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).
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Publication number: 20240071556Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2022Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Kunal R. Parekh, Brent Keeth, Eiichi Nakano, Amy Rae Griffin
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Patent number: 11893245Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 13, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
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Patent number: 11837318Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 17, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: James Brian Johnson
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Patent number: 11797186Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 18, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
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Patent number: 11614875Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 6, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Brent Keeth, James Brian Johnson
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Patent number: 11580049Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 27, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
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Publication number: 20220404985Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2022Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
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Publication number: 20220374039Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventor: James Brian Johnson
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Patent number: 11392299Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 18, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
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Patent number: 11373691Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 18, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Micron Technology Inc.Inventor: James Brian Johnson
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Publication number: 20220121609Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2021Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
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Patent number: 11226920Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 27, 2020Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
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Publication number: 20210193198Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventor: James Brian Johnson
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Publication number: 20210191622Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
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Publication number: 20210191627Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
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Publication number: 20210124512Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2021Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: Brent Keeth, James Brian Johnson
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Patent number: 10936221Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 16, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Brent Keeth, James Brian Johnson
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Publication number: 20200159687Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
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Patent number: 10579578Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 16, 2018Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Brent Keeth
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Publication number: 20190121560Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Brent Keeth, James Brian Johnson