Patents by Inventor Huy T. Vo

Huy T. Vo 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: 11967362
    Abstract: A memory device includes multiple memory cells configured to store data. The memory device also includes multiple digit lines each configured to carry data to and from a respective memory cell. The memory device further includes multiple sense amplifiers each selectively coupled to respective digit lines and including first and second NMOS transistors and first and second gut nodes coupled to the first and second NMOS transistors, respectively. Each sense amplifier is configured to perform threshold compensation for the first and second NMOS transistors by storing respective voltages at the first and second gut nodes that are proportional to the respective threshold voltages of the first and second NMOS transistors. The sense amplifier also amplifies a differential voltage between the first and second gut nodes by charging the first gut node and discharging the second gut node based at least in part on respective charges of the digit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Christopher K. Morzano, Christopher J. Kawamura, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Publication number: 20230395130
    Abstract: A memory device includes multiple memory cells configured to store data. The memory device also includes multiple digit lines each configured to carry data to and from a respective memory cell. The memory device further includes multiple sense amplifiers each selectively coupled to respective digit lines and including first and second NMOS transistors and first and second gut nodes coupled to the first and second NMOS transistors, respectively. Each sense amplifier is configured to perform threshold compensation for the first and second NMOS transistors by storing respective voltages at the first and second gut nodes that are proportional to the respective threshold voltages of the first and second NMOS transistors. The sense amplifier also amplifies a differential voltage between the first and second gut nodes by charging the first gut node and discharging the second gut node based at least in part on respective charges of the digit lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Christopher K. Morzano, Christopher J. Kawamura, Charles L. Ingalls
  • Patent number: 11715508
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a source follower-based sensing architecture and sensing scheme are described. In one example, a memory device may include a sense circuit that includes two source followers that are coupled to each other and to a sense amplifier. A method of operating the memory device may include transferring a digit line voltage to one of the source followers and transferring a reference voltage to the other source follower. After transferring the digit line voltage and the reference voltage, the source followers may be enabled so that signals representative of the digit line voltage and the reference voltage are transferred from the outputs of the source followers to the sense amplifier for sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, Huy T. Vo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Patent number: 11594272
    Abstract: Devices and methods for sensing a memory cell are described. The memory cell may include a ferroelectric memory cell. During a read operation, a first switching component may selectively couple a sense component with the memory cell based on a logic state stored on the memory cell to transfer a charge between the memory cell and the sense component. A second switching component, which may be coupled with the first switching component, may down convert a voltage associated with the charge to another voltage that is within an operation voltage of the sense component. The sense component may operate at a lower voltage than a voltage at which the memory cell operates to reduce power consumption in some cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Adam S. El-Mansouri, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 11514969
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for an arbitrated sense amplifier are described. A memory device may couple a memory cell to a first node via a digit line and may couple the first node to a second node. If a voltage at the second node is associated with a first logic value stored at the memory cell, the memory device may couple the second node with a third node and may charge the third node according to the voltage. However, if the voltage at the second node is associated with a second logic value stored at the memory cell, the memory device may not couple the second node with the third node. The memory device may compare the resulting voltage at the third node with a reference voltage and may generate a signal indicative of a logic value stored by the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, Hyunyoo Lee, Adam S. El-Mansouri
  • Publication number: 20220020416
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a source follower-based sensing architecture and sensing scheme are described. In one example, a memory device may include a sense circuit that includes two source followers that are coupled to each other and to a sense amplifier. A method of operating the memory device may include transferring a digit line voltage to one of the source followers and transferring a reference voltage to the other source follower. After transferring the digit line voltage and the reference voltage, the source followers may be enabled so that signals representative of the digit line voltage and the reference voltage are transferred from the outputs of the source followers to the sense amplifier for sensing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, Huy T. Vo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Publication number: 20220020415
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for an arbitrated sense amplifier are described. A memory device may couple a memory cell to a first node via a digit line and may couple the first node to a second node. If a voltage at the second node is associated with a first logic value stored at the memory cell, the memory device may couple the second node with a third node and may charge the third node according to the voltage. However, if the voltage at the second node is associated with a second logic value stored at the memory cell, the memory device may not couple the second node with the third node. The memory device may compare the resulting voltage at the third node with a reference voltage and may generate a signal indicative of a logic value stored by the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, Hyunyoo Lee, Adam S. El-Mansouri
  • Publication number: 20210383856
    Abstract: Devices and methods for sensing a memory cell are described. The memory cell may include a ferroelectric memory cell. During a read operation, a first switching component may selectively couple a sense component with the memory cell based on a logic state stored on the memory cell to transfer a charge between the memory cell and the sense component. A second switching component, which may be coupled with the first switching component, may down convert a voltage associated with the charge to another voltage that is within an operation voltage of the sense component. The sense component may operate at a lower voltage than a voltage at which the memory cell operates to reduce power consumption in some cases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Adam S. El-Mansouri, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 11134788
    Abstract: Methods and devices for reading a memory cell using multi-stage memory sensing are described. The memory cell may be coupled to a digit line after the digit line during a read operation. A transistor may be activated to couple an amplifier capacitor with the digit line during the read operation. The transistor may be deactivated for a portion of the read operation to isolate the amplifier capacitor from the digit line while the memory cell is coupled to the digit line. The transistor may be reactivated to recouple the amplifier capacitor to the digit line to help determine the value of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Adam S. El-Mansouri
  • Patent number: 11127449
    Abstract: Devices and methods for sensing a memory cell are described. The memory cell may include a ferroelectric memory cell. During a read operation, a first switching component may selectively couple a sense component with the memory cell based on a logic state stored on the memory cell to transfer a charge between the memory cell and the sense component. A second switching component, which may be coupled with the first switching component, may down convert a voltage associated with the charge to another voltage that is within an operation voltage of the sense component. The sense component may operate at a lower voltage than a voltage at which the memory cell operates to reduce power consumption in some cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Adam S. El-Mansouri, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 11081158
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a source follower-based sensing architecture and sensing scheme are described. In one example, a memory device may include a sense circuit that includes two source followers that are coupled to each other and to a sense amplifier. A method of operating the memory device may include transferring a digit line voltage to one of the source followers and transferring a reference voltage to the other source follower. After transferring the digit line voltage and the reference voltage, the source followers may be enabled so that signals representative of the digit line voltage and the reference voltage are transferred from the outputs of the source followers to the sense amplifier for sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, Huy T. Vo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Publication number: 20210227986
    Abstract: Methods and devices for reading a memory cell using multi-stage memory sensing are described. The memory cell may be coupled to a digit line after the digit line during a read operation. A transistor may be activated to couple an amplifier capacitor with the digit line during the read operation. The transistor may be deactivated for a portion of the read operation to isolate the amplifier capacitor from the digit line while the memory cell is coupled to the digit line. The transistor may be reactivated to recouple the amplifier capacitor to the digit line to help determine the value of the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Adam S. El-Mansouri
  • Patent number: 11074956
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for an arbitrated sense amplifier are described. A memory device may couple a memory cell to a first node via a digit line and may couple the first node to a second node. If a voltage at the second node is associated with a first logic value stored at the memory cell, the memory device may couple the second node with a third node and may charge the third node according to the voltage. However, if the voltage at the second node is associated with a second logic value stored at the memory cell, the memory device may not couple the second node with the third node. The memory device may compare the resulting voltage at the third node with a reference voltage and may generate a signal indicative of a logic value stored by the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, Hyunyoo Lee, Adam S. El-Mansouri
  • Patent number: 10932582
    Abstract: Methods and devices for reading a memory cell using multi-stage memory sensing are described. The memory cell may be coupled to a digit line after the digit line during a read operation. A transistor may be activated to couple an amplifier capacitor with the digit line during the read operation. The transistor may be deactivated for a portion of the read operation to isolate the amplifier capacitor from the digit line while the memory cell is coupled to the digit line. The transistor may be reactivated to recouple the amplifier capacitor to the digit line to help determine the value of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Adam S. El-Mansouri
  • Publication number: 20200329881
    Abstract: Methods and devices for reading a memory cell using multi-stage memory sensing are described. The memory cell may be coupled to a digit line after the digit line during a read operation. A transistor may be activated to couple an amplifier capacitor with the digit line during the read operation. The transistor may be deactivated for a portion of the read operation to isolate the amplifier capacitor from the digit line while the memory cell is coupled to the digit line. The transistor may be reactivated to recouple the amplifier capacitor to the digit line to help determine the value of the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Adam S. El-Mansouri
  • Patent number: 10755756
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for creating a constant DQS-DQ delay in a memory device are described. An example apparatus includes a first adjustable delay line configured to provide a delay corresponding to a loop delay of a data strobe signal pathway internal to a memory, a second adjustable delay line included in the internal data strobe signal pathway, and a timing control circuit coupled to the first and second adjustable delay lines and configured to adjust a delay of the second adjustable delay line responsive to output from the first adjustable delay line and the data strobe signal pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yantao Ma, Huy T. Vo
  • Publication number: 20200211614
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a source follower-based sensing architecture and sensing scheme are described. In one example, a memory device may include a sense circuit that includes two source followers that are coupled to each other and to a sense amplifier. A method of operating the memory device may include transferring a digit line voltage to one of the source followers and transferring a reference voltage to the other source follower. After transferring the digit line voltage and the reference voltage, the source followers may be enabled so that signals representative of the digit line voltage and the reference voltage are transferred from the outputs of the source followers to the sense amplifier for sensing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, Huy T. Vo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Patent number: 10667621
    Abstract: Methods and devices for reading a memory cell using multi-stage memory sensing are described. The memory cell may be coupled to a digit line after the digit line during a read operation. A transistor may be activated to couple an amplifier capacitor with the digit line during the read operation. The transistor may be deactivated for a portion of the read operation to isolate the amplifier capacitor from the digit line while the memory cell is coupled to the digit line. The transistor may be reactivated to recouple the amplifier capacitor to the digit line to help determine the value of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huy T. Vo, Adam S. El-Mansouri
  • Patent number: 10636470
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a source follower-based sensing architecture and sensing scheme are described. In one example, a memory device may include a sense circuit that includes two source followers that are coupled to each other and to a sense amplifier. A method of operating the memory device may include transferring a digit line voltage to one of the source followers and transferring a reference voltage to the other source follower. After transferring the digit line voltage and the reference voltage, the source followers may be enabled so that signals representative of the digit line voltage and the reference voltage are transferred from the outputs of the source followers to the sense amplifier for sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, Huy T. Vo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Patent number: 10600472
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for implementing an array reset mode. An example system includes at least one mode register configured to enable an array reset mode, a memory cell array including one or more sense amplifiers, and control logic. Each of the one or more sense amplifier may include at least a first terminal coupled to a first bit line and a second terminal coupled to a second bit line. The control logic may be coupled to the memory cell array, and in communication with the at least one mode register. The control logic may be configured to drive, in response to array reset mode being enabled, each of the first and second terminals of the sense amplifier to a bit-line precharge voltage that corresponds to a bit value to be written to respective memory cells associated with each of the first and second bit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Huy T. Vo, Patrick Mullarkey, Jeffrey P. Wright, Michael A. Shore