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: 11522014
    Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein relates to an integrated circuit device having a socket interconnect region for connecting a plurality of conductive lines at a first vertical level to interconnect structures formed at a second vertical level different from the first vertical level. The conductive lines include a plurality of contacted lines that are vertically connected to the interconnect structures at the socket interconnect region, a plurality of terminating lines terminating at the socket interconnect region, and a plurality of pass-through lines that pass through the socket interconnect region without being vertically connected and without being terminated at the socket interconnect region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hernan A. Castro
  • Patent number: 11501803
    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: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Stephen W. Russell, Stephen H. Tang
  • Patent number: 11482266
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for edgeless memory clusters are described. Systems, devices, and techniques are described for eliminating gaps between clusters by creating groups (e.g., domains) of clusters that are active at a given time, and using drivers within inactive clusters to perform array termination functions for abutting active clusters. Tiles on the edges of a cluster may have drivers that operate both for the cluster, and for a neighboring cluster, with circuits (e.g., a multiplexers) on the drivers to enable operations for both clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hernan A. Castro
  • Patent number: 11430511
    Abstract: In an example, a method may include comparing input data to stored data stored in a memory cell and determining whether the input data matches the stored data based on whether the memory cell snaps back in response to an applied voltage differential across the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hernan A. Castro
  • Publication number: 20220246210
    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: April 22, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
  • Publication number: 20220189551
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for programming a self-selecting memory cell that stores a first logic state. To program the memory cell, a pulse having a first polarity may be applied to the cell, which may result in the memory cell having a reduced threshold voltage. During a duration in which the threshold voltage of the memory cell may be reduced (e.g., during a selection time), a second pulse having a second polarity (e.g., a different polarity) may be applied to the memory cell. Applying the second pulse to the memory cell may result in the memory cell storing a second logic state different than the first logic state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Innocenzo Tortorelli, Agostino Pirovano, Fabio Pellizzer
  • Patent number: 11315633
    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 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
  • Patent number: 11302393
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for programming a self-selecting memory cell that stores a first logic state. To program the memory cell, a pulse having a first polarity may be applied to the cell, which may result in the memory cell having a reduced threshold voltage. During a duration in which the threshold voltage of the memory cell may be reduced (e.g., during a selection time), a second pulse having a second polarity (e.g., a different polarity) may be applied to the memory cell. Applying the second pulse to the memory cell may result in the memory cell storing a second logic state different than the first logic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Innocenzo Tortorelli, Agostino Pirovano, Fabio Pellizzer
  • Publication number: 20220084560
    Abstract: Row and/or column electrode lines for a memory device are staggered such that gaps are formed between terminated lines. Vertical interconnection to central points along adjacent lines that are not terminated are made in the gap, and vertical interconnection through can additionally be made through the gap without contacting the lines of that level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Everardo Torres Flores, Stephen H.S. Tang
  • Publication number: 20220075817
    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: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Hernan A. Castro, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
  • Publication number: 20210397932
    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: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Dmitri Yudanov, Sean S. Eilert, Hernan A. Castro, William A. Melton
  • Patent number: 11177009
    Abstract: The present provision 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: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Hernan A. Castro, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
  • Patent number: 11164635
    Abstract: In an example, a plurality of signal pulses is applied across a plurality of memory cells concurrently until each respective memory cell reaches a desired state. Each respective memory cell is commonly coupled to a first signal line and is coupled to a different respective second signal line. Each signal pulse causes each respective memory cell to move toward the desired state by causing each respective memory cell to snap back. Current to a respective second signal line is turned off in response to each time the respective memory cell coupled thereto snaps back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hernan A. Castro
  • Patent number: 11139002
    Abstract: Row and/or column electrode lines for a memory device are staggered such that gaps are formed between terminated lines. Vertical interconnection to central points along adjacent lines that are not terminated are made in the gap, and vertical interconnection through can additionally be made through the gap without contacting the lines of that level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Everardo Torres Flores, Stephen H. S. Tang
  • Publication number: 20210288050
    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: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Stephen W. Russell, Stephen H. Tang
  • Publication number: 20210280242
    Abstract: Row electrode drivers and column electrode drivers for a memory device are distributed within a footprint share by a memory cell array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Everardo Torres Flores, Jeremy M. Hirst
  • Patent number: 11100991
    Abstract: Example subject matter disclosed herein relates to apparatuses and/or devices, and/or various methods for use therein, in which an application of an electric potential to a circuit may be initiated and subsequently changed in response to a determination that a snapback event has occurred in a circuit. For example, a circuit may comprise a memory cell that may experience a snapback event as a result of an applied electric potential. In certain example implementations, a sense circuit may be provided which is responsive to a snapback event occurring in a memory cell to generate a feed back signal to initiate a change in an electric potential applied to the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Miles Hirst, Hernan A. Castro, Stephen Tang
  • Publication number: 20210202018
    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: December 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Hernan A. Castro, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
  • Publication number: 20210201995
    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: December 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
  • Patent number: 11049560
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a pulsed integrator and memory techniques are described. A first device may facilitate discharging a memory cell using at least one current pulse until a voltage associated with the memory cell reaches a reference voltage. The discharge time of the memory cell may be determined based at least in part on a duration of at least one current pulse. In some examples, a state of the memory cell may be determined based at least in part on a discharge time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Jeremy M. Hirst