Patents by Inventor James O'Toole

James O'Toole 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: 20250118349
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed for reading memory cells having threshold switching selectors. A sense amplifier may have a set of capacitors that may be used to exchange charge with a sense node connected to the selected word line. A capacitor may be used to pull excess charge from the sense node or to provide charge to the sense node. A control circuit drives a current to the selected word line to charge up the selected word line to switch on the threshold switching selector of the selected memory cell. A capacitor may be connected to the selected word line when, or soon after, the threshold switching selector switches on. The capacitor may draw away excess charge to prevent a snapback current from flowing through the memory cell thereby preventing mis-reads. The capacitor may reduce read latency by speeding the rate of voltage change on a word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Applicant: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ward Parkinson, Michael Grobis, James O'Toole, Thomas Trent, Michael Nicolas Albert Tran
  • Patent number: 12237010
    Abstract: Concurrent access of multiple memory cells in a cross-point memory array is disclosed. In one aspect, a forced current approach is used in which, while a select voltage is applied to a selected bit line, an access current is driven separately through each selected word line to concurrently drive the access current separately through each selected memory cell. Hence, multiple memory cells are concurrently accessed. In some aspects, the memory cells are accessed using a self-referenced read (SRR), which improves read margin. Concurrently accessing more than one memory cell in a cross-point memory array improves bandwidth. Moreover, such concurrent accessing allows the memory system to be constructed with fewer, but larger cross-point arrays, which increases array efficiency. Moreover, concurrent access as disclosed herein is compatible with memory cells such as MRAM which require bipolar operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Sandisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Franklin, Ward Parkinson, Michael Grobis, James O'Toole
  • Patent number: 12205638
    Abstract: Concurrent access of multiple memory cells in a cross-point memory array is disclosed. In one aspect, a forced current approach is used in which, while a select voltage is applied to a selected bit line, an access current is driven separately through each selected word line to concurrently drive the access current separately through each selected memory cell. Hence, multiple memory cells are concurrently accessed. In some aspects, the memory cells are accessed using a self-referenced read (SRR), which improves read margin. Concurrently accessing more than one memory cell in a cross-point memory array improves bandwidth. Moreover, such concurrent accessing allows the memory system to be constructed with fewer, but larger cross-point arrays, which increases array efficiency. Moreover, concurrent access as disclosed herein is compatible with memory cells such as MRAM which require bipolar operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Franklin, Ward Parkinson, Michael Grobis, James O'Toole
  • Publication number: 20240395301
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed for a current source for reading a memory cell having a threshold switching selector. The current source may be operated in a first mode when turning on the threshold switching selector and in a second mode when sensing a voltage across the memory cell. The first mode may allow the use of the full range of the power supply voltage, which provides sufficient voltage across the memory cell to turn on the threshold switching selector. In the second mode the magnitude of the read current is less dependent on the voltage across the memory cell. The second mode therefore provides for accurate sensing of the memory cell. The first mode may also be used when writing the memory cell, which provides sufficient voltage across the memory cell to write the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Applicant: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Petti, Ward Parkinson, Thomas Trent, James O'Toole
  • Patent number: 12148459
    Abstract: Technology for read in a cross-point memory array. Drive transistors pass read and write currents to the cross-point memory array. The read current charges a selected word line to turn on a threshold switching selector of a selected memory cell. While the threshold switching selector is on, the current (read or write) passes through the selected memory cell. The memory system applies a smaller overdrive voltage to a drive transistor when the drive transistor is passing the read current than when the drive transistor is passing the write current. A smaller overdrive voltage increases the resistance of the drive transistor. Increasing the resistance of the drive transistor increases the resistance seen by the threshold switching selector in the selected memory cell, which reduces the Ihold of the threshold switching selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ward Parkinson, James O'Toole, Thomas Trent, Nathan Franklin, Michael Grobis, James W. Reiner, Hans Jurgen Richter, Michael Nicolas Albert Tran
  • Patent number: 11971736
    Abstract: A circuit is provided that includes a first transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, and a second transistor comprising a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal. The first terminal of the first transistor comprises an input terminal of the circuit, the second terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a power supply bus, and the first transistor conducts a first current. The first terminal of the first transistor comprises an output terminal of the circuit, the second terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the power supply bus, and the third terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the third terminal of the first transistor. The second transistor conducts a second current proportional to the first current substantially independent of distance between the first transistor and the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James O'Toole, Ward Parkinson, Thomas Trent
  • Patent number: 11854592
    Abstract: A control circuit is configured to connect to a cross-point memory array in which each conductive line, such as a bit line or word line, is connected to a transistor pair comprising a pMOSFET in parallel with an nMOSFET. When selecting a memory cell to be read, a voltage of a first conductive line may be pulled up using the pMOSFET in a conductive state while the nMOSFET is in a non-conductive state. Further, when reading the selected memory cell, the parallel nMOSFET of the first conductive line may be in a conductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ward Parkinson, James O'Toole, Nathan Franklin, Thomas Trent
  • Publication number: 20230346578
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to delivery devices for transcatheter stented prosthesis loading, delivery and implantation. The delivery devices provide a loaded delivery state in which the stented prosthesis is loaded and compressed over the delivery device. The compression of the stented prosthesis can be adjusted with one or more elongate tension members, which extend around the stented prosthesis and proximately to an actuation and release assembly that can be provided as part of a handle assembly. The delivery device can be manipulated to adjust tension in the tension members to permit the stented prosthesis to compress, self-expand, and ultimately release from the shaft assembly. In some embodiments, the tension in one or more tension members is adjusted with one or more actuation and release assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Michael A. Gloss, Patrick Griffin, Jeffrey D. Sandstrom, David James O'Toole, Rishi Manda, Niall F. Duffy
  • Publication number: 20230267981
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed for improving read margin in a cross-point memory array. Drive transistors pass a read and write currents to the cross-point memory array. The read current charges a selected word line to turn on a threshold switching selector of a selected memory cell. While the threshold switching selector is on, the current (read or write) passes through the selected memory cell. The memory system applies a smaller overdrive voltage to the drive transistor when the drive transistor is passing the read current than when the drive transistor is passing the write current. A smaller overdrive voltage increases the resistance of the drive transistor which improves read margin. Increasing the resistance of the drive transistor increases the resistance seen by the threshold switching selector in the selected memory cell, which reduces the Ihold of the threshold switching selector. Reducing Ihold of the threshold switching selector improves read margin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ward Parkinson, James O'Toole, Thomas Trent, Nathan Franklin, Michael Grobis, James W. Reiner, Hans Jurgen Richter, Michael Nicolas Albert Tran
  • Publication number: 20230259149
    Abstract: A circuit is provided that includes a first transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, and a second transistor comprising a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal. The first terminal of the first transistor comprises an input terminal of the circuit, the second terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a power supply bus, and the first transistor conducts a first current. The first terminal of the first transistor comprises an output terminal of the circuit, the second terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the power supply bus, and the third terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the third terminal of the first transistor. The second transistor conducts a second current proportional to the first current substantially independent of distance between the first transistor and the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James O'Toole, Ward Parkinson, Thomas Trent
  • Publication number: 20230005530
    Abstract: Concurrent access of multiple memory cells in a cross-point memory array is disclosed. In one aspect, a forced current approach is used in which, while a select voltage is applied to a selected bit line, an access current is driven separately through each selected word line to concurrently drive the access current separately through each selected memory cell. Hence, multiple memory cells are concurrently accessed. In some aspects, the memory cells are accessed using a self-referenced read (SRR), which improves read margin. Concurrently accessing more than one memory cell in a cross-point memory array improves bandwidth. Moreover, such concurrent accessing allows the memory system to be constructed with fewer, but larger cross-point arrays, which increases array efficiency. Moreover, concurrent access as disclosed herein is compatible with memory cells such as MRAM which require bipolar operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Franklin, Ward Parkinson, Michael Grobis, James O'Toole
  • Publication number: 20220415387
    Abstract: Concurrent access of multiple memory cells in a cross-point memory array is disclosed. In one aspect, a forced current approach is used in which, while a select voltage is applied to a selected bit line, an access current is driven separately through each selected word line to concurrently drive the access current separately through each selected memory cell. Hence, multiple memory cells are concurrently accessed. In some aspects, the memory cells are accessed using a self-referenced read (SRR), which improves read margin. Concurrently accessing more than one memory cell in a cross-point memory array improves bandwidth. Moreover, such concurrent accessing allows the memory system to be constructed with fewer, but larger cross-point arrays, which increases array efficiency. Moreover, concurrent access as disclosed herein is compatible with memory cells such as MRAM which require bipolar operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Franklin, Ward Parkinson, Michael Grobis, James O'Toole
  • Patent number: 11488662
    Abstract: Concurrent access of multiple memory cells in a cross-point memory array is disclosed. In one aspect, a forced current approach is used in which, while a select voltage is applied to a selected bit line, an access current is driven separately through each selected word line to concurrently drive the access current separately through each selected memory cell. Hence, multiple memory cells are concurrently accessed. In some aspects, the memory cells are accessed using a self-referenced read (SRR), which improves read margin. Concurrently accessing more than one memory cell in a cross-point memory array improves bandwidth. Moreover, such concurrent accessing allows the memory system to be constructed with fewer, but larger cross-point arrays, which increases array efficiency. Moreover, concurrent access as disclosed herein is compatible with memory cells such as MRAM which require bipolar operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Franklin, Ward Parkinson, Michael Grobis, James O'Toole
  • Publication number: 20220293156
    Abstract: A control circuit is configured to connect to a cross-point memory array in which each conductive line, such as a bit line or word line, is connected to a transistor pair comprising a pMOSFET in parallel with an nMOSFET. When selecting a memory cell to be read, a voltage of a first conductive line may be pulled up using the pMOSFET in a conductive state while the nMOSFET is in a non-conductive state. Further, when reading the selected memory cell, the parallel nMOSFET of the first conductive line may be in a conductive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ward Parkinson, James O'Toole, Nathan Franklin, Thomas Trent
  • Patent number: 11386945
    Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques are described for reading MRAM memory cells. In a cross-point memory array, each conductive line, such as a bit line or word line, is connected to a transistor pair comprising a pMOSFET in parallel with an nMOSFET. When selecting a memory cell to be read, a voltage of a first conductive line may be pulled up using the pMOSFET while a voltage of a second conductive line is pulled down, e.g., to 0 V, using the nMOSFET. This minimizes a capacitance while the selector is turned on. Further, when reading the selected memory cell, the parallel nMOSFET of the first conductive line may turned on while the pMOSFET is turned off. The nMOSFET provides a higher resistance in place of the decreased resistance of the pMOSFET to amplify a signal at a sense circuit to allow accurate sensing of the voltage across the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ward Parkinson, James O'Toole, Nathan Franklin, Thomas Trent
  • Publication number: 20220157376
    Abstract: Concurrent access of multiple memory cells in a cross-point memory array is disclosed. In one aspect, a forced current approach is used in which, while a select voltage is applied to a selected bit line, an access current is driven separately through each selected word line to concurrently drive the access current separately through each selected memory cell. Hence, multiple memory cells are concurrently accessed. In some aspects, the memory cells are accessed using a self-referenced read (SRR), which improves read margin. Concurrently accessing more than one memory cell in a cross-point memory array improves bandwidth. Moreover, such concurrent accessing allows the memory system to be constructed with fewer, but larger cross-point arrays, which increases array efficiency. Moreover, concurrent access as disclosed herein is compatible with memory cells such as MRAM which require bipolar operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Franklin, Ward Parkinson, Michael Grobis, James O'Toole
  • Patent number: 11328759
    Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques are described for reading MRAM memory cells. In a cross-point memory array, each conductive line, such as a bit line or word line, is connected to a transistor pair comprising a pMOSFET in parallel with an nMOSFET. When selecting a memory cell to be read, a voltage of a first conductive line may be pulled up using the pMOSFET while a voltage of a second conductive line is pulled down, e.g., to 0 V, using the nMOSFET. This minimizes a capacitance while the selector is turned on. Further, when reading the selected memory cell, the parallel nMOSFET of the first conductive line may be turned on while the pMOSFET remains on. The nMOSFET adds a resistance which offsets a decreased resistance of the pMOSFET to allow accurate sensing of the voltage across the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ward Parkinson, James O'Toole, Nathan Franklin, Thomas Trent
  • Publication number: 20220108740
    Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques are described for reading MRAM memory cells. In a cross-point memory array, each conductive line, such as a bit line or word line, is connected to a transistor pair comprising a pMOSFET in parallel with an nMOSFET. When selecting a memory cell to be read, a voltage of a first conductive line may be pulled up using the pMOSFET while a voltage of a second conductive line is pulled down, e.g., to 0 V, using the nMOSFET. This minimizes a capacitance while the selector is turned on. Further, when reading the selected memory cell, the parallel nMOSFET of the first conductive line may turned on while the pMOSFET is turned off. The nMOSFET provides a higher resistance in place of the decreased resistance of the pMOSFET to amplify a signal at a sense circuit to allow accurate sensing of the voltage across the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ward Parkinson, James O'Toole, Nathan Franklin, Thomas Trent
  • Publication number: 20220108739
    Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques are described for reading MRAM memory cells. In a cross-point memory array, each conductive line, such as a bit line or word line, is connected to a transistor pair comprising a pMOSFET in parallel with an nMOSFET. When selecting a memory cell to be read, a voltage of a first conductive line may be pulled up using the pMOSFET while a voltage of a second conductive line is pulled down, e.g., to 0 V, using the nMOSFET. This minimizes a capacitance while the selector is turned on. Further, when reading the selected memory cell, the parallel nMOSFET of the first conductive line may be turned on while the pMOSFET remains on. The nMOSFET adds a resistance which offsets a decreased resistance of the pMOSFET to allow accurate sensing of the voltage across the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ward Parkinson, James O'Toole, Nathan Franklin, Thomas Trent
  • Patent number: 11222678
    Abstract: In a memory array with a cross-point structure, at each cross-point junction a programmable resistive memory element, such as an MRAM device, is connected in series with a threshold switching selector, such as an ovonic threshold switch. In a two-layer cross-point structure with such memory cells, the MRAM devices in one layer are inverted relative to the MRAM devices in the other layer. This can allow for the transient voltage spike placed across the MRAM device when the threshold switching selector first turns on in a sensing operation to dissipate more rapidly, reducing the risk of changing a stored data state before it can be sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ward Parkinson, James O'Toole, Nathan Franklin, Thomas Trent