Patents by Inventor James Brian Johnson

James Brian Johnson 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: 20240071556
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for memory with parallel main and test interfaces are described. A memory die may be configured with parallel interfaces that may individually (e.g., separately) support evaluation operations (e.g., before or as part of assembly in a multiple-die stack) or access operations (e.g., after assembly in a multiple die stack). For example, a memory die may include a first set of one or more contacts that support communicating signaling with or via another memory die in a multiple-die stack. The memory die may also include a second set of one or more contacts that support probing for pre-assembly evaluations, which may be electrically isolated from the first set of contacts. By implementing such parallel interfaces, evaluation operations may be performed using the second set of contacts without damaging the first set of contacts, which may improve capabilities for supporting a multiple-die stack in a memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Kunal R. Parekh, Brent Keeth, Eiichi Nakano, Amy Rae Griffin
  • Patent number: 11893245
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for multi-purpose signaling for a memory system are described. One or more signal paths of between a host device and a memory device may be configured to support shared pathways between multiple channels and to support multiple functions. For example, a signal path may be configured to communicate a state signal for an initialization sequence of the memory device, an error signal for the memory device to indicate that errors have occurred, or a low-power signal for the host device to request that the memory device enter a low-power mode, or a combination thereof. The signal path may be shared between two or more channels of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
  • Patent number: 11837318
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for clock locking for frame-based communications of memory devices are described. A memory system may include a memory device and a host device. The memory device may receive one or more frames of data from the host device, the one or more frames of data communicated by the host device using a first frame clock. The memory device may generate a second frame clock aligned with the one or more frames on receiving the one or more frames and align one or more operations of the memory device with the second frame clock. In some examples, the host device may receive a second set of frames from the memory device based on transmitting the first set of frames. The host device may align one or more operations of the host device with the second set of frames received from the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James Brian Johnson
  • Patent number: 11797186
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for latency offset for frame-based communications are described. A memory system may include a host device and a memory device that communicate using frames based on a frame period of a frame clock. The memory device may receive a read command and a write command from the host device, and determine a read latency and a write latency corresponding to the received commands. The memory device may also determine an additional offset latency to add to the write latency to avoid bus contention between read data and write data associated with the read command and the write command, respectively. The offset latency may correspond to an integer quantity of clock periods, which may be less than the frame period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
  • Patent number: 11614875
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for a reconfigurable memory device that is configurable based on the type of interposer used to couple the memory device with a host device. The reconfigurable memory device may include a plurality components for a plurality of configurations. Various components of the reconfigurable memory die may be activated/deactivated based on what type of interposer is used in the memory device. For example, if a first type of interposer is used (e.g., a high-density interposer), the data channel may be eight data pins wide. In contrast, if second type of interposer is used (e.g., an organic-based interposer), the data channel may be four data pins wide. As such, a reconfigurable memory device may include data pins and related drivers that are inactive in some configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Keeth, James Brian Johnson
  • Patent number: 11580049
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for a training procedure that identifies a frame boundary and generates a frame clock to identify the beginning and the end of a frame. After the frame training procedure is complete, a memory device may be configured to execute a frame synchronization procedure to identify the beginning of a frame based on the frame clock without the use of headers or other information within the frame during an active session of the memory device. During an activation time period after a power-up event, the memory device may initiate the frame training procedure. Once the frames are synchronized, the memory device may be configured to use that frame clock during an entire active session (e.g., until a power-down event) to identify the beginning of a frame as part of a frame synchronization procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
  • Publication number: 20220404985
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for multi-purpose signaling for a memory system are described. One or more signal paths of between a host device and a memory device may be configured to support shared pathways between multiple channels and to support multiple functions. For example, a signal path may be configured to communicate a state signal for an initialization sequence of the memory device, an error signal for the memory device to indicate that errors have occurred, or a low-power signal for the host device to request that the memory device enter a low-power mode, or a combination thereof. The signal path may be shared between two or more channels of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
  • Publication number: 20220374039
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for clock locking for frame-based communications of memory devices are described. A memory system may include a memory device and a host device. The memory device may receive one or more frames of data from the host device, the one or more frames of data communicated by the host device using a first frame clock. The memory device may generate a second frame clock aligned with the one or more frames on receiving the one or more frames and align one or more operations of the memory device with the second frame clock. In some examples, the host device may receive a second set of frames from the memory device based on transmitting the first set of frames. The host device may align one or more operations of the host device with the second set of frames received from the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventor: James Brian Johnson
  • Patent number: 11392299
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for multi-purpose signaling for a memory system are described. One or more signal paths of between a host device and a memory device may be configured to support shared pathways between multiple channels and to support multiple functions. For example, a signal path may be configured to communicate a state signal for an initialization sequence of the memory device, an error signal for the memory device to indicate that errors have occurred, or a low-power signal for the host device to request that the memory device enter a low-power mode, or a combination thereof. The signal path may be shared between two or more channels of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
  • Patent number: 11373691
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for clock locking for frame-based communications of memory devices are described. A memory system may include a memory device and a host device. The memory device may receive one or more frames of data from the host device, the one or more frames of data communicated by the host device using a first frame clock. The memory device may generate a second frame clock aligned with the one or more frames on receiving the one or more frames and align one or more operations of the memory device with the second frame clock. In some examples, the host device may receive a second set of frames from the memory device based on transmitting the first set of frames. The host device may align one or more operations of the host device with the second set of frames received from the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology Inc.
    Inventor: James Brian Johnson
  • Publication number: 20220121609
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for a training procedure that identifies a frame boundary and generates a frame clock to identify the beginning and the end of a frame. After the frame training procedure is complete, a memory device may be configured to execute a frame synchronization procedure to identify the beginning of a frame based on the frame clock without the use of headers or other information within the frame during an active session of the memory device. During an activation time period after a power-up event, the memory device may initiate the frame training procedure. Once the frames are synchronized, the memory device may be configured to use that frame clock during an entire active session (e.g., until a power-down event) to identify the beginning of a frame as part of a frame synchronization procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
  • Patent number: 11226920
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for a training procedure that identifies a frame boundary and generates a frame clock to identify the beginning and the end of a frame. After the frame training procedure is complete, a memory device may be configured to execute a frame synchronization procedure to identify the beginning of a frame based on the frame clock without the use of headers or other information within the frame during an active session of the memory device. During an activation time period after a power-up event, the memory device may initiate the frame training procedure. Once the frames are synchronized, the memory device may be configured to use that frame clock during an entire active session (e.g., until a power-down event) to identify the beginning of a frame as part of a frame synchronization procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
  • Publication number: 20210193198
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for clock locking for frame-based communications of memory devices are described. A memory system may include a memory device and a host device. The memory device may receive one or more frames of data from the host device, the one or more frames of data communicated by the host device using a first frame clock. The memory device may generate a second frame clock aligned with the one or more frames on receiving the one or more frames and align one or more operations of the memory device with the second frame clock. In some examples, the host device may receive a second set of frames from the memory device based on transmitting the first set of frames. The host device may align one or more operations of the host device with the second set of frames received from the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventor: James Brian Johnson
  • Publication number: 20210191622
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for latency offset for frame-based communications are described. A memory system may include a host device and a memory device that communicate using frames based on a frame period of a frame clock. The memory device may receive a read command and a write command from the host device, and determine a read latency and a write latency corresponding to the received commands. The memory device may also determine an additional offset latency to add to the write latency to avoid bus contention between read data and write data associated with the read command and the write command, respectively. The offset latency may correspond to an integer quantity of clock periods, which may be less than the frame period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
  • Publication number: 20210191627
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for multi-purpose signaling for a memory system are described. One or more signal paths of between a host device and a memory device may be configured to support shared pathways between multiple channels and to support multiple functions. For example, a signal path may be configured to communicate a state signal for an initialization sequence of the memory device, an error signal for the memory device to indicate that errors have occurred, or a low-power signal for the host device to request that the memory device enter a low-power mode, or a combination thereof. The signal path may be shared between two or more channels of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
  • Publication number: 20210124512
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for a reconfigurable memory device that is configurable based on the type of interposer used to couple the memory device with a host device. The reconfigurable memory device may include a plurality components for a plurality of configurations. Various components of the reconfigurable memory die may be activated/deactivated based on what type of interposer is used in the memory device. For example, if a first type of interposer is used (e.g., a high-density interposer), the data channel may be eight data pins wide. In contrast, if second type of interposer is used (e.g., an organic-based interposer), the data channel may be four data pins wide. As such, a reconfigurable memory device may include data pins and related drivers that are inactive in some configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Brent Keeth, James Brian Johnson
  • Patent number: 10936221
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for a reconfigurable memory device that is configurable based on the type of interposer used to couple the memory device with a host device. The reconfigurable memory device may include a plurality components for a plurality of configurations. Various components of the reconfigurable memory die may be activated/deactivated based on what type of interposer is used in the memory device. For example, if a first type of interposer is used (e.g., a high-density interposer), the data channel may be eight data pins wide. In contrast, if second type of interposer is used (e.g., an organic-based interposer), the data channel may be four data pins wide. As such, a reconfigurable memory device may include data pins and related drivers that are inactive in some configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Keeth, James Brian Johnson
  • Publication number: 20200159687
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for a training procedure that identifies a frame boundary and generates a frame clock to identify the beginning and the end of a frame. After the frame training procedure is complete, a memory device may be configured to execute a frame synchronization procedure to identify the beginning of a frame based on the frame clock without the use of headers or other information within the frame during an active session of the memory device. During an activation time period after a power-up event, the memory device may initiate the frame training procedure. Once the frames are synchronized, the memory device may be configured to use that frame clock during an entire active session (e.g., until a power-down event) to identify the beginning of a frame as part of a frame synchronization procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
  • Patent number: 10579578
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for a training procedure that identifies a frame boundary and generates a frame clock to identify the beginning and the end of a frame. After the frame training procedure is complete, a memory device may be configured to execute a frame synchronization procedure to identify the beginning of a frame based on the frame clock without the use of headers or other information within the frame during an active session of the memory device. During an activation time period after a power-up event, the memory device may initiate the frame training procedure. Once the frames are synchronized, the memory device may be configured to use that frame clock during an entire active session (e.g., until a power-down event) to identify the beginning of a frame as part of a frame synchronization procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
  • Publication number: 20190121560
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for a reconfigurable memory device that is configurable based on the type of interposer used to couple the memory device with a host device. The reconfigurable memory device may include a plurality components for a plurality of configurations. Various components of the reconfigurable memory die may be activated/deactivated based on what type of interposer is used in the memory device. For example, if a first type of interposer is used (e.g., a high-density interposer), the data channel may be eight data pins wide. In contrast, if second type of interposer is used (e.g., an organic-based interposer), the data channel may be four data pins wide. As such, a reconfigurable memory device may include data pins and related drivers that are inactive in some configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Brent Keeth, James Brian Johnson