Patents by Inventor Ethan Williford

Ethan Williford 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: 10032903
    Abstract: A threshold voltage adjusted long-channel transistor fabricated according to short-channel transistor processes is described. The threshold-adjusted transistor includes a substrate with spaced-apart source and drain regions formed in the substrate and a channel region defined between the source and drain regions. A layer of gate oxide is formed over at least a part of the channel region with a gate formed over the gate oxide. The gate further includes at least one implant aperture formed therein with the channel region of the substrate further including an implanted region within the channel between the source and drain regions. Methods for forming the threshold voltage adjusted transistor are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ethan Williford
  • Publication number: 20150357465
    Abstract: A threshold voltage adjusted long-channel transistor fabricated according to short-channel transistor processes is described. The threshold-adjusted transistor includes a substrate with spaced-apart source and drain regions formed in the substrate and a channel region defined between the source and drain regions. A layer of gate oxide is formed over at least a part of the channel region with a gate formed over the gate oxide. The gate further includes at least one implant aperture formed therein with the channel region of the substrate further including an implanted region within the channel between the source and drain regions. Methods for forming the threshold voltage adjusted transistor are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventor: Ethan Williford
  • Patent number: 9111958
    Abstract: A threshold voltage adjusted long-channel transistor fabricated according to short-channel transistor processes is described. The threshold-adjusted transistor includes a substrate with spaced-apart source and drain regions formed in the substrate and a channel region defined between the source and drain regions. A layer of gate oxide is formed over at least a part of the channel region with a gate formed over the gate oxide. The gate further includes at least one implant aperture formed therein with the channel region of the substrate further including an implanted region within the channel between the source and drain regions. Methods for forming the threshold voltage adjusted transistor are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Ethan Williford
  • Publication number: 20110233671
    Abstract: A threshold voltage adjusted long-channel transistor fabricated according to short-channel transistor processes is described. The threshold-adjusted transistor includes a substrate with spaced-apart source and drain regions formed in the substrate and a channel region defined between the source and drain regions. A layer of gate oxide is formed over at least a part of the channel region with a gate formed over the gate oxide. The gate further includes at least one implant aperture formed therein with the channel region of the substrate further including an implanted region within the channel between the source and drain regions. Methods for forming the threshold voltage adjusted transistor are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Ethan Williford
  • Patent number: 7968411
    Abstract: A threshold voltage adjusted long-channel transistor fabricated according to short-channel transistor processes is described. The threshold-adjusted transistor includes a substrate with spaced-apart source and drain regions formed in the substrate and a channel region defined between the source and drain regions. A layer of gate oxide is formed over at least a part of the channel region with a gate formed over the gate oxide. The gate further includes at least one implant aperture formed therein with the channel region of the substrate further including an implanted region within the channel between the source and drain regions. Methods for forming the threshold voltage adjusted transistor are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ethan Williford
  • Patent number: 7746720
    Abstract: Techniques for reducing gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) in memory devices utilizing negative wordline architectures. More specifically, a method and apparatus are provided to determine whether any of the word lines in a section of a memory array are active. If any one of the plurality of word lines is active, each of the inactive word lines in the section are coupled to a negative voltage level. If none of the plurality of word lines is active, each of the plurality of word lines is coupled to ground to reduce GIDL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Venkatraghavan Bringivijayaraghavan, Abhay S. Dixit, Scot M. Graham, Stephen R. Porter, Ethan A. Williford
  • Patent number: 7551509
    Abstract: A resistive memory device requires a power supply having a reduced number of voltage taps and reduced power consumption. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, one or more voltages used by a reference circuit which are normally supplied by different taps of a power supply are generated by corresponding power circuits. In accordance with a second exemplary embodiment, the power circuits are coupled to the bit lines and replace the reference circuit in a manner to improve sensing margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Hardy, Steve Porter, Ethan Williford, Mark Ingram
  • Patent number: 7422948
    Abstract: A threshold voltage adjusted long-channel transistor fabricated according to short-channel transistor processes is described. The threshold-adjusted transistor includes a substrate with spaced-apart source and drain regions formed in the substrate and a channel region defined between the source and drain regions. A layer of gate oxide is formed over at least a part of the channel region with a gate formed over the gate oxide. The gate further includes at least one implant aperture formed therein with the channel region of the substrate further including an implanted region within the channel between the source and drain regions. Methods for forming the threshold voltage adjusted transistor are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ethan Williford
  • Publication number: 20080170453
    Abstract: A resistive memory device requires a power supply having a reduced number of voltage taps and reduced power consumption. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, one or more voltages used by a reference circuit which are normally supplied by different taps of a power supply are generated by corresponding power circuits. In accordance with a second exemplary embodiment, the power circuits are coupled to the bit lines and replace the reference circuit in a manner to improve sensing margin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Trevor Hardy, Steve Porter, Ethan Williford, Mark Ingram
  • Patent number: 7366045
    Abstract: A resistive memory device requires a power supply having a reduced number of voltage taps and reduced power consumption. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, one or more voltages used by a reference circuit which are normally supplied by different taps of a power supply are generated by corresponding power circuits. In accordance with a second exemplary embodiment, the power circuits are coupled to the bit lines and replace the reference circuit in a manner to improve sensing margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Hardy, Steve Porter, Ethan Williford, Mark Ingram
  • Publication number: 20080054375
    Abstract: A threshold voltage adjusted long-channel transistor fabricated according to short-channel transistor processes is described. The threshold-adjusted transistor includes a substrate with spaced-apart source and drain regions formed in the substrate and a channel region defined between the source and drain regions. A layer of gate oxide is formed over at least a part of the channel region with a gate formed over the gate oxide. The gate further includes at least one implant aperture formed therein with the channel region of the substrate further including an implanted region within the channel between the source and drain regions. Methods for forming the threshold voltage adjusted transistor are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Ethan Williford
  • Patent number: 7336522
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for reducing the current in a memory device. Peripheral device control signals are translated to the wordline off voltage level, such as a negative wordline voltage. The translated signals prevent the peripheral devices from conducting current in the wordline off mode, even if a wordline-to-digitline short should occur. The control signals may include a column select signal for a column select device and an active pull-up signal for a sense amplifier, among others. Additionally, an equalization circuit having high and low resistance components is provided for the memory device. The equalization circuit limits current, even if a wordline-to-digitline short occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Stephen R. Porter, Scot M. Graham, Ethan A. Williford, Kevin G. Duesman
  • Publication number: 20070263470
    Abstract: Techniques for reducing gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) in memory devices utilizing negative wordline architectures. More specifically, a method and apparatus are provided to determine whether any of the word lines in a section of a memory array are active. If any one of the plurality of word lines is active, each of the inactive word lines in the section are coupled to a negative voltage level. If none of the plurality of word lines is active, each of the plurality of word lines is coupled to ground to reduce GIDL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Scott Derner, Venkatraghavan Bringivijayaraghavan, Abhay Dixit, Scot Graham, Stephen Porter, Ethan Williford
  • Patent number: 7274076
    Abstract: A threshold voltage adjusted long-channel transistor fabricated according to short-channel transistor processes is described. The threshold-adjusted transistor includes a substrate with spaced-apart source and drain regions formed in the substrate and a channel region defined between the source and drain regions. A layer of gate oxide is formed over at least a part of the channel region with a gate formed over the gate oxide. The gate further includes at least one implant aperture formed therein with the channel region of the substrate further including an implanted region within the channel between the source and drain regions. Methods for forming the threshold voltage adjusted transistor are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ethan Williford
  • Patent number: 7269079
    Abstract: A resistive memory device requires a power supply having a reduced number of voltage taps and reduced power consumption. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, one or more voltages used by a reference circuit which are normally supplied by different taps of a power supply are generated by corresponding power circuits. In accordance with a second exemplary embodiment, the power circuits are coupled to the bit lines and replace the reference circuit in a manner to improve sensing margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Hardy, Steve Porter, Ethan Williford, Mark Ingram
  • Patent number: 7245548
    Abstract: Techniques for reducing gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) in memory devices utilizing negative wordline architectures. More specifically, a method and apparatus are provided to determine whether any of the word lines in a section of a memory array are active. If any one of the plurality of word lines is active, each of the inactive word lines in the section are coupled to a negative voltage level. If none of the plurality of word lines is active, each of the plurality of word lines is coupled to ground to reduce GIDL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Venkatraghavan Bringivijayaraghavan, Abhay S. Dixit, Scot M. Graham, Stephen R. Porter, Ethan A. Williford
  • Publication number: 20070104010
    Abstract: A resistive memory device requires a power supply having a reduced number of voltage taps and reduced power consumption. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, one or more voltages used by a reference circuit which are normally supplied by different taps of a power supply are generated by corresponding power circuits. In accordance with a second exemplary embodiment, the power circuits are coupled to the bit lines and replace the reference circuit in a manner to improve sensing margin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Trevor Hardy, Steve Porter, Ethan Williford, Mark Ingram
  • Patent number: 7190608
    Abstract: A resistance variable memory device such as e.g., a PCRAM memory device, with either a 4T (transistor) or 2T memory cell configuration and either a dual cell plate or word line configuration. The device includes additional circuitry configured to write or erase addressed cells while keeping the voltage across non-addressed cells at approximately 0V. The device also includes circuitry that reads the addressed cells in a manner that increases the sensing window without causing the potential across the cell to be greater than approximately 200 mV. The device may also sense the state of its addressed cells closer in time to when the cells are accessed, in comparison to typical sensing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Williford, Mark Ingram
  • Publication number: 20060285381
    Abstract: A resistance variable memory device such as e.g., a PCRAM memory device, with either a 4T (transistor) or 2T memory cell configuration and either a dual cell plate or word line configuration. The device includes additional circuitry configured to write or erase addressed cells while keeping the voltage across non-addressed cells at approximately 0V. The device also includes circuitry that reads the addressed cells in a manner that increases the sensing window without causing the potential across the cell to be greater than approximately 200 mV. The device may also sense the state of its addressed cells closer in time to when the cells are accessed, in comparison to typical sensing techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Ethan Williford, Mark Ingram
  • Patent number: 7151688
    Abstract: A resistance variable memory device such as e.g., a PCRAM memory device, with either a 4T (transistor) or 2T memory cell configuration and either a dual cell plate or word line configuration. The device includes additional circuitry configured to write or erase addressed cells while keeping the voltage across non-addressed cells at approximately 0V. The device also includes circuitry that reads the addressed cells in a manner that increases the sensing window without causing the potential across the cell to be greater than approximately 200 mV. The device may also sense the state of its addressed cells closer in time to when the cells are accessed, in comparison to typical sensing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Williford, Mark Ingram