Patents by Inventor Hernan A. Castro

Hernan A. Castro 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: 12676194
    Abstract: Interfaces between higher voltage and lower voltage wafers and related apparatuses and methods are disclosed. An apparatus includes a memory wafer and a logic wafer. Data storage elements of an array are configured to perform an operation responsive to an operational voltage potential. The memory wafer also includes bitlines electrically connected to the data storage elements and isolation devices electrically connected to the bitlines. The logic wafer is bonded to the memory wafer. The logic wafer includes logic circuitry electrically connected to the bitlines through the isolation devices. A maximum voltage potential difference tolerance of the logic circuitry is less than an operational voltage potential difference between the operational voltage potential and a reference voltage potential of the logic circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Smith, Kunal R. Parekh, Hernan A. Castro
  • Patent number: 12660207
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a cross-point memory array and related fabrication techniques are described. The fabrication techniques described herein may facilitate concurrently building two or more decks of memory cells disposed in a cross-point architecture. Each deck of memory cells may include a plurality of first access lines (e.g., word lines), a plurality of second access lines (e.g., bit lines), and a memory component at each topological intersection of a first access line and a second access line. The fabrication technique may use a pattern of vias formed at a top layer of a composite stack, which may facilitate building a 3D memory array within the composite stack while using a reduced number of processing steps. The fabrication techniques may also be suitable for forming a socket region where the 3D memory array may be coupled with other components of a memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Stephen H. Tang, Stephen W. Russell
  • Publication number: 20260162720
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for three-state programming of memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of memory cells, and circuitry configured to program a memory cell of the plurality of memory cells to one of three possible data states by applying a voltage pulse to the memory cell, determining whether the memory cell snaps back in response to the applied voltage pulse, and applying an additional voltage pulse to the memory cell based on the determination of whether the memory cell snaps back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2026
    Publication date: June 11, 2026
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
  • Patent number: 12635148
    Abstract: Semiconductor die stacks and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor die stack corresponds to a pair of a logic die and a memory die directly bonded together. The logic die includes integrated circuits generated by relatively high temperature process steps whereas the memory die includes memory cells with materials generated using relatively low temperature process steps. A logic wafer including the logic dies and a memory wafer including the memory dies are separately fabricated. Subsequently, the logic wafer and the memory wafer are directly bonded to generate the semiconductor die stacks. Either the logic dies or the memory dies include through-substrate vias (TSVs) to provide power and signals for the semiconductor die stacks. The resulting semiconductor devices operate as a single device as if they were formed in a monolithic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Kunal R. Parekh
  • Patent number: 12602575
    Abstract: Spiking events in a spiking neural network may be processed via a memory system. A memory system may store data corresponding to a group of destination neurons. The memory system may, at each time interval of a SNN, pass through data corresponding to a group of pre-synaptic spike events from respective source neurons. The data corresponding to the group of pre-synaptic spike events may be subsequently stored in the memory system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri Yudanov, Sean S. Eilert, Hernan A. Castro, Ameen D. Akel
  • Patent number: 12597450
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for pulse based multi-level cell programming are described. A memory device may identify an intermediate logic state to store to a multi-level memory cell capable of storing three or more logic states. The memory device may apply a first pulse with a first polarity to the memory cell to store a SET or RESET state to the memory cell based on identifying the intermediate logic state. As such, the memory device may identify a threshold voltage of the memory cell that stores the SET or RESET state. The memory device may apply a quantity of pulses to the memory cell to store the identified intermediate logic state based on identifying the threshold voltage of the memory cell that stores the SET or RESET state. In some examples, the quantity of pulses may have a second polarity different than the first polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Mattia Boniardi, Innocenzo Tortorelli
  • Patent number: 12567463
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for three-state programming of memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of memory cells, and circuitry configured to program a memory cell of the plurality of memory cells to one of three possible data states by applying a voltage pulse to the memory cell, determining whether the memory cell snaps back in response to the applied voltage pulse, and applying an additional voltage pulse to the memory cell based on the determination of whether the memory cell snaps back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
  • Publication number: 20260018192
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for thin film transistors and related fabrication techniques are described. The thin film transistors may access two or more decks of memory cells disposed in a cross-point architecture. The fabrication techniques may use one or more patterns of vias formed at a top layer of a composite stack, which may facilitate building the thin film transistors within the composite stack while using a reduced number of processing steps. Different configurations of the thin film transistors may be built using the fabrication techniques by utilizing different groups of the vias. Further, circuits and components of a memory device (e.g., decoder circuitry, interconnects between aspects of one or more memory arrays) may be constructed using the thin film transistors as described herein along with related via-based fabrication techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2025
    Publication date: January 15, 2026
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Stephen W. Russell, Stephen H. Tang
  • Patent number: 12380930
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for thin film transistors and related fabrication techniques are described. The thin film transistors may access two or more decks of memory cells disposed in a cross-point architecture. The fabrication techniques may use one or more patterns of vias formed at a top layer of a composite stack, which may facilitate building the thin film transistors within the composite stack while using a reduced number of processing steps. Different configurations of the thin film transistors may be built using the fabrication techniques by utilizing different groups of the vias. Further, circuits and components of a memory device (e.g., decoder circuitry, interconnects between aspects of one or more memory arrays) may be constructed using the thin film transistors as described herein along with related via-based fabrication techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Stephen W. Russell, Stephen H. Tang
  • Patent number: 12374408
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for multi-state programming of memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of memory cells, and circuitry configured to program a memory cell of the plurality of memory cells to one of a plurality of possible data states by applying a voltage pulse to the memory cell, determining the memory cell snaps back in response to the applied voltage pulse, turning off a current to the memory cell upon determining the memory cell snaps back, and applying a number of additional voltage pulses to the memory cell after turning off the current to the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Hernan A. Castro, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
  • Publication number: 20250165762
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed. A system may include a number of memory arrays and circuitry coupled to the number of memory arrays. The circuitry may store synaptic connections of a destination neuron in a first memory array of the number of memory arrays. The circuitry may also store pre-synaptic spike events from respective source neurons in a second memory array of the number of memory arrays. In response to a match of a neuron identification of the synaptic connections of the destination neuron with a neuron identification of the source neurons, the circuitry may generate a signal. The circuitry may further drive, based on the signal, at least one word line of a third memory array of the number of memory arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2025
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventors: Dmitri Yudanov, Sean S. Eilert, Hernan A. Castro, Ameen D. Akel
  • Publication number: 20240347081
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for pulse based multi-level cell programming are described. A memory device may identify an intermediate logic state to store to a multi-level memory cell capable of storing three or more logic states. The memory device may apply a first pulse with a first polarity to the memory cell to store a SET or RESET state to the memory cell based on identifying the intermediate logic state. As such, the memory device may identify a threshold voltage of the memory cell that stores the SET or RESET state. The memory device may apply a quantity of pulses to the memory cell to store the identified intermediate logic state based on identifying the threshold voltage of the memory cell that stores the SET or RESET state. In some examples, the quantity of pulses may have a second polarity different than the first polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Mattia Boniardi, Innocenzo Tortorelli
  • Patent number: 12119055
    Abstract: Row electrode drivers and column electrode drivers for a memory device are distributed within a footprint share by a memory cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Everardo Torres Flores, Jeremy M. Hirst
  • Publication number: 20240330667
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for in- or near-memory processing are described. Bits of a first number may be stored on a number of memory elements, wherein each memory element of the number of memory elements intersects a digit line and an access line of a number of access lines. A number of signals corresponding to bits of a second number may be driven on the number of access lines to generate a number of output signals. A value equal to a product of the first number and the second number may be generated based on the number of output signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Dmitri Yudanov, Sean S. Eilert, Hernan A. Castro, William A. Melton
  • Publication number: 20240312534
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for multi-state programming of memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of memory cells, and circuitry configured to program a memory cell of the plurality of memory cells to one of a plurality of possible data states by applying a voltage pulse to the memory cell, determining the memory cell snaps back in response to the applied voltage pulse, turning off a current to the memory cell upon determining the memory cell snaps back, and applying a number of additional voltage pulses to the memory cell after turning off the current to the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Hernan A. Castro, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
  • Patent number: 12087758
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for buried lines and related fabrication techniques are described. An electronic device (e.g., an integrated circuit) may include multiple buried lines at multiple layers of a stack. For example, a first layer of the stack may include multiple buried lines formed based on a pattern of vias formed at an upper layer of the stack. The pattern of vias may be formed in a wide variety of spatial configurations, and may allow for conductive material to be deposited at a buried target layer. In some cases, buried lines may be formed at multiple layers of the stack concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Stephen W. Russell, Stephen H. Tang
  • Publication number: 20240292632
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a cross-point memory array and related fabrication techniques are described. The fabrication techniques described herein may facilitate concurrently building two or more decks of memory cells disposed in a cross-point architecture. Each deck of memory cells may include a plurality of first access lines (e.g., word lines), a plurality of second access lines (e.g., bit lines), and a memory component at each topological intersection of a first access line and a second access line. The fabrication technique may use a pattern of vias formed at a top layer of a composite stack, which may facilitate building a 3D memory array within the composite stack while using a reduced number of processing steps. The fabrication techniques may also be suitable for forming a socket region where the 3D memory array may be coupled with other components of a memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Stephen H. Tang, Stephen W. Russell
  • Publication number: 20240273349
    Abstract: Spiking events in a spiking neural network may be processed via a memory system. A memory system may store data corresponding to a group of destination neurons. The memory system may, at each time interval of a SNN, pass through data corresponding to a group of pre-synaptic spike events from respective source neurons. The data corresponding to the group of pre-synaptic spike events may be subsequently stored in the memory system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Dmitri Yudanov, Sean S. Eilert, Hernan A. Castro, Ameen D. Akel
  • Patent number: 12056599
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for in-or near-memory processing are described. Bits of a first number may be stored on a number of memory elements, wherein each memory element of the number of memory elements intersects a bit line and a word line of a number of word lines. A number of signals corresponding to bits of a second number may be driven on the number of word lines to generate a number of output signals. A value equal to a product of the first number and the second number may be generated based on the number of output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri Yudanov, Sean S. Eilert, Hernan A. Castro, William A. Melton
  • Publication number: 20240237364
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for thin film transistors and related fabrication techniques are described. The thin film transistors may access two or more decks of memory cells disposed in a cross-point architecture. The fabrication techniques may use one or more patterns of vias formed at a top layer of a composite stack, which may facilitate building the thin film transistors within the composite stack while using a reduced number of processing steps. Different configurations of the thin film transistors may be built using the fabrication techniques by utilizing different groups of the vias. Further, circuits and components of a memory device (e.g., decoder circuitry, interconnects between aspects of one or more memory arrays) may be constructed using the thin film transistors as described herein along with related via-based fabrication techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Stephen W. Russell, Stephen H. Tang