Patents by Inventor J. Wayne Thompson
J. Wayne Thompson 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: 12367919Abstract: Memory devices are disclosed. A device may include a number of word line drivers, wherein each word line driver of the number of word line drivers including a first transistor and a second transistor. The device may also include a number of first driver gates, wherein the first transistor of each word line driver has a gate coupled to a dedicated first driver gate of the number of driver gates. Further, the device may include a second driver gate coupled to a gate of each second transistor of each of the number of word line drivers. Associated circuits, methods, and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: July 22, 2025Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, J. Wayne Thompson, Brenton Van Leeuwen
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Publication number: 20230178142Abstract: Memory devices are disclosed. A device may include a number of word line drivers, wherein each word line driver of the number of word line drivers including a first transistor and a second transistor. The device may also include a number of first driver gates, wherein the first transistor of each word line driver has a gate coupled to a dedicated first driver gate of the number of driver gates. Further, the device may include a second driver gate coupled to a gate of each second transistor of each of the number of word line drivers. Associated circuits, methods, and systems are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2021Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Christopher J. Kawamura, J. Wayne Thompson, Brenton Van Leeuwen
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Patent number: 9190126Abstract: Sense amplifiers and methods for precharging are disclosed, including a sense amplifier having a pair of cross-coupled complementary transistor inverters, and a pair of transistors, each one of the pair of transistors coupled to a respective one of the complementary transistor inverters and a voltage. The sense amplifier further includes a capacitance coupled between the pair of transistors. One method for precharging includes coupling input nodes of the sense amplifier to a precharge voltage, coupling the input nodes of the sense amplifier together, and coupling a resistance to each transistor of a cross-coupled pair to set a voltage threshold (VT) mismatch compensation voltage for each transistor. The voltage difference between the VT mismatch compensation voltage of each transistor is stored.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2013Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: J. Wayne Thompson, Howard C. Kirsch, Charles L. Ingalls
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Patent number: 8897052Abstract: A DDR SDRAM where unidirectional row logic is associated with and connected to a single memory array instead of being associated with and connected to multiple memory arrays. The unidirectional row logic is located in the outward periphery of its associated array, but is not within a throat region between two arrays. The location of the row logic allows the throat region to include more bidirectional IO circuitry and signal lines servicing two arrays, which increases the performance of the SDRAM. In addition, separate power bussing is employed for the memory arrays and IO circuitry. This prevents noise from the arrays from affecting the IO circuitry and signal lines of the throat region and vice versa.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2006Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLCInventors: J. Wayne Thompson, Jeffrey P. Wright, Victor Wong, Jim Cullum
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Publication number: 20140085992Abstract: Sense amplifiers and methods for precharging are disclosed, including a sense amplifier having a pair of cross-coupled complementary transistor inverters, and a pair of transistors, each one of the pair of transistors coupled to a respective one of the complementary transistor inverters and a voltage. The sense amplifier further includes a capacitance coupled between the pair of transistors. One method for precharging includes coupling input nodes of the sense amplifier to a precharge voltage, coupling the input nodes of the sense amplifier together, and coupling a resistance to each transistor of a cross-coupled pair to set a voltage threshold (VT) mismatch compensation voltage for each transistor. The voltage difference between the VT mismatch compensation voltage of each transistor is stored.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: J. Wayne Thompson, Howard C. Kirsch, Charles L. Ingalls
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Patent number: 8598912Abstract: Sense amplifiers and methods for precharging are disclosed, including a sense amplifier having a pair of cross-coupled complementary transistor inverters, and a pair of transistors, each one of the pair of transistors coupled to a respective one of the complementary transistor inverters and a voltage. The sense amplifier further includes a capacitance coupled between the pair of transistors. One method for precharging includes coupling input nodes of the sense amplifier to a precharge voltage, coupling the input nodes of the sense amplifier together, and coupling a resistance to each transistor of a cross-coupled pair to set a voltage threshold (VT) mismatch compensation voltage for each transistor. The voltage difference between the VT mismatch compensation voltage of each transistor is stored.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2010Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: J. Wayne Thompson, Howard C. Kirsch, Charles L. Ingalls
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Publication number: 20110304358Abstract: Sense amplifiers and methods for precharging are disclosed, including a sense amplifier having a pair of cross-coupled complementary transistor inverters, and a pair of transistors, each one of the pair of transistors coupled to a respective one of the complementary transistor inverters and a voltage. The sense amplifier further includes a capacitance coupled between the pair of transistors. One method for precharging includes coupling input nodes of the sense amplifier to a precharge voltage, coupling the input nodes of the sense amplifier together, and coupling a resistance to each transistor of a cross-coupled pair to set a voltage threshold (VT) mismatch compensation voltage for each transistor. The voltage difference between the VT mismatch compensation voltage of each transistor is stored.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2010Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: J. Wayne Thompson, Howard C. Kirsch, Charles L. Ingalls
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Patent number: 7236385Abstract: A DDR SDRAM where unidirectional row logic is associated with and connected to a single memory array instead of being associated with and connected to multiple memory arrays. The unidirectional row logic is located in the outward periphery of its associated array, but is not within a throat region between two arrays. The location of the row logic allows the throat region to include more bidirectional IO circuitry and signal lines servicing two arrays, which increases the performance of the SDRAM. In addition, separate power bussing is employed for the memory arrays and IO circuitry. This prevents noise from the arrays from affecting the IO circuitry and signal lines of the throat region and vice versa.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: J. Wayne Thompson, Jeffrey P. Wright, Victor Wong, Jim Cullum
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Patent number: 7099174Abstract: A memory integrated circuit having three layers of metallic traces disposed over a substrate assembly including various active devices. The traces are arranged to include I/O traces that are continuous in the third layer across spans of 4 or 8 memory blocks of an array, and that are interspersed on the third layer with non-I/O lines adapted to reduce interference between I/O lines. Column select lines, orthogonal to I/O lines and disposed in the third layer of metallic traces, except in the vicinity of I/O lines, are provided in a linear configuration and shielded from parallel digit lines in the first layer of traces by traces of the intervening second layer of traces. Global bleeder lines disposed in the third layer of traces are adapted to apply a standby voltage to a plurality of sense amplifiers. Other features of the invention include two layer power and ground bus traces, and row decoder and phase driver circuits disposed in throat and gap cell regions respectively.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2003Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: J. Wayne Thompson, Todd A. Merritt
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Patent number: 6934208Abstract: Apparatus and method for a current limiting bleeder device that is shared between columns of different memory arrays and limits a current load on a voltage supply to prevent failure of an otherwise repairable memory device. The memory device includes first and second memory arrays having memory cells arranged in rows and columns where each of the columns of the first and second memory arrays have a equilibration circuit to precharge the respective column. A bleeder device is coupled to a precharge voltage supply and further coupled to at least one equilibration circuit of a column in the first memory array and to at least one equilibration circuit of a column in the second memory array to limit the current drawn by the equilibration circuits from the precharge voltage supply.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2002Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Boise Technology, Inc.Inventors: J. Wayne Thompson, George B. Raad, Howard C. Kirsch
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Publication number: 20040105333Abstract: Apparatus and method for a current limiting bleeder device that is shared between columns of different memory arrays and limits a current load on a voltage supply to prevent failure of an otherwise repairable memory device. The memory device includes first and second memory arrays having memory cells arranged in rows and columns where each of the columns of the first and second memory arrays have a equilibration circuit to precharge the respective column. A bleeder device is coupled to a precharge voltage supply and further coupled to at least one equilibration circuit of a column in the first memory array and to at least one equilibration circuit of a column in the second memory array to limit the current drawn by the equilibration circuits from the precharge voltage supply.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2002Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: J. Wayne Thompson, George B. Raad, Howard C. Kirsch
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Publication number: 20040085801Abstract: A memory integrated circuit having three layers of metallic traces disposed over a substrate assembly including various active devices. The traces are arranged to include I/O traces that are continuous in the third layer across spans of 4 or 8 memory blocks of an array, and that are interspersed on the third layer with non-I/O lines adapted to reduce interference between I/O lines. Column select lines, orthogonal to I/O lines and disposed in the third layer of metallic traces, except in the vicinity of I/O lines, are provided in a linear configuration and shielded from parallel digit lines in the first layer of traces by traces of the intervening second layer of traces. Global bleeder lines disposed in the third layer of traces are adapted to apply a standby voltage to a plurality of sense amplifiers. Other features of the invention include two layer power and ground bus traces, and row decoder and phase driver circuits disposed in throat and gap cell regions respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: J. Wayne Thompson, Todd A. Merritt
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Patent number: 6664634Abstract: A memory integrated circuit having three layers of metallic traces disposed over a substrate assembly including various active devices. The traces are arranged to include I/O traces that are continuous in the third layer across spans of 4 or 8 memory blocks of an array, and that are interspersed on the third layer with non-I/O lines adapted to reduce interference between I/O lines. Column select lines, orthogonal to I/O lines and disposed in the third layer of metallic traces, except in the vicinity of I/O lines, are provided in a linear configuration and shielded from parallel digit lines in the first layer of traces by traces of the intervening second layer of traces. Global bleeder lines disposed in the third layer of traces are adapted to apply a standby voltage to a plurality of sense amplifiers. Other features of the invention include two layer power and ground bus traces, and row decoder and phase driver circuits disposed in throat and gap cell regions respectively.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2001Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: J. Wayne Thompson, Todd A. Merritt
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Publication number: 20020131289Abstract: A memory integrated circuit having three layers of metallic traces disposed over a substrate assembly including various active devices. The traces are arranged to include I/O traces that are continuous in the third layer across spans of 4 or 8 memory blocks of an array, and that are interspersed on the third layer with non-I/O lines adapted to reduce interference between I/O lines. Column select lines, orthogonal to I/O lines and disposed in the third layer of metallic traces, except in the vicinity of I/O lines, are provided in a linear configuration and shielded from parallel digit lines in the first layer of traces by traces of the intervening second layer of traces. Global bleeder lines disposed in the third layer of traces are adapted to apply a standby voltage to a plurality of sense amplifiers. Other features of the invention include two layer power and ground bus traces, and row decoder and phase driver circuits disposed in throat and gap cell regions respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2001Publication date: September 19, 2002Inventors: J. Wayne Thompson, Todd A. Merritt
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Patent number: 5969379Abstract: Integrated circuitry includes, a) a first array of electronic devices comprising a series of conductive runners extending outwardly of the memory array with adjacent runners having a device pitch of 0.6 micron or less in a pitch direction, b) a second array of electronic devices peripheral to the first array, the 0.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1998Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: J. Wayne Thompson, Troy A. Manning
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Patent number: 5751031Abstract: Integrated circuitry includes, a) a first array of electronic devices comprising a series of conductive runners extending outwardly of the memory array with adjacent runners having a device pitch of 0.6 micron or less in a pitch direction, b) a second array of electronic devices peripheral to the first array, the 0.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1997Date of Patent: May 12, 1998Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: J. Wayne Thompson, Troy A. Manning