Patents by Inventor J. Kawamura

J. Kawamura 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).

  • Publication number: 20200005853
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory and for accessing ferroelectric memory. An example method includes increasing a voltage of a first cell plate of a capacitor to change the voltage of a second cell plate of the capacitor, a second digit line, and a second sense node. The voltage of the second cell plate and the second digit line is decreased to change the voltage of the first cell plate, a first digit line, and a first sense node. The first node is driven to a first voltage and the second node is driven to a second voltage responsive to the voltage of the first node being greater than the second node. The first node is driven to the second voltage and the second node is driven to the first voltage responsive to the voltage of the first node being less than the second node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, Scott J. Derner
  • Patent number: 10431283
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory and for accessing ferroelectric memory. An example method includes increasing a voltage of a first cell plate of a capacitor to change the voltage of a second cell plate of the capacitor, a second digit line, and a second sense node. The voltage of the second cell plate and the second digit line is decreased to change the voltage of the first cell plate, a first digit line, and a first sense node. The first node is driven to a first voltage and the second node is driven to a second voltage responsive to the voltage of the first node being greater than the second node. The first node is driven to the second voltage and the second node is driven to the first voltage responsive to the voltage of the first node being less than the second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, Scott J. Derner
  • Publication number: 20190295623
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory cells. An example ferroelectric memory cell includes two transistors and two capacitors. Another example ferroelectric memory cell includes three transistors and two capacitors. Another example ferroelectric memory cell includes four transistors and two capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: SCOTT J. DERNER, CHRISTOPHER J. KAWAMURA
  • Patent number: 10418083
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory and for operating ferroelectric memory. An example apparatus includes a capacitor having a first plate, a second plate, and a ferroelectric dielectric material. The apparatus further includes a first digit line and a first selection component configured to couple the first plate to the first digit line, and also includes a second digit line and a second selection component configured to couple the second plate to the second digit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Christopher J. Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20190279704
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes an array of memory cells coupled to an array power supply and a controller. The controller may be configured to cause a data value to be stored in at least one memory cell of the array of memory cells while the array of memory cells is operating in a first power state and a determination to be made that a change in a power status to a computing system coupled to the array of memory cells has occurred, wherein the change in the power status of the computing system is characterized by the computing device operating in a reduced power state. Responsive to the determination, the controller may be configured to cause the array power supply to be disabled to operate the array of memory cells in a second power state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Christopher J. Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10354712
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory cells. An example ferroelectric memory cell includes two transistors and two capacitors. Another example ferroelectric memory cell includes three transistors and two capacitors. Another example ferroelectric memory cell includes four transistors and two capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Christopher J. Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10276230
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a series of bitlines. Each of the bitlines has a first comparative bitline component and a second comparative bitline component. The bitlines define columns of the memory array. Memory cells are along the columns of the memory array. Capacitive units are along the columns of the memory array and are interspersed amongst the memory cells. The capacitive units are not utilized for data storage during operation of the memory array, but rather are utilized for reducing parasitic capacitance between adjacent bitlines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, Scott J. Derner
  • Publication number: 20190049087
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a series of bitlines. Each of the bitlines has a first comparative bitline component and a second comparative bitline component. The bitlines define columns of the memory array. Memory cells are along the columns of the memory array. Capacitive units are along the columns of the memory array and are interspersed amongst the memory cells. The capacitive units are not utilized for data storage during operation of the memory array, but rather are utilized for reducing parasitic capacitance between adjacent bitlines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, Scott J. Derner
  • Publication number: 20190013057
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory and, for accessing ferroelectric memory. An example method includes increasing a voltage of a first cell plate of a capacitor to change the voltage of a second cell plate of the capacitor, a second digit line, and a second sense node. The voltage of the second cell plate and the second digit line is decreased to change the voltage of the first cell plate, a first digit line, and a first sense node. The first node is driven to a first voltage and the second node is driven to a second voltage responsive to the voltage of the first node being greater than the second node. The first node is driven to the second voltage and the second node is driven to the first voltage responsive to the voltage of the first node being less than the second node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, Scott J. Derner
  • Publication number: 20190005999
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory cells. An example ferroelectric memory cell includes two transistors and two capacitors. Another example ferroelectric memory cell includes three transistors and two capacitors. Another example ferroelectric memory cell includes four transistors and two capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: SCOTT J. DERNER, CHRISTOPHER J. KAWAMURA
  • Publication number: 20180374528
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory and for operating ferroelectric memory. An example apparatus includes a capacitor having a first plate, a second plate, and a ferroelectric dielectric material. The apparatus further includes a first digit line and a first selection component configured to couple the first plate to the first digit line, and also includes a second digit line and a second selection component configured to couple the second plate to the second digit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Christopher J. Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20180358083
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include two transistor-one capacitor memory and for accessing such memory. An example apparatus includes a capacitor coupled to first and second selection components. The apparatus further includes a first digit line and the first selection component configured to couple a first plate of the capacitor to the first digit line, and also includes a second digit line and the second selection component configured to couple the second plate to the second digit line. A sense amplifier is coupled to the second digit line and is configured to amplify a voltage difference between a voltage coupled to the second digit line and the reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, Scott J. Derner
  • Patent number: 10153018
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory cells. An example ferroelectric memory cell includes two transistors and two capacitors. Another example ferroelectric memory cell includes three transistors and two capacitors. Another example ferroelectric memory cell includes four transistors and two capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Christopher J. Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10127965
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory and for accessing ferroelectric memory. An example method includes increasing a voltage of a first cell plate of a capacitor to change the voltage of a second cell plate of the capacitor, a second digit line, and a second sense node. The voltage of the second cell plate and the second digit line is decreased to change the voltage of the first cell plate, a first digit line, and a first sense node. The first node is driven to a first voltage and the second node is driven to a second voltage responsive to the voltage of the first node being greater than the second node. The first node is driven to the second voltage and the second node is driven to the first voltage responsive to the voltage of the first node being less than the second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, Scott J. Derner
  • Patent number: 10127972
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include two transistor-one capacitor memory and for accessing such memory. An example apparatus includes a capacitor coupled to first and second selection components. The apparatus further includes a first digit line and the first selection component configured to couple a first plate of the capacitor to the first digit line, and also includes a second digit line and the second selection component configured to couple the second plate to the second digit line. A sense amplifier is coupled to the second digit line and is configured to amplify a voltage difference between a voltage coupled to the second digit line and the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, Scott J. Derner
  • Publication number: 20180315467
    Abstract: A sensing system can read from a memory cell configured to store a data bit and to produce a differential signal indicating a data state of the memory cell. The data state can be selected from three data states. An example of the system can include a pair of bit lines, a pair of sense amplifiers (SAs), and a data output circuit. The bit lines are coupled to the memory cell to receive the differential signal. The SAs are each independently coupled to the bit lines through an isolation circuit. The data output circuit can receive outputs from the SAs and indicate the data state of the memory cell based on the outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, Charles L. Ingalls, Scott J. Derner
  • Patent number: 10074414
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that in ferroelectric memory and for operating ferroelectric memory. An example apparatus includes a capacitor having a first plate, a second plate, and a ferroelectric dielectric material. The apparatus further includes a first digit line and a first selection component configured to couple the first plate to the first digit line, and also includes a second digit line and a second selection component configured to couple the second plate to the second digit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Christopher J. Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20180061481
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a series of bitlines. Each of the bitlines has a first comparative bitline component and a second comparative bitline component. The bitlines define columns of the memory array. Memory cells are along the columns of the memory array. Capacitive units are along the columns of the memory array and are interspersed amongst the memory cells. The capacitive units are not utilized for data storage during operation of the memory array, but rather are utilized for reducing parasitic capacitance between adjacent bitlines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, Scott J. Derner
  • Publication number: 20180061471
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory and for accessing ferroelectric memory. An example method includes increasing a voltage of a first cell plate of a capacitor to change the voltage of a second cell plate of the capacitor, a second digit line, and a second sense node. The voltage of the second cell plate and the second digit line is decreased to change the voltage of the first cell plate, a first digit line, and a first sense node. The first node is driven to a first voltage and the second node is driven to a second voltage responsive to the voltage of the first node being greater than the second node. The first node is driven to the second voltage and the second node is driven to the first voltage responsive to the voltage of the first node being less than the second node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, Scott J. Derner
  • Publication number: 20180061468
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory cells. An example ferroelectric memory cell includes two transistors and two capacitors. Another example ferroelectric memory cell includes three transistors and two capacitors. Another example ferroelectric memory cell includes four transistors and two capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Christopher J. Kawamura