Patents by Inventor Giovanni Santin

Giovanni Santin 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: 8804432
    Abstract: Methods for sensing, memory devices, and memory systems are disclosed. One such method for sensing includes charging bit lines of an all bit line architecture to a precharge voltage, selecting a word line, and performing a sense operation on the bit lines. After the sense operation on the memory cells of the first selected word line is complete, the precharge voltage is maintained on the bit lines while a second word line is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Violante Moschiano, Giovanni Santin, Tommaso Vali
  • Publication number: 20140219032
    Abstract: Methods for programming memory cells and memory devices are disclosed. One such method for programming includes performing a program verify operation of a group of memory cells. A number of potential CS2 situations are detected. If the number of detected potential CS2 situations is greater than a threshold, programming compensation for a CS2 situation is used in a subsequent programming operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Violante Moschiano, Giovanni Santin
  • Publication number: 20140204674
    Abstract: The voltage of a selected word line is increased beyond the voltage to which a respective string driver transistor is capable of driving the word line by capacitively coupling a voltage to the selected word line from adjacent word lines. The voltage is capacitively coupled to the selected word line by increasing the voltages of the adjacent word lines after a programming voltage has been applied to a string driver transistor for the selected word line and after a string driver voltage has been applied to the gates of all of the string driver transistors in an array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Violante Moschiano, Giovanni Santin, Ercole Di Iorio
  • Publication number: 20140133224
    Abstract: Methods of programming a memory, memory devices, and systems are disclosed, for example. In one such method, each data line of a memory to be programmed is biased differently depending upon whether one or more of the data lines adjacent the data line are inhibited. In one such system, a connection circuit provides data corresponding to the inhibit status of a target data line to page buffers associated with data lines adjacent to the target data line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tommaso Vali, Giovanni Santin, Michele Incarnati, Violante Moschiano
  • Patent number: 8717815
    Abstract: In one or more of the disclosed embodiments, a read operation is compensated for back pattern effect. A bit line current is generated by a read operation that biases the word lines. As part of a back pattern effect measurement phase, at predetermined time intervals an indication of the discharge status of the bit line is stored in a latch of a set of N latches coupled to each bit line. At the end of the measurement phase, the set of latches contains a multiple bit word that is an indication of the back pattern effect experienced by that particular series string of memory cells. This back pattern effect indication is used in subsequent read operations to adjust the timing of the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tommaso Vali, Violente Moschiano, Giovanni Santin
  • Patent number: 8705277
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory device and a method of programming memory cells of the memory device. One such method includes applying different voltages to data lines associated with different memory cells based on threshold voltages of the memory cells in an erased state. Other embodiments including additional memory devices and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Violante Moschiano, Giovanni Santin
  • Patent number: 8681559
    Abstract: The voltage of a selected word line is increased beyond the voltage to which a respective string driver transistor is capable of driving the word line by capacitively coupling a voltage to the selected word line from adjacent word lines. The voltage is capacitively coupled to the selected word line by increasing the voltages of the adjacent word lines after a programming voltage has been applied to a string driver transistor for the selected word line and after a string driver voltage has been applied to the gates of all of the string driver transistors in an array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Violante Moschiano, Giovanni Santin, Ercole di Iorio
  • Publication number: 20140043912
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns memory kink compensation. One method embodiment includes applying a number of sequentially incrementing programming pulses to a memory cell, with the sequential programming pulses incrementing by a first programming pulse step voltage magnitude. A seeding voltage is applied after applying the number of sequentially incrementing programming pulses. A next programming pulse is applied after applying the seeding voltage, with the next programming pulse being adjusted relative to a preceding one of the sequentially incrementing programming pulses by a second programming pulse step voltage magnitude. The second programming pulse step voltage magnitude can be less than the first programming pulse step voltage magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Violante Moschiano, Frankie Roohparvar, Giovanni Santin, Vishal Sarin, Allahyar Vahidimowlavi, Tommaso Vali
  • Patent number: 8638624
    Abstract: Methods of programming a memory, memory devices, and systems are disclosed, for example. In one such method, each data line of a memory to be programmed is biased differently depending upon whether one or more of the data lines adjacent the data line are inhibited. In one such system, a connection circuit provides data corresponding to the inhibit status of a target data line to page buffers associated with data lines adjacent to the target data line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tommaso Vali, Giovanni Santin, Michele Incarnati, Violante Moschiano
  • Publication number: 20130343132
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining pass/fail condition of memories are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a set of common lines, one for each rank of page buffers corresponding to a page, determine the pass/fail status of all connected memory cells, and the pass/fail status results for each line can be combined to determine a pass/fail for the page of memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Violante MOSCHIANO, Giovanni SANTIN
  • Patent number: 8593876
    Abstract: Methods of operating memory devices, generating reference currents in memory devices, and sensing data states of memory cells in a memory device are disclosed. One such method includes generating reference currents utilized in sense amplifier circuitry to manage leakage currents while performing a sense operation within a memory device. Another such method activates one of two serially coupled transistors along with activating and deactivating the second transistor serially coupled with the first transistor thereby regulating a current through both serially coupled transistors and establishing a particular reference current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Violante Moschiano, Giovanni Santin, Tommaso Vali
  • Publication number: 20130286743
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory device and a method of programming memory cells of the memory device. One such method includes applying voltages to data lines associated with different groups of memory cells during a programming operation. Such a method applies the voltages to the data lines associated with a last group of memory cells being programmed in a different fashion from the other groups of memory cells after the other groups of memory cells have been programmed. Other embodiments including additional memory devices and methods are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Paul D. Ruby, Violante Moschiano, Giovanni Santin
  • Patent number: 8553461
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns memory kink compensation. One method embodiment includes applying a number of sequentially incrementing programming pulses to a memory cell, with the sequential programming pulses incrementing by a first programming pulse step voltage magnitude. A seeding voltage is applied after applying the number of sequentially incrementing programming pulses. A next programming pulse is applied after applying the seeding voltage, with the next programming pulse being adjusted relative to a preceding one of the sequentially incrementing programming pulses by a second programming pulse step voltage magnitude. The second programming pulse step voltage magnitude can be less than the first programming pulse step voltage magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Violante Moschiano, Frankie Roohparvar, Giovanni Santin, Vishal Sarin, Allahyar Vahidimowlavi, Tommaso Vali
  • Patent number: 8526238
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining pass/fail condition of memories are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a set of common lines, one for each rank of page buffers corresponding to a page, determine the pass/fail status of all connected memory cells, and the pass/fail status results for each line can be combined to determine a pass/fail for the page of memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Violante Moschiano, Giovanni Santin
  • Patent number: 8472256
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory device and a method of programming memory cells of the memory device. One such method includes applying voltages to data lines associated with different groups of memory cells during a programming operation. Such a method applies the voltages to the data lines associated with a last group of memory cells being programmed in a different fashion from the other groups of memory cells after the other groups of memory cells have been programmed. Other embodiments including additional memory devices and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Ruby, Violante Moschiano, Giovanni Santin
  • Patent number: 8467252
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods, such as those facilitating flexibility in applying differing biasing schemes to word lines. For example, one such memory device can include an architecture capable of partitioning word lines into one of a plurality of address spaces. Each address space has a corresponding configuration control bus. By identifying the address space to which a word line belongs, its appropriate configuration control bus may be selected and the control signals from the selected bus used to select the appropriate potentials for driving the word lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Micro Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Incarnati, Giovanni Santin
  • Patent number: 8400827
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory device and a method of programming memory cells of the memory device. One such method includes applying different voltages to data lines associated with different memory cells based on threshold voltages of the memory cells in an erased state. Other embodiments including additional memory devices and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Violante Moschiano, Giovanni Santin
  • Patent number: 8395939
    Abstract: In one or more of the disclosed embodiments, a read operation is compensated for back pattern effect. A bit line current is generated by a read operation that biases the word lines. As part of a back pattern effect measurement phase, at predetermined time intervals an indication of the discharge status of the bit line is stored in a latch of a set of N latches coupled to each bit line. At the end of the measurement phase, the set of latches contains a multiple bit word that is an indication of the back pattern effect experienced by that particular series string of memory cells. This back pattern effect indication is used in subsequent read operations to adjust the timing of the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tommaso Vali, Violante Moschiano, Giovanni Santin
  • Patent number: 8391061
    Abstract: In a method of operation, a flash memory cell coupled to a bit-line is programmed, a word-line voltage is coupled to the flash memory cell, a first voltage pulse is coupled to a bias transistor coupled between the bit-line and a sense capacitance at a first time to couple the bit-line to the sense capacitance to generate data to indicate the state of the flash memory cell, a second voltage pulse is coupled to the bias transistor at a second time having a second magnitude that is different from a first magnitude of the first voltage pulse, and a third voltage pulse is coupled to the bias transistor at a third time having a third magnitude that is different from the second magnitude of the second voltage pulse. In a method of operation, the second voltage pulse occurs a first delay period after the first voltage pulse and the third voltage pulse occurs a second delay period after the second voltage pulse, the second delay period being different from the first delay period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Elmhurst, Giovanni Santin, Michele Incarnati, Violante Moschiano, Ercole Diiorio
  • Publication number: 20130039138
    Abstract: Methods for providing redundancy and apparatuses are disclosed. One such method for providing redundancy performs a mapping of data between an address of a memory determined to indicate a defective memory cell and an address of a redundant area of the memory, only after the data has been loaded into a buffer. The direction of the mapping is determined by the operation (e.g., programming or reading).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Violante Moschiano, Giovanni Santin, Maria L. Gallese, Luigi Pilolli