Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Kume

Hitoshi Kume 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: 8482997
    Abstract: A highly reliable large capacity phase change memory module is realized. A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a memory array having a structure in which a storage layer using a chalcogenide material and a memory cell constituted of a diode are stacked, and an initialization condition and a rewriting condition are changed in accordance with the layer where a selected memory cell is located. A current mirror circuit is selected in accordance with an operation, and at the same time, the initialization condition and the rewriting condition (here, reset condition) are changed in accordance with the operation by a control mechanism of the reset current in a voltage selection circuit and a current mirror circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Hanzawa, Hitoshi Kume, Motoyasu Terao, Tomonori Sekiguchi, Makoto Saen
  • Patent number: 8456940
    Abstract: A phase change memory capable of highly reliable operations is provided. A semiconductor device has a memory array having a structure in which memory cells are stacked including memory layers using a chalcogenide material and diodes, and initialization conditions and write conditions are changed according to the layer in which a selected memory cell is positioned. The initialization conditions and write conditions (herein, reset conditions) are changed according to the operation by selecting a current mirror circuit according to the operation and by a control mechanism of a reset current in a voltage select circuit and the current mirror circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Hanzawa, Hitoshi Kume
  • Publication number: 20120218819
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nonvolatile memory system including at least one nonvolatile memory each having a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells and a buffer memory; and a control device coupled to the nonvolatile memory. The control device is enabled to receive external data and to apply the data to the nonvolatile memory, and the nonvolatile memory is enabled to operate a program operation including storing the received data to the buffer memory and storing the data held in the buffer memory to ones of nonvolatile memory cells. Moreover, the control device is enabled to receive external data while the nonvolatile memory is operating in the program operation. Also, the buffer memory is capable of receiving a unit of data, equal to the data length of data to be stored at one time of the program operation, the data length being more than 1 byte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Masataka KATO, Tetsuo ADACHI, Toshihiro TANAKA, Toshio SASAKI, Hitoshi KUME, Katsutaka KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20120135548
    Abstract: A highly reliable large capacity phase change memory module is realized. A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a memory array having a structure in which a storage layer using a chalcogenide material and a memory cell constituted of a diode are stacked, and an initialization condition and a rewriting condition are changed in accordance with the layer where a selected memory cell is located. A current mirror circuit is selected in accordance with an operation, and at the same time, the initialization condition and the rewriting condition (here, reset condition) are changed in accordance with the operation by a control mechanism of the reset current in a voltage selection circuit and a current mirror circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: SATORU HANZAWA, Hitoshi Kume, Motoyasu Terao, Tomonori Sekiguchi, Makoto Saen
  • Publication number: 20120075926
    Abstract: A phase change memory capable of highly reliable operations is provided. A semiconductor device has a memory array having a structure in which memory cells are stacked including memory layers using a chalcogenide material and diodes, and initialization conditions and write conditions are changed according to the layer in which a selected memory cell is positioned. The initialization conditions and write conditions (herein, reset conditions) are changed according to the operation by selecting a current mirror circuit according to the operation and by a control mechanism of a reset current in a voltage select circuit and the current mirror circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Satoru HANZAWA, Hitoshi Kume
  • Patent number: 8130575
    Abstract: A highly reliable large capacity phase change memory module is realized. A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a memory array having a structure in which a storage layer using a chalcogenide material and a memory cell constituted of a diode are stacked, and an initialization condition and a rewriting condition are changed in accordance with the layer where a selected memory cell is located. A current mirror circuit is selected in accordance with an operation, and at the same time, the initialization condition and the rewriting condition (here, reset condition) are changed in accordance with the operation by a control mechanism of the reset current in a voltage selection circuit and a current mirror circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Hanzawa, Hitoshi Kume, Motoyasu Terao, Tomonori Sekiguchi, Makoto Saen
  • Patent number: 8132063
    Abstract: To realize a fast and highly reliable phase-change memory system of low power consumption, a semiconductor device includes: a memory device which includes a first memory array having a first area including a plurality of first memory cells and a second area including a plurality of second memory cells; a controller coupled to the memory device to issue a command to the memory device; and a condition table for storing a plurality of trial writing conditions. The controller performs trial writing in the plurality of second memory cells a plurality of times based on the plurality of trial writing conditions stored in the condition table, and determines writing conditions in the plurality of first memory cells based on a result of the trial writing. The memory device performs writing in the plurality of first memory cells based on the writing conditions instructed from the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyasu Terao, Satoru Hanzawa, Hitoshi Kume, Minoru Ogushi, Yoshitaka Sasago, Masaharu Kinoshita, Norikatsu Takaura
  • Patent number: 8094489
    Abstract: A phase change memory capable of highly reliable operations is provided. A semiconductor device has a memory array having a structure in which memory cells are stacked including memory layers using a chalcogenide material and diodes, and initialization conditions and write conditions are changed according to the layer in which a selected memory cell is positioned. The initialization conditions and write conditions (herein, reset conditions) are changed according to the operation by selecting a current mirror circuit according to the operation and by a control mechanism of a reset current in a voltage select circuit and the current mirror circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Hanzawa, Hitoshi Kume
  • Patent number: 8072809
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nonvolatile memory system including at least one nonvolatile memory each having a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells and a buffer memory; and a control device coupled to the nonvolatile memory. The control device is enabled to receive external data and to apply the data to the nonvolatile memory, and the nonvolatile memory is enabled to operate a program operation including storing the received data to the buffer memory and storing the data held in the buffer memory to ones of nonvolatile memory cells. Moreover, the control device is enabled to receive external data while the nonvolatile memory is operating in the program operation. Also, the buffer memory is capable of receiving a unit of data, equal to the data length of data to be stored at one time of the program operation, the data length being more than 1 byte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Solid State Storage Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Masataka Kato, Tetsuo Adachi, Toshihiro Tanaka, Toshio Sasaki, Hitoshi Kume, Katsutaka Kimura
  • Publication number: 20110292722
    Abstract: A highly reliable large capacity phase change memory module is realized. A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a memory array having a structure in which a storage layer using a chalcogcnidc material and a memory cell constituted of a diode are stacked, and an initialization condition and a rewriting condition are changed in accordance with the layer where a selected memory cell is located. A current mirror circuit is selected in accordance with an operation, and at the same time, the initialization condition and the rewriting condition (here, reset condition) are changed in accordance with the operation by a control mechanism of the reset current in a voltage selection circuit and a current mirror circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: SATORU HANZAWA, Hitoshi Kume, Motoyasu Terao, Tomonori Sekiguchi, Makoto Saen
  • Publication number: 20110283039
    Abstract: To realize a fast and highly reliable phase-change memory system of low power consumption, a semiconductor device includes: a memory device which includes a first memory array having a first area including a plurality of first memory cells and a second area including a plurality of second memory cells; a controller coupled to the memory device to issue a command to the memory device; and a condition table for storing a plurality of trial writing conditions. The controller performs trial writing in the plurality of second memory cells a plurality of times based on the plurality of trial writing conditions stored in the condition table, and determines writing conditions in the plurality of first memory cells based on a result of the trial writing. The memory device performs writing in the plurality of first memory cells based on the writing conditions instructed from the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: MOTOYASU TERAO, Satoru Hanzawa, Hitoshi Kume, Minoru Ogushi, Yoshitaka Sasago, Masaharu Kinoshita, Norikatsu Takaura
  • Publication number: 20110216583
    Abstract: A phase change memory capable of highly reliable operations is provided. A semiconductor device has a memory array having a structure in which memory cells are stacked including memory layers using a chalcogenide material and diodes, and initialization conditions and write conditions are changed according to the layer in which a selected memory cell is positioned. The initialization conditions and write conditions (herein, reset conditions) are changed according to the operation by selecting a current mirror circuit according to the operation and by a control mechanism of a reset current in a voltage select circuit and the current mirror circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Satoru HANZAWA, Hitoshi Kume
  • Patent number: 7996735
    Abstract: To realize a fast and highly reliable phase-change memory system of low power consumption, a semiconductor device includes: a memory device which includes a first memory array having a first area including a plurality of first memory cells and a second area including a plurality of second memory cells; a controller coupled to the memory device to issue a command to the memory device; and a condition table for storing a plurality of trial writing conditions. The controller performs trial writing in the plurality of second memory cells a plurality of times based on the plurality of trial writing conditions stored in the condition table, and determines writing conditions in the plurality of first memory cells based on a result of the trial writing. The memory device performs writing in the plurality of first memory cells based on the writing conditions instructed from the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyasu Terao, Satoru Hanzawa, Hitoshi Kume, Minoru Ogushi, Yoshitaka Sasago, Masaharu Kinoshita, Norikatsu Takaura
  • Patent number: 7983109
    Abstract: A phase change memory capable of highly reliable operations is provided. A semiconductor device has a memory array having a structure in which memory cells are stacked including memory layers using a chalcogenide material and diodes, and initialization conditions and write conditions are changed according to the layer in which a selected memory cell is positioned. The initialization conditions and write conditions (herein, reset conditions) are changed according to the operation by selecting a current mirror circuit according to the operation and by a control mechanism of a reset current in a voltage select circuit and the current mirror circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Hanzawa, Hitoshi Kume
  • Publication number: 20110110150
    Abstract: A highly reliable large capacity phase change memory module is realized. A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a memory array having a structure in which a storage layer using a chalcogenide material and a memory cell constituted of a diode are stacked, and an initialization condition and a rewriting condition are changed in accordance with the layer where a selected memory cell is located. A current mirror circuit is selected in accordance with an operation, and at the same time, the initialization condition and the rewriting condition (here, reset condition) are changed in accordance with the operation by a control mechanism of the reset current in a voltage selection circuit and a current mirror circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: SATORU HANZAWA, Hitoshi Kume, Motoyasu Terao, Tomonori Sekiguchi, Makoto Sean
  • Publication number: 20110051515
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nonvolatile memory system including at least one nonvolatile memory each having a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells and a buffer memory; and a control device coupled to the nonvolatile memory. The control device is enabled to receive external data and to apply the data to the nonvolatile memory, and the nonvolatile memory is enabled to operate a program operation including storing the received data to the buffer memory and storing the data held in the buffer memory to ones of nonvolatile memory cells. Moreover, the control device is enabled to receive external data while the nonvolatile memory is operating in the program operation. Also, the buffer memory is capable of receiving a unit of data, equal to the data length of data to be stored at one time of the program operation, the data length being more than 1 byte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Masataka Kato, Tetsuo Adachi, Toshihiro Tanaka, Toshio Sasaki, Hitoshi Kume, Katsutaka Kimura
  • Patent number: 7894232
    Abstract: A highly reliable large capacity phase change memory module is realized. A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a memory array having a structure in which a storage layer using a chalcogenide material and a memory cell constituted of a diode are stacked, and an initialization condition and a rewriting condition are changed in accordance with the layer where a selected memory cell is located. A current mirror circuit is selected in accordance with an operation, and at the same time, the initialization condition and the rewriting condition (here, reset condition) are changed in accordance with the operation by a control mechanism of the reset current in a voltage selection circuit and a current mirror circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Hanzawa, Hitoshi Kume, Motoyasu Terao, Tomonori Sekiguchi, Makoto Saen
  • Publication number: 20110013447
    Abstract: A phase change memory capable of highly reliable operations is provided. A semiconductor device has a memory array having a structure in which memory cells are stacked including memory layers using a chalcogenide material and diodes, and initialization conditions and write conditions are changed according to the layer in which a selected memory cell is positioned. The initialization conditions and write conditions (herein, reset conditions) are changed according to the operation by selecting a current mirror circuit according to the operation and by a control mechanism of a reset current in a voltage select circuit and the current mirror circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Satoru HANZAWA, Hitoshi Kume
  • Patent number: 7830706
    Abstract: A phase change memory capable of highly reliable operations is provided. A semiconductor device has a memory array having a structure in which memory cells are stacked including memory layers using a chalcogenide material and diodes, and initialization conditions and write conditions are changed according to the layer in which a selected memory cell is positioned. The initialization conditions and write conditions (herein, reset conditions) are changed according to the operation by selecting a current mirror circuit according to the operation and by a control mechanism of a reset current in a voltage select circuit and the current mirror circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Hanzawa, Hitoshi Kume
  • Patent number: 7746697
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nonvolatile memory system including at least one nonvolatile memory each having a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells and a buffer memory; and a control device coupled to the nonvolatile memory. The control device is enabled to receive external data and to apply the data to the nonvolatile memory, and the nonvolatile memory is enabled to operate a program operation including storing the received data to the buffer memory and storing the data held in the buffer memory to ones of nonvolatile memory cells. Moreover, the control device is enabled to receive external data while the nonvolatile memory is operating in the program operation. Also, the buffer memory is capable of receiving a unit of data, equal to the data length of data to be stored at one time of the program operation, the data length being more than 1 byte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Solid State Storage Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Masataka Kato, Tetsuo Adachi, Toshihiro Tanaka, Toshio Sasaki, Hitoshi Kume, Katsutaka Kimura