Patents by Inventor James I. Esteves

James I. Esteves 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: 12002526
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array comprising a plurality of wordlines and a regulator circuit selectively coupled to the plurality of wordlines, wherein the regulator circuit is configured to perform a detection routine to sample a load current from a selected wordline of the plurality of wordlines and generate a measured output voltage, wherein the measured output voltage modulates with respect to the load current. The memory device further includes a comparator circuit coupled to the regulator circuit, wherein the comparator circuit is configured to generate a comparison result based on a difference between the measured output voltage and a reference voltage and a local media controller coupled to the comparator circuit, wherein the local media controller is configured to identify a presence of a defect on the selected wordline in response to the comparison result satisfying a threshold condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Pinchou Chiang, Arvind Muralidharan, James I. Esteves, Michele Piccardi, Theodore T. Pekny
  • Publication number: 20220223215
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array comprising a plurality of wordlines and a regulator circuit selectively coupled to the plurality of wordlines, wherein the regulator circuit is configured to perform a detection routine to sample a load current from a selected wordline of the plurality of wordlines and generate a measured output voltage, wherein the measured output voltage modulates with respect to the load current. The memory device further includes a comparator circuit coupled to the regulator circuit, wherein the comparator circuit is configured to generate a comparison result based on a difference between the measured output voltage and a reference voltage and a local media controller coupled to the comparator circuit, wherein the local media controller is configured to identify a presence of a defect on the selected wordline in response to the comparison result satisfying a threshold condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Pinchou Chiang, Arvind Muralidharan, James I. Esteves, Michele Piccardi, Theodore T. Pekny
  • Patent number: 11315647
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array comprising a plurality of wordlines and a regulator circuit selectively coupled to the plurality of wordlines, wherein the regulator circuit is configured to perform a detection routine to sample a load current from a selected wordline of the plurality of wordlines and generate a measured output voltage, wherein the measured output voltage modulates with respect to the load current. The memory device further includes a comparator circuit coupled to the regulator circuit, wherein the comparator circuit is configured to generate a comparison result based on a difference between the measured output voltage and a reference voltage and a local media controller coupled to the comparator circuit, wherein the local media controller is configured to identify a presence of a defect on the selected wordline in response to the comparison result satisfying a threshold condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Pinchou Chiang, Arvind Muralidharan, James I. Esteves, Michele Piccardi, Theodore T. Pekny
  • Publication number: 20210343351
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array comprising a plurality of wordlines and a regulator circuit selectively coupled to the plurality of wordlines, wherein the regulator circuit is configured to perform a detection routine to sample a load current from a selected wordline of the plurality of wordlines and generate a measured output voltage, wherein the measured output voltage modulates with respect to the load current. The memory device further includes a comparator circuit coupled to the regulator circuit, wherein the comparator circuit is configured to generate a comparison result based on a difference between the measured output voltage and a reference voltage and a local media controller coupled to the comparator circuit, wherein the local media controller is configured to identify a presence of a defect on the selected wordline in response to the comparison result satisfying a threshold condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Pinchou Chiang, Arvind Muralidharan, James I. Esteves, Michele Piccardi, Theodore T. Pekny
  • Patent number: 9267980
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for evaluating leakage currents of capacitances are described. Capacitances having excessive leakage currents may be disabled from use. An example apparatus includes a leakage detection circuit configured to be coupled to a capacitance block. The leakage detection circuit is configured to determine whether a leakage current of a capacitance of the capacitance block exceeds a current limit and is further configured to provide an output indicative of a status of the capacitance. A detection controller is coupled to the leakage detection circuit and a register, and the detection controller is configured to store data in the register indicative of the status of the capacitance based at least in part on the signal from the leakage detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinwei Guo, James I. Esteves, Arvind Muralidharan, Nicholas Hendrickson
  • Publication number: 20130043889
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for evaluating leakage currents of capacitances are described. Capacitances having excessive leakage currents may be disabled from use. An example apparatus includes a leakage detection circuit configured to be coupled to a capacitance block. The leakage detection circuit is configured to determine whether a leakage current of a capacitance of the capacitance block exceeds a current limit and is further configured to provide an output indicative of a status of the capacitance. A detection controller is coupled to the leakage detection circuit and a register, and the detection controller is configured to store data in the register indicative of the status of the capacitance based at least in part on the signal from the leakage detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinwei Guo, James I. Esteves, Arvind Muralidharan, Nicholas Hendrickson
  • Publication number: 20080229154
    Abstract: A self-referencing redundancy scheme in a content addressable memory may use a faulty bit table, populated during manufacturing, to indicate, not only the address of all the defective memory locations, but also the data which they should hold. Then, during read out, a read out state machine may access the faulty bit table, determine the data the faulty location should have held, and write that faulty data onto latches associated with the faulty memory elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: James I. Esteves, Richard E. Fackenthal