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).
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Patent number: 10636472Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 13, 2019Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
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Publication number: 20190371386Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
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Patent number: 10366735Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 13, 2018Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
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Publication number: 20180350421Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
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Patent number: 10074415Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 10, 2017Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
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Publication number: 20170358340Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
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Patent number: 9721638Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 10, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Christopher Kawamura, Howard Kirsch
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Patent number: 9147473Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 1, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Tae Kim, Howard Kirsch, Charles Ingalls, K. Shawn Smith, Jonathan Doebler
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Patent number: 9087604Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 13, 2014Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Scott Derner, Charles Ingalls, Howard Kirsch, Tae Kim
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Patent number: 9070425Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Charles L. Ingalls, Howard Kirsch, Tae H. Kim
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Publication number: 20150117124Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Charles L. Ingalls, Howard Kirsch, Tae H. Kim
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Publication number: 20150036442Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Tae Kim, Howard Kirsch, Charles Ingalls, K. Shawn Smith, Jonathan Doebler
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Patent number: 8716075Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jun Liu, Michael P. Violette, Chandra Mouli, Howard Kirsch, Di Li
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Publication number: 20140051214Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2013Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Jun Liu, Michael P. Violette, Chandra Mouli, Howard Kirsch, Di Li
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Patent number: 8395214Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 18, 2011Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jun Liu, Di Li, Michael P. Violette, Chandra Mouli, Howard Kirsch
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Publication number: 20110193165Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2011Publication date: August 11, 2011Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Jun Liu, Michael P. Violette, Chandra Mouli, Howard Kirsch, Di Li
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Patent number: 7986578Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 18, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Tae Kim, Charles L. Ingalls, David Pinney, Howard Kirsch
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Patent number: 7948008Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jun Liu, Michael P. Violette, Chandra Mouli, Howard Kirsch, Di Li
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Publication number: 20100061158Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2009Publication date: March 11, 2010Inventors: Tae Kim, Charles L. Ingalls, David Pinney, Howard Kirsch
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Patent number: 7626877Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 6, 2009Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Tae Kim, Charles L. Ingalls, David Pinney, Howard Kirsch