Patents by Inventor Jin Ki Kim

Jin Ki Kim 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: 20180129427
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and computer-implemented method for controlling data transfer between a plurality of serial data link interfaces and a plurality of memory banks in a semiconductor memory is disclosed. In one example, a flash memory device with multiple links and memory banks, where the links are independent of the banks, is disclosed. The flash memory devices may be cascaded in a daisy-chain configuration using echo signal lines to serially communicate between memory devices. In addition, a virtual multiple link configuration is described wherein a single link is used to emulate multiple links.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Jin-Ki KIM, Hong Beom PYEON
  • Patent number: 9966133
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for controlling data transfer to an output port of a serial data link interface in a semiconductor memory is disclosed. In one example, a flash memory device may have multiple serial data links, multiple memory banks and control input ports that enable the memory device to transfer the serial data to a serial data output port of the memory device. In another example, a flash memory device may have a single serial data link, a single memory bank, a serial data input port, a control input port for receiving output enable signals. The flash memory devices may be cascaded in a daisy-chain configuration using echo signal lines to serially communicate between memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
    Inventors: HakJune Oh, Hong Beom Pyeon, Jin-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 9928918
    Abstract: A memory device includes core memory such as flash memory for storing data. The memory device includes a first power input to receive a first voltage used to power the flash memory. Additionally, the memory device includes a second power input to receive a second voltage. The memory device includes power management circuitry configured to receive the second voltage and derive one or more internal voltages. The power management circuitry supplies or conveys the internal voltages to the flash memory. The different internal voltages generated by the power management circuitry (e.g., voltage converter circuit) and supplied to the core memory enable operations such as read/program/erase with respect to cells in the core memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Ki Kim, Peter B. Gillingham
  • Patent number: 9899096
    Abstract: A NAND flash memory bank having a plurality of bitlines of a memory array connected to a page buffer, where NAND cell strings connected to the same bitline are formed in at least two well sectors. At least one well sector can be selectively coupled to an erase voltage during an erase operation, such that unselected well sectors are inhibited from receiving the erase voltage. When the area of the well sectors decrease, a corresponding decrease in the capacitance of each well sector results. Accordingly, higher speed erasing of the NAND flash memory cells relative to a single well memory bank is obtained when the charge pump circuit drive capacity remains unchanged. Alternately, a constant erase speed corresponding to a single well memory bank is obtained by matching a well segment having a specific area to a charge pump with reduced drive capacity. A reduced drive capacity charge pump will occupy less semiconductor chip area, thereby reducing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
    Inventor: Jin-Ki Kim
  • Publication number: 20180039728
    Abstract: An operating method of an apparatus for analyzing a genome sequence includes mapping a plurality of sequenced read sequences to a reference genome. The method includes calculating a number of mapped read sequences. The reference genome is divided into a plurality of first regions based on the number of mapped read sequences. The mapped read sequences in each of the plurality of first regions are analyzed by performing distributed processing on the plurality of first regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventor: JIN-KI KIM
  • Patent number: 9852788
    Abstract: A circuit and method for programming multiple bits of data to flash memory cells in a single program operation cycle. Multiple pages of data to be programmed into one physical page of a flash memory array are stored in page buffers or other storage means on the memory device. The selected wordline connected to the cells to be programmed is driven with predetermined program profiles at different time intervals, where each predetermined program profile is configured for shifting an erase threshold voltage to a specific threshold voltage corresponding to a specific logic state. A multi-page bitline controller biases each bitline to enable or inhibit programming during each of the time intervals, in response to the combination of specific logic states of the bits belonging to each page of data that are associated with that respective bitline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
    Inventor: Jin-Ki Kim
  • Publication number: 20170365333
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for controlling data transfer to an output port of a serial data link interface in a semiconductor memory is disclosed. In one example, a flash memory device may have multiple serial data links, multiple memory banks and control input ports that enable the memory device to transfer the serial data to a serial data output port of the memory device. In another example, a flash memory device may have a single serial data link, a single memory bank, a serial data input port, a control input port for receiving output enable signals. The flash memory devices may be cascaded in a daisy-chain configuration using echo signal lines to serially communicate between memory devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: HakJune OH, Hong Beom PYEON, Jin-Ki KIM
  • Patent number: 9836391
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using page buffers of memory devices connected to a memory controller through a common bus. A page buffer of a memory device is used as a temporary cache for data which is written to the memory cells of the memory device. This can allow the memory controller to use memory devices as temporary caches so that the memory controller can free up space in its own memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Beom Pyeon, Jin-Ki Kim, HakJune Oh
  • Patent number: 9836227
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and computer-implemented method for controlling data transfer between a plurality of serial data link interfaces and a plurality of memory banks in a semiconductor memory is disclosed. In one example, a flash memory device with multiple links and memory banks, where the links are independent of the banks, is disclosed. The flash memory devices may be cascaded in a daisy-chain configuration using echo signal lines to serially communicate between memory devices. In addition, a virtual multiple link configuration is described wherein a single link is used to emulate multiple links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Ki Kim, Hong Beom Pyeon
  • Publication number: 20170309342
    Abstract: A memory device includes core memory such as flash memory for storing data. The memory device includes a first power input to receive a first voltage used to power the flash memory. Additionally, the memory device includes a second power input to receive a second voltage. The memory device includes power management circuitry configured to receive the second voltage and derive one or more internal voltages. The power management circuitry supplies or conveys the internal voltages to the flash memory. The different internal voltages generated by the power management circuitry (e.g., voltage converter circuit) and supplied to the core memory enable operations such as read/program/erase with respect to cells in the core memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Ki KIM, Peter B. GILLINGHAM
  • Patent number: 9779804
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for controlling data transfer to an output port of a serial data link interface in a semiconductor memory is disclosed. In one example, a flash memory device may have multiple serial data links, multiple memory banks and control input ports that enable the memory device to transfer the serial data to a serial data output port of the memory device. In another example, a flash memory device may have a single serial data link, a single memory bank, a serial data input port, a control input port for receiving output enable signals. The flash memory devices may be cascaded in a daisy-chain configuration using echo signal lines to serially communicate between memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
    Inventors: HakJune Oh, Hong Beom Pyeon, Jin-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 9767881
    Abstract: A dynamic random access memory device includes a plurality of memory subblocks. Each subblock has a plurality of wordlines whereto a plurality of data store cells are connected. Partial array self-refresh (PASR) configuration settings are independently made. In accordance with the PASR settings, the memory subblocks are addressed for refreshing. The PASR settings are made by a memory controller. Any kind of combinations of subblock addresses may be selected. Thus, the memory subblocks are fully independently refreshed. User selectable memory arrays for data retention provide effective memory control programming especially for low power mobile application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Ki Kim, HakJune Oh
  • Publication number: 20170229188
    Abstract: A NAND flash memory bank having a plurality of bitlines of a memory array connected to a page buffer, where NAND cell strings connected to the same bitline are formed in at least two well sectors. At least one well sector can be selectively coupled to an erase voltage during an erase operation, such that unselected well sectors are inhibited from receiving the erase voltage. When the area of the well sectors decrease, a corresponding decrease in the capacitance of each well sector results. Accordingly, higher speed erasing of the NAND flash memory cells relative to a single well memory bank is obtained when the charge pump circuit drive capacity remains unchanged. Alternately, a constant erase speed corresponding to a single well memory bank is obtained by matching a well segment having a specific area to a charge pump with reduced drive capacity. A reduced drive capacity charge pump will occupy less semiconductor chip area, thereby reducing cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventor: Jin-Ki KIM
  • Publication number: 20170206009
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling an MBC configured flash memory device to store data in an SBC storage mode, or a partial MBC storage mode. In a full MBC storage mode, pages of data are programmed sequentially from a first page to an Nth page for each physical row of memory cells. Up to N virtual page addresses per row of memory cells accompany each page to be programmed for designating the virtual position of the page in the row. For SBC or partial MBC data storage, a flash memory controller issues program command(s) to the MBC memory device using less than the maximum N virtual page addresses for each row. The MBC memory device sequentially executes programming operations up to the last received virtual page address for the row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventor: Jin-Ki KIM
  • Publication number: 20170185297
    Abstract: A memory system having a serial data interface and a serial data path core for receiving data from and for providing data to at least one memory bank as a serial bitstream. The memory bank is divided into two halves, where each half is divided into upper and lower sectors. Each sector provides data in parallel to a shared two-dimensional page buffer with an integrated self column decoding circuit. A serial to parallel data converter within the memory bank couples the parallel data from either half to the serial data path core. The shared two-dimensional page buffer with the integrated self column decoding circuit minimizes circuit and chip area overhead for each bank, and the serial data path core reduces chip area typically used for routing wide data buses. Therefore a multiple memory bank system is implemented without a significant corresponding chip area increase when compared to a single memory bank system having the same density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventor: Jin-Ki KIM
  • Publication number: 20170117052
    Abstract: A memory device includes core memory such as flash memory for storing data. The memory device includes a first power input to receive a first voltage used to power the flash memory. Additionally, the memory device includes a second power input to receive a second voltage. The memory device includes power management circuitry configured to receive the second voltage and derive one or more internal voltages. The power management circuitry supplies or conveys the internal voltages to the flash memory. The different internal voltages generated by the power management circuitry (e.g., voltage converter circuit) and supplied to the core memory enable operations such as read/program/erase with respect to cells in the core memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Ki KIM, Peter B. GILLINGHAM
  • Publication number: 20170109059
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and computer-implemented method for controlling data transfer between a plurality of serial data link interfaces and a plurality of memory banks in a semiconductor memory is disclosed. In one example, a flash memory device with multiple links and memory banks, where the links are independent of the banks, is disclosed. The flash memory devices may be cascaded in a daisy-chain configuration using echo signal lines to serially communicate between memory devices. In addition, a virtual multiple link configuration is described wherein a single link is used to emulate multiple links.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Jin-Ki KIM, Hong Beom PYEON
  • Publication number: 20170076789
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for controlling data transfer to an output port of a serial data link interface in a semiconductor memory is disclosed. In one example, a flash memory device may have multiple serial data links, multiple memory banks and control input ports that enable the memory device to transfer the serial data to a serial data output port of the memory device. In another example, a flash memory device may have a single serial data link, a single memory bank, a serial data input port, a control input port for receiving output enable signals. The flash memory devices may be cascaded in a daisy-chain configuration using echo signal lines to serially communicate between memory devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: HakJune OH, Hong Beom PYEON, Jin-Ki KIM
  • Patent number: 9588883
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling an MBC configured flash memory device to store data in an SBC storage mode, or a partial MBC storage mode. In a full MBC storage mode, pages of data are programmed sequentially from a first page to an Nth page for each physical row of memory cells. Up to N virtual page addresses per row of memory cells accompany each page to be programmed for designating the virtual position of the page in the row. For SBC or partial MBC data storage, a flash memory controller issues program command(s) to the MBC memory device using less than the maximum N virtual page addresses for each row. The MBC memory device sequentially executes programming operations up to the last received virtual page address for the row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
    Inventor: Jin-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 9583204
    Abstract: A NAND flash memory bank having a plurality of bitlines of a memory array connected to a page buffer, where NAND cell strings connected to the same bitline are formed in at least two well sectors. At least one well sector can be selectively coupled to an erase voltage during an erase operation, such that unselected well sectors are inhibited from receiving the erase voltage. When the area of the well sectors decrease, a corresponding decrease in the capacitance of each well sector results. Accordingly, higher speed erasing of the NAND flash memory cells relative to a single well memory bank is obtained when the charge pump circuit drive capacity remains unchanged. Alternately, a constant erase speed corresponding to a single well memory bank is obtained by matching a well segment having a specific area to a charge pump with reduced drive capacity. A reduced drive capacity charge pump will occupy less semiconductor chip area, thereby reducing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
    Inventor: Jin-Ki Kim