Patents by Inventor Johannes Kalb

Johannes Kalb 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: 10629261
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein comprise methods and apparatuses for placing phase-change memory (PCM) cells of a memory array into a temperature regime where nucleation probability of the PCM cells is enhanced prior to applying a subsequent SET programming signal. In one embodiment, the method includes applying a nucleation signal to the PCM cells to form nucleation sites within the memory array where the nucleation signal has a non-zero rising-edge. A programming signal is subsequently applied to achieve a desired level of crystallinity within selected ones of the plurality of PCM cells. Additional methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Agostino Pirovano, Fabio Pellizzer, Anna Maria Conti, Davide Fugazza, Johannes A. Kalb
  • Publication number: 20190295642
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein comprise methods and apparatuses for placing phase-change memory (PCM) cells of a memory array into a temperature regime where nucleation probability of the PCM cells is enhanced prior to applying a subsequent SET programming signal. In one embodiment, the method includes applying a nucleation signal to the PCM cells to form nucleation sites within the memory array where the nucleation signal has a non-zero rising-edge. A programming signal is subsequently applied to achieve a desired level of crystallinity within selected ones of the plurality of PCM cells. Additional methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Agostino Pirovano, Fabio Pellizzer, Anna Maria Conti, Davide Fugazza, Johannes A. Kalb
  • Patent number: 10276235
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein comprise methods and apparatuses for placing phase-change memory (PCM) cells of a memory array into a temperature regime where nucleation probability of the PCM cells is enhanced prior to applying a subsequent SET programming signal. In one embodiment, the method includes applying a nucleation signal to the PCM cells to form nucleation sites within the memory array where the nucleation signal has a non-zero rising-edge. A programming signal is subsequently applied to achieve a desired level of crystallinity within selected ones of the plurality of PCM cells. Additional methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Agostino Pirovano, Fabio Pellizzer, Anna Maria Conti, Davide Fugazza, Johannes A. Kalb
  • Publication number: 20180268899
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein comprise methods and apparatuses for placing phase-change memory (PCM) cells of a memory array into a temperature regime where nucleation probability of the PCM cells is enhanced prior to applying a subsequent SET programming signal. In one embodiment, the method includes applying a nucleation signal to the PCM cells to form nucleation sites within the memory array where the nucleation signal has a non-zero rising-edge. A programming signal is subsequently applied to achieve a desired level of crystallinity within selected ones of the plurality of PCM cells. Additional methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Agostino Pirovano, Fabio Pellizzer, Anna Maria Conti, Davide Fugazza, Johannes A. Kalb
  • Patent number: 9990989
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein comprise methods and apparatuses for placing phase-change memory (PCM) cells of a memory array into a temperature regime where nucleation probability of the PCM cells is enhanced prior to applying a subsequent SET programming signal. In one embodiment, the method includes applying a nucleation signal to the PCM cells to form nucleation sites within the memory array where the nucleation signal has a non-zero rising-edge. A programming signal is subsequently applied to achieve a desired level of crystallinity within selected ones of the plurality of PCM cells. Additional methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Agostino Pirovano, Fabio Pellizzer, Anna Maria Conti, Davide Fugazza, Johannes A. Kalb
  • Publication number: 20160254050
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein comprise methods and apparatuses for placing phase-change memory (PCM) cells of a memory array into a temperature regime where nucleation probability of the PCM cells is enhanced prior to applying a subsequent SET programming signal. In one embodiment, the method includes applying a nucleation signal to the PCM cells to form nucleation sites within the memory array where the nucleation signal has a non-zero rising-edge. A programming signal is subsequently applied to achieve a desired level of crystallinity within selected ones of the plurality of PCM cells. Additional methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Agostino Pirovano, Fabio Pellizzer, Anna Maria Conti, Davide Fugazza, Johannes A. Kalb
  • Patent number: 9343149
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein comprise methods and apparatuses for placing phase-change memory (PCM) cells of a memory array into a temperature regime where nucleation probability of the PCM cells is enhanced prior to applying a subsequent SET programming signal. In one embodiment, the method includes applying a nucleation signal to the PCM cells to form nucleation sites within the memory array where the nucleation signal has a non-zero rising-edge. A programming signal is subsequently applied to achieve a desired level of crystallinity within selected ones of the plurality of PCM cells. Additional methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Agostino Pirovano, Fabio Pellizzer, Anna Maria Conti, Davide Fugazza, Johannes A. Kalb
  • Publication number: 20160012888
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein comprise methods and apparatuses for placing phase-change memory (PCM) cells of a memory array into a temperature regime where nucleation probability of the PCM cells is enhanced prior to applying a subsequent SET programming signal. In one embodiment, the method includes applying a nucleation signal to the PCM cells to form nucleation sites within the memory array where the nucleation signal has a non-zero rising-edge. A programming signal is subsequently applied to achieve a desired level of crystallinity within selected ones of the plurality of PCM cells. Additional methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Agostino Pirovano, Fabio Pellizzer, Anna Maria Conti, Davide Fugazza, Johannes A. Kalb
  • Patent number: 8467239
    Abstract: A phase change memory (PCM) device utilizes low energy pulses to write data to PCM storage elements (cells). Methods, devices and systems are described that use low energy reset pulses to reset cells that have been previously set using a method that keeps a portion of the PCM cells in an amorphous phase. The reset is reversible by utilizing a low energy set pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes A. Kalb, Brett E. Klehn
  • Patent number: 8437182
    Abstract: A phase change memory (PCM) device utilizes low energy pulses to write data to PCM storage elements (cells). Methods, devices and systems are described that use low energy reset pulses to reset cells that have been previously set using a method that keeps a portion of the PCM cells in an amorphous phase. The reset is reversible by utilizing a low energy set pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes A. Kalb, Brett E. Klehn
  • Patent number: 8385100
    Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus and methods for an energy efficient set write of phase change memory with switch are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Derchang Kau, Johannes Kalb, Elijah Karpov, Gianpaolo Spadini
  • Publication number: 20120140553
    Abstract: A phase change memory (PCM) device utilizes low energy pulses to write data to PCM storage elements (cells). Methods, devices and systems are described that use low energy reset pulses to reset cells that have been previously set using a method that keeps a portion of the PCM cells in an amorphous phase. The reset is reversible by utilizing a low energy set pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Johannes A. Kalb, Brett E. Klehn
  • Patent number: 8184469
    Abstract: A method for enhancing data storage may comprise storing two or more bits in a memory cell, wherein the stored bits may be characterized by two or more independent variables based, at least in part, on physical properties of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes A. Kalb, DerChang Kau, Gianpaolo Spadini
  • Publication number: 20110134685
    Abstract: Embodiments of apparatus and methods for an energy efficient set write of phase change memory with switch are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Derchang Kau, Johannes Kalb, Elijah Karpov, Gianpaolo Spadini
  • Publication number: 20110128770
    Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein relates to enhancing data storage density of a memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Johannes A. Kalb, DerChang Kau, Gianpaolo Spadini
  • Publication number: 20110103139
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method including: writing a phase change material from a high RESET state to a weakened RESET state with a first step; writing the phase change material from the weakened RESET state to a SET state with a second step, the second step having a lower current than the first step; verifying a parameter of the phase change material wherein if the parameter is higher than a target for a SET state, then repeating the writing with the first step, the writing with the second step, and the verifying until the parameter is lower than the target wherein a current for the first step is decreased by a decrement with each iteration without becoming lower than a current for the second step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Derchang Kau, Johannes Kalb, Brett Klehn