Patents by Inventor Igor G. Kouznetsov

Igor G. Kouznetsov 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: 9627073
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for implementing memory cells having common source lines. The methods may include receiving a first voltage at a first transistor. The first transistor may be coupled to a second transistor and included in a first memory cell. The methods include receiving a second voltage at a third transistor. The third transistor may be coupled to a fourth transistor and included in a second memory cell. The first and second memory cells may be coupled to a common source line. The methods include receiving a third voltage at a gate of the second transistor and a gate of the fourth transistor that may cause them to operate in cutoff mode. The methods may include receiving a fourth voltage at a gate of the first transistor. The fourth voltage may cause a change in a charge storage layer included in the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaojun Yu, Venkatraman Prabhakar, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Long Hinh, Bo Jin
  • Patent number: 9620516
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a non-volatile memory (NVM) transistor formed in a first region of a substrate, the NVM transistor comprising a channel and a gate stack on the substrate overlying the channel. The gate stack includes a dielectric layer on the substrate, a charge-trapping layer on the dielectric layer, an oxide layer overlying the charge-trapping layer, a first gate overlying the oxide layer, and a first silicide region overlying the first gate. The device includes a metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor formed in a second region of the substrate comprising a gate oxide overlying the substrate in the second region, a second gate overlying the gate oxide, and a second silicide region overlying the second gate. A strain inducing structure overlies at least the NVM transistor and a surface of the substrate in the first region of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Krishnaswamy Ramkumar, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Venkatraman Prabhakar
  • Publication number: 20170053703
    Abstract: A method of erasing, during an erase operation, a non-volatile memory (NVM) cell of a memory device is disclosed. The erasing includes applying a first HV signal (VPOS) to a common source line (CSL). The CSL is shared among NVM cells of a sector of NVM cells. The first HV signal is above a highest voltage of a power supply. The erasing also includes applying the first HV signal to a local bit line (BL).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Bogdan I. Georgescu, Gary P. Mosculak, Vijay Raghavan, Igor G. Kouznetsov
  • Publication number: 20170011807
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory and methods of operating the same to reduce disturbs is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes coupling a first positive high voltage to a first global wordline in a first row of an array of memory cells, and coupling a second negative high voltage (VNEG) to a first bitline in a first column of the array to apply a bias to a non-volatile memory transistor in a selected memory cell to program the selected memory cell. A margin voltage having a magnitude less than VNEG is coupled to a second global wordline in a second row of the array, and an inhibit voltage coupled to a second bitline in a second column of the array to reduce a bias applied to a non-volatile memory transistor in an unselected memory cell to reduce program disturb of data programmed in the unselected memory cell due to programming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Ryan T. Hirose, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Venkatraman Prabhakar, Kaveh Shakeri, Bogdan Georgescu
  • Publication number: 20170011800
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for implementing memory cells having common source lines. The methods may include receiving a first voltage at a first transistor. The first transistor may be coupled to a second transistor and included in a first memory cell. The methods include receiving a second voltage at a third transistor. The third transistor may be coupled to a fourth transistor and included in a second memory cell. The first and second memory cells may be coupled to a common source line. The methods include receiving a third voltage at a gate of the second transistor and a gate of the fourth transistor that may cause them to operate in cutoff mode. The methods may include receiving a fourth voltage at a gate of the first transistor. The fourth voltage may cause a change in a charge storage layer included in the first transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Xiaojun Yu, Venkatraman Prabhakar, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Long Hinh, Bo Jin
  • Patent number: 9466374
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for implementing memory cells having common source lines. The methods may include receiving a first voltage at a first transistor. The first transistor may be coupled to a second transistor and included in a first memory cell. The methods include receiving a second voltage at a third transistor. The third transistor may be coupled to a fourth transistor and included in a second memory cell. The first and second memory cells may be coupled to a common source line. The methods include receiving a third voltage at a gate of the second transistor and a gate of the fourth transistor that may cause them to operate in cutoff mode. The methods may include receiving a fourth voltage at a gate of the first transistor. The fourth voltage may cause, via Fowler-Nordheim tunneling, a change in a charge storage layer included in the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaojun Yu, Venkatraman Prabhakar, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Long T Hinh, Bo Jin
  • Publication number: 20160260730
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a non-volatile memory (NVM) transistor formed in a first region of a substrate, the NVM transistor comprising a channel and a gate stack on the substrate overlying the channel. The gate stack includes a dielectric layer on the substrate, a charge-trapping layer on the dielectric layer, an oxide layer overlying the charge-trapping layer, a first gate overlying the oxide layer, and a first silicide region overlying the first gate. The device includes a metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor formed in a second region of the substrate comprising a gate oxide overlying the substrate in the second region, a second gate overlying the gate oxide, and a second silicide region overlying the second gate. A strain inducing structure overlies at least the NVM transistor and a surface of the substrate in the first region of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Krishnaswamy Ramkumar, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Venkatraman Prabhakar
  • Patent number: 9431124
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory and methods of operating the same to reduce disturbs is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes coupling a first positive high voltage to a first global wordline in a first row of an array of memory cells, and coupling a second negative high voltage (VNEG) to a first bitline in a first column of the array to apply a bias to a non-volatile memory transistor in a selected memory cell to program the selected memory cell. A margin voltage having a magnitude less than VNEG is coupled to a second global wordline in a second row of the array, and an inhibit voltage coupled to a second bitline in a second column of the array to reduce a bias applied to a non-volatile memory transistor in an unselected memory cell to reduce program disturb of data programmed in the unselected memory cell due to programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan T. Hirose, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Venkatraman Prabhakar, Kaveh Shakeri, Bogdan Georgescu
  • Patent number: 9356035
    Abstract: A memory device that includes a non-volatile memory (NVM) transistor which has an indium doped channel and a gate stack overlying the channel formed in a first region of a substrate and a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor formed in a second region of the substrate in which the gate oxide of the MOS and the oxide layer of the NVM transistor are formed concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Krishnaswamy Ramkumar, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Venkatraman Prabhakar
  • Publication number: 20160005475
    Abstract: A system including a memory architecture is described. In one embodiment, the memory architecture includes an array of non-volatile memory cells, a first independently controlled voltage generation circuit, a plurality of register bits to store programmable values used by the independently controlled voltage generation circuit and a control circuit coupled to the first independently controlled voltage generation circuit. The first independently controlled voltage generation circuit is coupled to supply a positive voltage to the array during program and erase operations so that a magnitude of the positive voltage is applied across a storage note of an accessed memory cell of the array. The plurality of register bits to store programmable values used by the independently controlled voltage generation circuit to control the magnitude of the positive voltage. The control circuit controls a duration of the positive voltage. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Ryan Tasuo Hirose, Fredrick B. Jenne, Vijay Raghavan, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Paul Fredrick Ruths, Cristinel Zonte, Bogdan I. Georgescu, Leonard Vasile Gitlan, James Paul Myers
  • Patent number: 9171857
    Abstract: There is provided a monolithic three dimensional array of charge storage devices which includes a plurality of device levels, wherein at least one surface between two successive device levels is planarized by chemical mechanical polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: SANDISK 3D LLC
    Inventors: Thomas H. Lee, Vivek Subramanian, James M. Cleeves, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Mark G. Johnson, Paul Michael Farmwald
  • Publication number: 20150294731
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory and methods of operating the same to reduce disturbs is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes coupling a first positive high voltage to a first global wordline in a first row of an array of memory cells, and coupling a second negative high voltage (VNEG) to a first bitline in a first column of the array to apply a bias to a non-volatile memory transistor in a selected memory cell to program the selected memory cell. A margin voltage having a magnitude less than VNEG is coupled to a second global wordline in a second row of the array, and an inhibit voltage coupled to a second bitline in a second column of the array to reduce a bias applied to a non-volatile memory transistor in an unselected memory cell to reduce program disturb of data programmed in the unselected memory cell due to programming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Ryan T. Hirose, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Venkatraman Prabhakar, Kaveh Shakeri, Bogdan Georgescu
  • Publication number: 20150287464
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for implementing memory cells having common source lines. The methods may include receiving a first voltage at a first transistor. The first transistor may be coupled to a second transistor and included in a first memory cell. The methods include receiving a second voltage at a third transistor. The third transistor may be coupled to a fourth transistor and included in a second memory cell. The first and second memory cells may be coupled to a common source line. The methods include receiving a third voltage at a gate of the second transistor and a gate of the fourth transistor that may cause them to operate in cutoff mode. The methods may include receiving a fourth voltage at a gate of the first transistor. The fourth voltage may cause, via Fowler-Nordheim tunneling, a change in a charge storage layer included in the first transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Xiaojun Yu, Venkatraman Prabhakar, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Long T Hinh, Bo Jin
  • Patent number: 8988938
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory and methods of operating the same to reduce disturbs is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes coupling a first positive high voltage to a first global wordline in a first row of an array of memory cells, and coupling a second negative high voltage (VNEG) to a first bitline in a first column of the array to apply a bias to a non-volatile memory transistor in a selected memory cell to program the selected memory cell. A margin voltage having a magnitude less than VNEG is coupled to a second global wordline in a second row of the array, and an inhibit voltage coupled to a second bitline in a second column of the array to reduce a bias applied to a non-volatile memory transistor in an unselected memory cell to reduce program disturb of data programmed in the unselected memory cell due to programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan T. Hirose, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Venkatraman Prabhakar, Kaveh Shakeri, Bogdan I. Georgescu
  • Publication number: 20150041881
    Abstract: A memory device that includes a non-volatile memory (NVM) transistor which has an indium doped channel and a gate stack overlying the channel formed in a first region of a substrate and a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor formed in a second region of the substrate in which the gate oxide of the MOS and the oxide layer of the NVM transistor are formed concurrently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Krishnaswamy Ramkumar, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Venkatraman Prabhakar
  • Publication number: 20150044833
    Abstract: There is provided a monolithic three dimensional array of charge storage devices which includes a plurality of device levels, wherein at least one surface between two successive device levels is planarized by chemical mechanical polishing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas H. Lee, Vivek Subramanian, James M. Cleeves, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Mark G. Johnson, Paul Michael Farmwald
  • Publication number: 20140301139
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory and methods of operating the same to reduce disturbs is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes coupling a first positive high voltage to a first global wordline in a first row of an array of memory cells, and coupling a second negative high voltage (VNEG) to a first bitline in a first column of the array to apply a bias to a non-volatile memory transistor in a selected memory cell to program the selected memory cell. A margin voltage having a magnitude less than VNEG is coupled to a second global wordline in a second row of the array, and an inhibit voltage coupled to a second bitline in a second column of the array to reduce a bias applied to a non-volatile memory transistor in an unselected memory cell to reduce program disturb of data programmed in the unselected memory cell due to programming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan T. Hirose, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Venkatraman Prabhakar, Kaveh Shakeri, Bogdan I. Georgescu
  • Patent number: 8853765
    Abstract: There is provided a monolithic three dimensional array of charge storage devices which includes a plurality of device levels, wherein at least one surface between two successive device levels is planarized by chemical mechanical polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sandisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Thomas H. Lee, Vivek Subramanian, James M. Cleeves, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Mark G. Johnson, Paul Michael Farmwald
  • Publication number: 20140239374
    Abstract: Memory cells including embedded SONOS based non-volatile memory (NVM) and MOS transistors and methods of forming the same are described. Generally, the method includes: forming a dielectric stack on a substrate, the dielectric stack including a tunneling dielectric on the substrate and a charge-trapping layer on the tunneling dielectric; patterning the dielectric stack to form a gate stack of a NVM transistor of a memory device in a first region of the substrate while concurrently removing the dielectric stack from a second region of the substrate; and performing a gate oxidation process of a baseline CMOS process flow to thermally grow a gate oxide of a MOS transistor overlying the substrate in the second region while concurrently growing a blocking oxide overlying the charge-trapping layer. In one embodiment, Indium is implanted to form a channel of the NVM transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Krishnaswamy Ramkumar, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Venkatraman Prabhakar
  • Publication number: 20140225180
    Abstract: There is provided a monolithic three dimensional array of charge storage devices which includes a plurality of device levels, wherein at least one surface between two successive device levels is planarized by chemical mechanical polishing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: SANDISK 3D LLC
    Inventors: Thomas H. Lee, Vivek Subramanian, James M. Cleeves, Igor G. Kouznetsov, Mark G. Johnson, Paul Michael Farmwald