and the first voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Xu, Jun Xu, Erwin E. Yu
  • Publication number: 20250098159
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a base structure, a memory array overlying the base structure, and a conductive pad tier overlying the memory array. The base structure comprises a logic region including logic devices. The memory array comprises vertically extending strings of memory cells within a horizontal area of the logic region of the base structure. The conductive pad tier comprises first conductive pads substantially outside of the horizontal area of the logic region of the base structure, and second conductive pads horizontally neighboring the first conductive pads and within the horizontal area of the logic region of the base structure. Memory devices and electronic systems are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Erwin E. Yu, Michele Piccardi, Surendranath C. Eruvuru
  • Publication number: 20250008727
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure, first digit lines, second digit lines, and multiplexer devices. The stack structure comprises an access line region comprising a lower group of conductive structures, and a select gate region overlying the access line region and comprising an upper group of conductive structures. The first digit lines are coupled to strings of memory cells, and the second digit lines are coupled to additional strings of memory cells. The second digit lines are horizontally offset from the first digit lines in a first direction and are substantially horizontally aligned with the first digit lines in a second direction. The multiplexer devices are coupled to page buffer devices, the first digit lines, and the second digit lines. The multiplexer devices comprise transistors in electrical communication with the upper group of conductive structures. Additional microelectronic devices, memory devices, and electronic systems are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2024
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Erwin E. Yu, Surendranath C. Eruvuru, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 12183396
    Abstract: Memory array structures might include a first conductive plate connected to memory cells of a first dummy block of memory cells and to memory cells of a second dummy block of memory cells on opposing sides of a first isolation region; a second conductive plate connected to memory cells of the first dummy block of memory cells and to memory cells of the second dummy block of memory cells on opposing sides of a second isolation region; first and second conductors selectively connected to a first global access line, and connected to the first conductive plate on opposing sides of the first isolation region; third and fourth conductors selectively connected to a second global access line, and connected to the second conductive plate on opposing sides of the second isolation region; and a fifth conductor connected to the third conductor and connected to the second conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Xu, Jun Xu, Erwin E. Yu, Paolo Tessariol, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20240428862
    Abstract: Control logic in a memory device initiates a program operation to program one or more memory cells of a first sub-block of a memory array, the program operation including a seeding phase. During the seeding phase, a first wordline voltage is caused to be applied to a first wordline segment associated with a first portion of the memory array. During the seeding phase, a second wordline voltage is caused to be applied to a second wordline segment associated with a second portion of the memory array, where the first wordline voltage and the second wordline voltage cause a seeding bias voltage to be applied to the first sub-block group and inhibit application of the seeding bias voltage to the second sub-block group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Taehyun Kim, Brian Kwon, Dong Kyo Shim, Kwang Ho Kim, Erwin E. Yu, Fulvio Rori
  • Patent number: 12171096
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a base structure, a memory array overlying the base structure, and a conductive pad tier overlying the memory array. The base structure comprises a logic region including logic devices. The memory array comprises vertically extending strings of memory cells within a horizontal area of the logic region of the base structure. The conductive pad tier comprises first conductive pads substantially outside of the horizontal area of the logic region of the base structure, and second conductive pads horizontally neighboring the first conductive pads and within the horizontal area of the logic region of the base structure. Memory devices and electronic systems are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Erwin E. Yu, Michele Piccardi, Surendranath C. Eruvuru
  • Patent number: 12101932
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure, first digit lines, second digit lines, and multiplexer devices. The stack structure comprises an access line region comprising a lower group of conductive structures, and a select gate region overlying the access line region and comprising an upper group of conductive structures. The first digit lines are coupled to strings of memory cells, and the second digit lines are coupled to additional strings of memory cells. The second digit lines are horizontally offset from the first digit lines in a first direction and are substantially horizontally aligned with the first digit lines in a second direction. The multiplexer devices are coupled to page buffer devices, the first digit lines, and the second digit lines. The multiplexer devices comprise transistors in electrical communication with the upper group of conductive structures. Additional microelectronic devices, memory devices, and electronic systems are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Erwin E. Yu, Surendranath C. Eruvuru, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 12068037
    Abstract: A processing device in a memory system connects a first data block of the memory device to a second data block of the memory device to generate a combined data block comprising a first plurality of sub-blocks of the first data block and a second plurality of sub-blocks of the second data block, wherein the connecting includes: for each wordline of a first plurality of wordlines of the first data block, creating a wordline connection short between the respective wordline of the first data block and a corresponding wordline of a second plurality of wordlines of the second data block, wherein the first plurality of wordlines and the second plurality of wordlines comprise data wordlines; and driving a first data wordline of the first data block and a second wordline of the second data block using a single string driver of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kalyan Chakravarthy Kavalipurapu, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki, Erwin E. Yu, Hong-Yan Chen, Yunfei Xu
  • Publication number: 20240203508
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array comprising memory cells and control logic operatively coupled with the memory array. The control logic causes, as part of a true erase sub-operation, an erase pulse to be applied to one or more sub-blocks of the memory array. The control logic tracks a number of suspend commands received from a processing device, including suspend commands received while memory cells of the one or more sub-blocks are being erased. The control logic causes, in response to receiving each suspend command, the true erase sub-operation to be suspended to enable performing a non-erase memory operation. The control logic, in response to the number of suspend commands satisfying a threshold criterion, alerts the processing device to terminate sending suspend commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Chulbum Kim, Brian Kwon, Erwin E. Yu, Kitae Park, Taehyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20240170075
    Abstract: Entry of a memory device into a standby mode is determined. During the standby mode of the memory device, a first bias voltage level is caused to be applied to a sense amplifier latch of a sense amplifier of a page buffer circuit of the memory device. During the standby mode, a second bias voltage level is caused to be applied to a set of data latches of the sense amplifier of the page buffer circuit of the memory device, wherein the second bias voltage level is different from the first bias voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Kwang Ho Kim, Erwin E. Yu
  • Patent number: 11942159
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array of memory cells and control logic operatively coupled with the memory array. The control logic is to perform operations including: initiating a true erase sub-operation by causing an erase pulse to be applied to one or more sub-blocks of the memory array; tracking, a number of suspend commands received from a processing device during time periods that a memory line of the memory array is caused to ramp towards an erase voltage of the erase pulse; causing, in response to receiving each suspend command, the true erase sub-operation to be suspended to enable performing a non-erase memory operation; and in response to the number of suspend commands satisfying a threshold criterion, alerting the processing device to terminate sending suspend commands until after completion of the true erase sub-operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chulbum Kim, Brian Kwon, Erwin E. Yu, Kitae Park, Taehyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11915758
    Abstract: Memory devices might include a first storage element, a second storage element, a data line, and a controller. The first storage element is to store a first data bit. The second storage element is to store a second data bit. The data line is selectively connected to the first storage element, the second storage element, and a memory cell. The controller is configured to apply one of four voltage levels to the data line based on the first data bit and the second data bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hao T. Nguyen, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki, Erwin E. Yu, Dheeraj Srinivasan, Sheyang Ning, Lawrence Celso Miranda, Aaron S. Yip, Yoshihiko Kamata
  • Patent number: 11862257
    Abstract: A programming pulse is caused to be applied to a wordline associated with a memory cell of the memory sub-system. A program verify operation is caused to be performed on the memory cell to determine that a measured threshold voltage associated with the memory cell. The measured threshold voltage associated with the memory cell is stored in a sensing node associated with the memory cell. A bitline voltage matching the measured threshold voltage is caused to be applied to a bitline associated with the memory cell to reduce a rate of programming associated with the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Xu, Violante Moschiano, Erwin E. Yu
  • Publication number: 20230360709
    Abstract: A processing device in a memory system connects a first data block of the memory device to a second data block of the memory device to generate a combined data block comprising a first plurality of sub-blocks of the first data block and a second plurality of sub-blocks of the second data block, wherein the connecting includes: for each wordline of a first plurality of wordlines of the first data block, creating a wordline connection short between the respective wordline of the first data block and a corresponding wordline of a second plurality of wordlines of the second data block, wherein the first plurality of wordlines and the second plurality of wordlines comprise data wordlines; and driving a first data wordline of the first data block and a second wordline of the second data block using a single string driver of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Kalyan Chakravarthy Kavalipurapu, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki, Erwin E. Yu, Hong-Yan Chen, Yunfei Xu
  • Patent number: 11749353
    Abstract: A processing device in a memory system receives an erase request to erase data stored at a data block of a memory device, the erase request identifying a selected sub-block of a plurality of sub-blocks of the data block for erase, each of the plurality of sub-blocks comprising select gate devices (SGDs) and data storage devices. For each sub-block of the plurality of sub-blocks not selected for erase, the processing device applies an input voltage at a bitline of the respective sub-block and applies a plurality of gate voltages to a plurality of wordlines of the respective sub-block, the plurality of wordlines are coupled to the SGDs and to the data storage devices, each voltage of the plurality of voltages applied to a successive wordline of the plurality of wordlines is less than a previous voltage applied to a previous wordline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kalyan Chakravarthy Kavalipurapu, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki, Erwin E. Yu, Hong-Yan Chen, Yunfei Xu
  • Publication number: 20230170016
    Abstract: Memory array structures might include a first conductive plate connected to memory cells of a first dummy block of memory cells and to memory cells of a second dummy block of memory cells on opposing sides of a first isolation region; a second conductive plate connected to memory cells of the first dummy block of memory cells and to memory cells of the second dummy block of memory cells on opposing sides of a second isolation region; first and second conductors selectively connected to a first global access line, and connected to the first conductive plate on opposing sides of the first isolation region; third and fourth conductors selectively connected to a second global access line, and connected to the second conductive plate on opposing sides of the second isolation region; and a fifth conductor connected to the third conductor and connected to the second conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Dan Xu, Jun Xu, Erwin E. Yu, Paolo Tessariol, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20230078401
    Abstract: A programming pulse is caused to be applied to a wordline associated with a memory cell of the memory sub-system. A program verify operation is caused to be performed on the memory cell to determine that a measured threshold voltage associated with the memory cell. The measured threshold voltage associated with the memory cell is stored in a sensing node associated with the memory cell. A bitline voltage matching the measured threshold voltage is caused to be applied to a bitline associated with the memory cell to reduce a rate of programming associated with the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Jun Xu, Violante Moschiano, Erwin E. Yu
  • Publication number: 20230063656
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array of memory cells and control logic operatively coupled with the memory array. The control logic is to perform operations including: initiating a true erase sub-operation by causing an erase pulse to be applied to one or more sub-blocks of the memory array; tracking, a number of suspend commands received from a processing device during time periods that a memory line of the memory array is caused to ramp towards an erase voltage of the erase pulse; causing, in response to receiving each suspend command, the true erase sub-operation to be suspended to enable performing a non-erase memory operation; and in response to the number of suspend commands satisfying a threshold criterion, alerting the processing device to terminate sending suspend commands until after completion of the true erase sub-operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Chulbum Kim, Brian Kwon, Erwin E. Yu, Kitae Park, Taehyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20230066649
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure, first digit lines, second digit lines, and multiplexer devices. The stack structure comprises an access line region comprising a lower group of conductive structures, and a select gate region overlying the access line region and comprising an upper group of conductive structures. The first digit are coupled to strings of memory cells, and the second digit lines are coupled to additional strings of memory cells. The second digit lines are horizontally offset from the first digit lines in a first direction and are substantially horizontally aligned with the first digit lines in a second direction. The multiplexer devices are coupled to page buffer devices, the first digit lines, and the second digit lines. The multiplexer devices comprise transistors in electrical communication with the upper group of conductive structures. Additional microelectronic devices, memory devices, and electronic systems are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Erwin E. Yu, Surendranath C. Eruvuru, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20230047662
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a base structure, a memory array overlying the base structure, and a conductive pad tier overlying the memory array. The base structure comprises a logic region including logic devices. The memory array comprises vertically extending strings of memory cells within a horizontal area of the logic region of the base structure. The conductive pad tier comprises first conductive pads substantially outside of the horizontal area of the logic region of the base structure, and second conductive pads horizontally neighboring the first conductive pads and within the horizontal area of the logic region of the base structure. Memory devices and electronic systems are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Erwin E. Yu, Michele Piccardi, Surendranath C. Eruvuru