Patents by Inventor Hiroyuki Sanda

Hiroyuki Sanda 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: 11798633
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods have been disclosed. One such apparatus includes a plurality of memory cells that can be formed at least partially surrounding a semiconductor pillar. A select device can be coupled to one end of the plurality of memory cells and at least partially surround the pillar. An asymmetric assist device can be coupled between the select device and one of a source connection or a drain connection. The asymmetric assist device can have a portion that at least partially surrounds the pillar and another portion that at least partially surrounds the source or drain connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy J. Koval, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Publication number: 20210280255
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods have been disclosed. One such apparatus includes a plurality of memory cells that can be formed at least partially surrounding a semiconductor pillar. A select device can be coupled to one end of the plurality of memory cells and at least partially surround the pillar. An asymmetric assist device can be coupled between the select device and one of a source connection or a drain connection. The asymmetric assist device can have a portion that at least partially surrounds the pillar and another portion that at least partially surrounds the source or drain connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Randy J. Koval, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Patent number: 11037633
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods have been disclosed. One such apparatus includes a plurality of memory cells that can be formed at least partially surrounding a semiconductor pillar. A select device can be coupled to one end of the plurality of memory cells and at least partially surround the pillar. An asymmetric assist device can be coupled between the select device and one of a source connection or a drain connection. The asymmetric assist device can have a portion that at least partially surrounds the pillar and another portion that at least partially surrounds the source or drain connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy J. Koval, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Patent number: 10622450
    Abstract: A 3D memory structure including a modified floating gate and dielectric layer geometry is described. In embodiments, a memory cell includes a channel region and a floating gate where a length of the floating gate along a direction of the channel region is substantially longer than a length of the floating gate along an orthogonal direction along the channel region. A control gate adjacent to the floating gate extends at least as long as the control gate along the direction of the channel region and includes a tapered edge extending away from the channel region towards the control gate. In embodiments, a dielectric layer between the control gate and the floating gate may follow the tapered edge along the floating gate and form a discrete region proximate to the floating gate to at least partially insulate the floating gate from an adjacent memory cell. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Koval, Srikant Jayanti, Hiroyuki Sanda, Meng-Wei Kuo, Srivardhan Gowda, Krishna Parat
  • Patent number: 10453535
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for identifying a target sub-block of NAND strings to be partially or wholly erased in memory and triggering a leakage current condition in one or more target select gate drain-side (SGD) devices associated with the target sub-block. Additionally, the leakage current condition may be inhibited in one or more remaining SGD devices associated with remaining sub-blocks of NAND strings in the memory. In one example, triggering the leakage current condition in the one or more target SGD devices includes setting a gate voltage of the one or more target SGD devices to a value that generates a reverse voltage that exceeds a threshold corresponding to the leakage current condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Shantanu R. Rajwade, Akira Goda, Pranav Kalavade, Krishna K. Parat, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Publication number: 20190252026
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods have been disclosed. One such apparatus includes a plurality of memory cells that can be formed at least partially surrounding a semiconductor pillar. A select device can be coupled to one end of the plurality of memory cells and at least partially surround the pillar. An asymmetric assist device can be coupled between the select device and one of a source connection or a drain connection. The asymmetric assist device can have a portion that at least partially surrounds the pillar and another portion that at least partially surrounds the source or drain connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Randy J. Koval, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Patent number: 10297325
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods have been disclosed. One such apparatus includes a plurality of memory cells that can be formed at least partially surrounding a semiconductor pillar. A select device can be coupled to one end of the plurality of memory cells and at least partially surround the pillar. An asymmetric assist device can be coupled between the select device and one of a source connection or a drain connection. The asymmetric assist device can have a portion that at least partially surrounds the pillar and another portion that at least partially surrounds the source or drain connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy J. Koval, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Publication number: 20190043960
    Abstract: A 3D memory structure including a modified floating gate and dielectric layer geometry is described. In embodiments, a memory cell includes a channel region and a floating gate where a length of the floating gate along a direction of the channel region is substantially longer than a length of the floating gate along an orthogonal direction along the channel region. A control gate adjacent to the floating gate extends at least as long as the control gate along the direction of the channel region and includes a tapered edge extending away from the channel region towards the control gate. In embodiments, a dielectric layer between the control gate and the floating gate may follow the tapered edge along the floating gate and form a discrete region proximate to the floating gate to at least partially insulate the floating gate from an adjacent memory cell. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Randy Koval, Srikant Jayanti, Hiroyuki Sanda, Meng-Wei Kuo, Srivardhan Gowda, Krishna Parat
  • Patent number: 10128262
    Abstract: An apparatus is described having a memory. The memory includes a vertical stack of storage cells, where, a first storage node at a lower layer of the vertical stack has a different structural design than a second storage node at a higher layer of the vertical stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Randy J. Koval, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Publication number: 20180130536
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods have been disclosed. One such apparatus includes a plurality of memory cells that can be formed at least partially surrounding a semiconductor pillar. A select device can be coupled to one end of the plurality of memory cells and at least partially surround the pillar. An asymmetric assist device can be coupled between the select device and one of a source connection or a drain connection. The asymmetric assist device can have a portion that at least partially surrounds the pillar and another portion that at least partially surrounds the source or drain connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Randy J. Koval, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Patent number: 9875801
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods have been disclosed. One such apparatus includes a plurality of memory cells that can be formed at least partially surrounding a semiconductor pillar. A select device can be coupled to one end of the plurality of memory cells and at least partially surround the pillar. An asymmetric assist device can be coupled between the select device and one of a source connection or a drain connection. The asymmetric assist device can have a portion that at least partially surrounds the pillar and another portion that at least partially surrounds the source or drain connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy J. Koval, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Publication number: 20170186765
    Abstract: An apparatus is described having a memory. The memory includes a vertical stack of storage cells, where, a first storage node at a lower layer of the vertical stack has a different structural design than a second storage node at a higher layer of the vertical stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2015
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Randy J. Koval, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Publication number: 20170117049
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for identifying a target sub-block of NAND strings to be partially or wholly erased in memory and triggering a leakage current condition in one or more target select gate drain-side (SGD) devices associated with the target sub-block. Additionally, the leakage current condition may be inhibited in one or more remaining SGD devices associated with remaining sub-blocks of NAND strings in the memory. In one example, triggering the leakage current condition in the one or more target SGD devices includes setting a gate voltage of the one or more target SGD devices to a value that generates a reverse voltage that exceeds a threshold corresponding to the leakage current condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shantanu R. Rajwade, Akira Goda, Pranav Kalavade, Krishna K. Parat, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Patent number: 9543024
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods, apparatus, and system configurations for conditional pre-programming of nonvolatile memory before erasure. In one instance, the method includes receiving a request to erase information in a portion of the nonvolatile memory device, in which the portion includes a plurality of storage units, determining whether one or more storage units of the plurality of storage units included in the portion of the non-volatile memory device are programmed, pre-programming the portion of the non-volatile memory device if the one or more storage units are determined to be programmed, and erasing the pre-programmed portion of the non-volatile memory device. A number of determined programmed storage units may not exceed a predetermined value. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sanda, Kiran Pangal, Xin Guo, Kaoru Naganuma
  • Patent number: 9424936
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards techniques and configurations for providing an apparatus comprising a memory array, to which bias voltage may be provided to reduce leakage current. In one embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a three-dimensional (3D) memory array having at least first and second blocks; and circuitry coupled with the 3D memory array to access the 3D memory array. The circuitry may include circuit to deselect the first block and select the second block, and supply a first bias voltage to the deselected first block and a second bias voltage to the selected second block, to reduce leakage current in the 3D memory array. The first bias voltage may be different than the second bias voltage. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Tanzawa, Akira Goda, Shigekazu Yamada, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Publication number: 20150221347
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods have been disclosed. One such apparatus includes a plurality of memory cells that can be formed at least partially surrounding a semiconductor pillar. A select device can be coupled to one end of the plurality of memory cells and at least partially surround the pillar. An asymmetric assist device can be coupled between the select device and one of a source connection or a drain connection. The asymmetric assist device can have a portion that at least partially surrounds the pillar and another portion that at least partially surrounds the source or drain connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy J. Koval, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Patent number: 9047187
    Abstract: Defect management logic extends a useful life of a memory system. For example, as discussed herein, failure detection logic detects occurrence of a failure in a memory system. Defect management logic determines a type of the failure such as whether the failure is an infant mortality type failure or a late-life type of failure. Depending on the type of failure, the defect management logic performs different operations to extend the useful life of the memory system. For example, for early life failures, the defect management logic can retire a portion of the block including the failure. For late life failures, due to excessive reads/writes, the defect management logic can convert the failing block from operating in a first bit-per-cell storage density mode to operating in a second bit-per-cell storage density mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Xin Guo, Yogesh B. Wakchaure, Kiran Pangal, Hiroyuki Sanda
  • Publication number: 20140297924
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods, apparatus, and system configurations for conditional pre-programming of nonvolatile memory before erasure. In one instance, the method includes receiving a request to erase information in a portion of the nonvolatile memory device, in which the portion includes a plurality of storage units, determining whether one or more storage units of the plurality of storage units included in the portion of the non-volatile memory device are programmed, pre-programming the portion of the non-volatile memory device if the one or more storage units are determined to be programmed, and erasing the pre-programmed portion of the non-volatile memory device. A number of determined programmed storage units may not exceed a predetermined value. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sanda, Kiran Pangal, Xin Guo, Kaoru Naganuma
  • Publication number: 20140006847
    Abstract: Defect management logic extends a useful life of a memory system. For example, as discussed herein, failure detection logic detects occurrence of a failure in a memory system. Defect management logic determines a type of the failure such as whether the failure is an infant mortality type failure or a late-life type of failure. Depending on the type of failure, the defect management logic performs different operations to extend the useful life of the memory system. For example, for early life failures, the defect management logic can retire a portion of the block including the failure. For late life failures, due to excessive reads/writes, the defect management logic can convert the failing block from operating in a first bit-per-cell storage density mode to operating in a second bit-per-cell storage density mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Xin Guo, Yogesh B. Wakchaure, Kiran Pangal, Hiroyuki Sanda