Patents by Inventor Howard Kirsch

Howard Kirsch 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: 10636472
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. The magnitude of a voltage applied across a ferroelectric capacitor may be dynamically increased during a write operation. For example, a memory cell may be selected for a write operation, and a voltage may be applied to a digit line corresponding to the memory cell during the write operation. An additional charge may be transferred to the digit line—e.g., from an energy storage component, such as a capacitor, that is in electronic communication with the digit line. In turn, the voltage across the ferroelectric capacitor of the memory cell may be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
  • Publication number: 20190371386
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. The magnitude of a voltage applied across a ferroelectric capacitor may be dynamically increased during a write operation. For example, a memory cell may be selected for a write operation, and a voltage may be applied to a digit line corresponding to the memory cell during the write operation. An additional charge may be transferred to the digit line—e.g., from an energy storage component, such as a capacitor, that is in electronic communication with the digit line. In turn, the voltage across the ferroelectric capacitor of the memory cell may be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
  • Patent number: 10366735
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. The magnitude of a voltage applied across a ferroelectric capacitor may be dynamically increased during a write operation. A memory cell may be selected for a write operation, and a voltage may be applied to a digit line corresponding to the memory cell during the write operation. An additional charge may be transferred to the digit line—e.g., from an energy storage component, such as a capacitor, that is in electronic communication with the digit line. In turn, the voltage across the ferroelectric capacitor of the memory cell may be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
  • Publication number: 20180350421
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. The magnitude of a voltage applied across a ferroelectric capacitor may be dynamically increased during a write operation. For example, a memory cell may be selected for a write operation, and a voltage may be applied to a digit line corresponding to the memory cell during the write operation. An additional charge may be transferred to the digit line—e.g., from an energy storage component, such as a capacitor, that is in electronic communication with the digit line. In turn, the voltage across the ferroelectric capacitor of the memory cell may be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
  • Patent number: 10074415
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. The magnitude of a voltage applied across a ferroelectric capacitor may be dynamically increased during a write operation. For example, a memory cell may be selected for a write operation, and a voltage may be applied to a digit line corresponding to the memory cell during the write operation. An additional charge may be transferred to the digit line—e.g., from an energy storage component, such as a capacitor, that is in electronic communication with the digit line. In turn, the voltage across the ferroelectric capacitor of the memory cell may be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
  • Publication number: 20170358340
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. The magnitude of a voltage applied across a ferroelectric capacitor may be dynamically increased during a write operation. For example, a memory cell may be selected for a write operation, and a voltage may be applied to a digit line corresponding to the memory cell during the write operation. An additional charge may be transferred to the digit line—e.g., from an energy storage component, such as a capacitor, that is in electronic communication with the digit line. In turn, the voltage across the ferroelectric capacitor of the memory cell may be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
  • Patent number: 9721638
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. The magnitude of a voltage applied across a ferroelectric capacitor may be dynamically increased during a write operation. For example, a memory cell may be selected for a write operation, and a voltage may be applied to a digit line corresponding to the memory cell during the write operation. An additional charge may be transferred to the digit line—e.g., from an energy storage component, such as a capacitor, that is in electronic communication with the digit line. In turn, the voltage across the ferroelectric capacitor of the memory cell may be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
  • Patent number: 9147473
    Abstract: Apparatuses, global and local wordline drivers, and methods for driving a wordline voltage in a memory is described. An example apparatus includes a memory array including a plurality of sub-arrays. The plurality of sub arrays are coupled to a wordline. The memory array further including a plurality of local wordline drivers coupled between a global wordline and the wordline. The plurality of local wordline drivers are configured to selectively couple the wordline to the global wordline during a memory access operation. The example apparatus further includes a global wordline driver configured to selectively couple the wordline to the global wordline during the memory access operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Kim, Howard Kirsch, Charles Ingalls, K. Shawn Smith, Jonathan Doebler
  • Patent number: 9087604
    Abstract: A pre-charging method applied in DRAM which includes steps of: enabling wordlines in an active array and an reference array; disabling the wordlines in the active array; equilibrating digital lines in the active array and the reference array to half of a power supply voltage; storing the half of the power supply voltage in reference cells of the reference array; disabling the wordlines in the reference array; pre-charging the digital lines in the active array and the reference array to the power supply voltage; and enabling the wordlines in the active array and the reference array at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott Derner, Charles Ingalls, Howard Kirsch, Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 9070425
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a first data line, a second data line, a first transistor, a sense amplifier, and a circuit. The first transistor can operate to couple the first data line to a first node during a first stage of an operation of obtaining information from a memory cell associated with the first data line. The second transistor can operate to couple the second data line to a second node during the first stage. The circuit can operate to apply a first signal to a gate of the first transistor during the operation and to apply a second signal to a gate of the second transistor during the operation. The sense amplifier can operate to perform a sense function on the first and second data lines during a second stage of the operation. Additional apparatus and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Charles L. Ingalls, Howard Kirsch, Tae H. Kim
  • Publication number: 20150117124
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a first data line, a second data line, a first transistor, a sense amplifier, and a circuit. The first transistor can operate to couple the first data line to a first node during a first stage of an operation of obtaining information from a memory cell associated with the first data line. The second transistor can operate to couple the second data line to a second node during the first stage. The circuit can operate to apply a first signal to a gate of the first transistor during the operation and to apply a second signal to a gate of the second transistor during the operation. The sense amplifier can operate to perform a sense function on the first and second data lines during a second stage of the operation. Additional apparatus and methods are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Charles L. Ingalls, Howard Kirsch, Tae H. Kim
  • Publication number: 20150036442
    Abstract: Apparatuses, global and local wordline drivers, and methods for driving a wordline voltage in a memory is described. An example apparatus includes a memory array including a plurality of sub-arrays. The plurality of sub arrays are coupled to a wordline. The memory array further including a plurality of local wordline drivers coupled between a global wordline and the wordline. The plurality of local wordline drivers are configured to selectively couple the wordline to the global wordline during a memory access operation. The example apparatus further includes a global wordline driver configured to selectively couple the wordline to the global wordline during the memory access operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Kim, Howard Kirsch, Charles Ingalls, K. Shawn Smith, Jonathan Doebler
  • Patent number: 8716075
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a floating body field-effect transistor includes a pair of source/drain regions having a floating body channel region received therebetween. The source/drain regions and the floating body channel region are received over an insulator. A gate electrode is proximate the floating body channel region. A gate dielectric is received between the gate electrode and the floating body channel region. The floating body channel region has a semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region. The floating body channel region has a semiconductor silicon-comprising region received between the semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region and the gate dielectric. The semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region has greater quantity of Ge than any quantity of Ge within the semiconductor silicon-comprising region. Other embodiments are contemplated, including methods of forming floating body field-effect transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Liu, Michael P. Violette, Chandra Mouli, Howard Kirsch, Di Li
  • Publication number: 20140051214
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a floating body field-effect transistor includes a pair of source/drain regions having a floating body channel region received therebetween. The source/drain regions and the floating body channel region are received over an insulator. A gate electrode is proximate the floating body channel region. A gate dielectric is received between the gate electrode and the floating body channel region. The floating body channel region has a semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region. The floating body channel region has a semiconductor silicon-comprising region received between the semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region and the gate dielectric. The semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region has greater quantity of Ge than any quantity of Ge within the semiconductor silicon-comprising region. Other embodiments are contemplated, including methods of forming floating body field-effect transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jun Liu, Michael P. Violette, Chandra Mouli, Howard Kirsch, Di Li
  • Patent number: 8395214
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a floating body field-effect transistor includes a pair of source/drain regions having a floating body channel region received therebetween. The source/drain regions and the floating body channel region are received over an insulator. A gate electrode is proximate the floating body channel region. A gate dielectric is received between the gate electrode and the floating body channel region. The floating body channel region has a semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region. The floating body channel region has a semiconductor silicon-comprising region received between the semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region and the gate dielectric. The semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region has greater quantity of Ge than any quantity of Ge within the semiconductor silicon-comprising region. Other embodiments are contemplated, including methods of forming floating body field-effect transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Liu, Di Li, Michael P. Violette, Chandra Mouli, Howard Kirsch
  • Publication number: 20110193165
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a floating body field-effect transistor includes a pair of source/drain regions having a floating body channel region received therebetween. The source/drain regions and the floating body channel region are received over an insulator. A gate electrode is proximate the floating body channel region. A gate dielectric is received between the gate electrode and the floating body channel region. The floating body channel region has a semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region. The floating body channel region has a semiconductor silicon-comprising region received between the semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region and the gate dielectric. The semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region has greater quantity of Ge than any quantity of Ge within the semiconductor silicon-comprising region. Other embodiments are contemplated, including methods of forming floating body field-effect transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jun Liu, Michael P. Violette, Chandra Mouli, Howard Kirsch, Di Li
  • Patent number: 7986578
    Abstract: Systems and methods of sensing a data state coupled to a digit line and for coupling a digit line to a sense amplifier. In sensing the data state coupled to the digit line, the digit line is coupled to a sense node and driving voltages provided to the sense amplifier. The data state is latched in response to the driving voltages. In coupling the digit line to a sense amplifier, the digit line is coupled to the sense amplifier for a first time period and decoupled from the sense amplifier for a second time period. The digit line is coupled to the sense amplifier at a controlled rate following the second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Kim, Charles L. Ingalls, David Pinney, Howard Kirsch
  • Patent number: 7948008
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a floating body field-effect transistor includes a pair of source/drain regions having a floating body channel region received therebetween. The source/drain regions and the floating body channel region are received over an insulator. A gate electrode is proximate the floating body channel region. A gate dielectric is received between the gate electrode and the floating body channel region. The floating body channel region has a semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region. The floating body channel region has a semiconductor silicon-comprising region received between the semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region and the gate dielectric. The semiconductor SixGe(1-x)-comprising region has greater quantity of Ge than any quantity of Ge within the semiconductor silicon-comprising region. Other embodiments are contemplated, including methods of forming floating body field-effect transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Liu, Michael P. Violette, Chandra Mouli, Howard Kirsch, Di Li
  • Publication number: 20100061158
    Abstract: Systems and methods of sensing a data state coupled to a digit line and for coupling a digit line to a sense amplifier. In sensing the data state coupled to the digit line, the digit line is coupled to a sense node and driving voltages provided to the sense amplifier. The data state is latched in response to the driving voltages. In coupling the digit line to a sense amplifier, the digit line is coupled to the sense amplifier for a first time period and decoupled from the sense amplifier for a second time period. The digit line is coupled to the sense amplifier at a controlled rate following the second time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Tae Kim, Charles L. Ingalls, David Pinney, Howard Kirsch
  • Patent number: 7626877
    Abstract: Systems and methods of sensing a data state coupled to a digit line and for coupling a digit line to a sense amplifier. In sensing the data state coupled to the digit line, the digit line is coupled to a sense node and driving voltages provided to the sense amplifier. The data state is latched in response to the driving voltages. In coupling the digit line to a sense amplifier, the digit line is coupled to the sense amplifier for a first time period and decoupled from the sense amplifier for a second time period. The digit line is coupled to the sense amplifier at a controlled rate following the second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Kim, Charles L. Ingalls, David Pinney, Howard Kirsch