Patents by Inventor John D. Porter

John D. Porter 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: 20190172519
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for configurable command and data input circuits for semiconductor memories are described. Example apparatuses include input signal blocks, clock blocking circuits, data input blocks, driver circuits, and data receiver circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Kang-Yong Kim, John D. Porter
  • Publication number: 20190102109
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods including memory commands for semiconductor memories are described. An example method includes receiving a data clock signal responsive to receiving a timing command, performing an access operation responsive to receiving an access command associated with the timing command, providing an access data clock signal based on the data clock signal, and providing an access data clock signal based on the data clock signal. The access command may be separated in time from the associated timing command by at least one clock cycle of a system clock signal. In some examples, the access command may precede the associated timing command or may follow the associated timing command. In some examples, the access command may immediately follow or precede the associated timing command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Hyun Yoo Lee, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 10249354
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for duty cycle distortion correction of clocks are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a clock circuit configured to receive complementary input clocks and a control signal and to provide multiphase clocks responsive to complementary input clocks. The clock circuit is further configured to be in a first mode or second mode controlled by the control signal and configured to provide the multiphase clocks having greater duty cycle distortion in a first mode than in a second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Kang-Yong Kim, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 10249358
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for configurable command and data input circuits for semiconductor memories are described. Example apparatuses include input signal blocks, clock blocking circuits, data input blocks, driver circuits, and data receiver circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Kang-Yong Kim, John D. Porter
  • Publication number: 20190080743
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for configurable command and data input circuits for semiconductor memories are described. Example apparatuses include input signal blocks, clock blocking circuits, data input blocks, driver circuits, and data receiver circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Kang-Yong Kim, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 10229728
    Abstract: Various embodiments comprise methods and apparatuses for selecting a randomly-chosen seed row from among a stream of available data in a memory system. A refresh operation is then performed on at least one selected row of memory in the memory system based on the randomly-chosen seed row. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald M. Morgan, John D. Porter
  • Publication number: 20180375502
    Abstract: An analog circuit including a pair of input nodes and a pair of output nodes is coupled to a mismatch reduction circuit including an input node, an output node, a phase controller that times even and odd phases, an input switch, and an output switch. The input switch electrically connects the mismatch reduction circuit input node to a first node of the pair of analog circuit input nodes during each even phase and to electrically connects the mismatch reduction circuit input node to a second node of the pair of analog circuit input nodes during each odd phase. The output switch electrically connects a first node of the pair of analog circuit output nodes to the mismatch reduction circuit output node during each even phase and electrically connects a second node of the pair of analog circuit output nodes to the mismatch reduction circuit output node during each odd phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Dong Pan, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 10153030
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for configurable command and data input circuits for semiconductor memories are described. Example apparatuses include input signal blocks, clock blocking circuits, data input blocks, driver circuits, and data receiver circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Kang-Yong Kim, John D. Porter
  • Publication number: 20180330775
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for configurable command and data input circuits for semiconductor memories are described. Example apparatuses include input signal blocks, clock blocking circuits, data input blocks, driver circuits, and data receiver circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: HYUN YOO LEE, Kang-Yong Kim, John D. Porter
  • Publication number: 20180294806
    Abstract: An analog circuit including a pair of input nodes and a pair of output nodes is coupled to a mismatch reduction circuit including an input node, an output node, a phase controller that times even and odd phases, an input switch, and an output switch. The input switch electrically connects the mismatch reduction circuit input node to a first node of the pair of analog circuit input nodes during each even phase and to electrically connects the mismatch reduction circuit input node to a second node of the pair of analog circuit input nodes during each odd phase. The output switch electrically connects a first node of the pair of analog circuit output nodes to the mismatch reduction circuit output node during each even phase and electrically connects a second node of the pair of analog circuit output nodes to the mismatch reduction circuit output node during each odd phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Dong Pan, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 10097169
    Abstract: An analog circuit including a pair of input nodes and a pair of output nodes is coupled to a mismatch reduction circuit including an input node, an output node, a phase controller that times even and odd phases, an input switch, and an output switch. The input switch electrically connects the mismatch reduction circuit input node to a first node of the pair of analog circuit input nodes during each even phase and to electrically connects the mismatch reduction circuit input node to a second node of the pair of analog circuit input nodes during each odd phase. The output switch electrically connects a first node of the pair of analog circuit output nodes to the mismatch reduction circuit output node during each even phase and electrically connects a second node of the pair of analog circuit output nodes to the mismatch reduction circuit output node during each odd phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Pan, John D. Porter
  • Publication number: 20180190342
    Abstract: Various embodiments comprise methods and apparatuses for selecting a randomly-chosen seed row from among a stream of available data in a memory system. A refresh operation is then performed on at least one selected row of memory in the memory system based on the randomly-chosen seed row. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Donald M. Morgan, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 9911484
    Abstract: Various embodiments comprise methods and apparatuses for selecting a randomly-chosen seed row from among a stream of available data in a memory system. A refresh operation is then performed on at least one selected row of memory in the memory system based on the randomly-chosen seed row. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald M. Morgan, John D. Porter
  • Publication number: 20180005690
    Abstract: Various embodiments comprise methods and apparatuses for selecting a randomly-chosen seed row from among a stream of available data in a memory system. A refresh operation is then performed on at least one selected row of memory in the memory system based on the randomly-chosen seed row. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Donald M. Morgan, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 9054700
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for driving a signal are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a pre-driver circuit and a driver circuit. The pre-driver circuit includes a step-down transistor and the driver circuit includes a pull-down transistor configured to be coupled to a reference voltage. In a first mode, the step-down transistor is configured to reduce a voltage provided to the pull-down transistor to less than a supply voltage, and in a second mode, the step-down transistor configured to provide the voltage of the supply voltage to the pull-down transistor. The pre-driver circuit of the example signal driver circuit may further include a step-up transistor configured to increase a voltage provided to a pull-up transistor of the driver circuit to greater than the reference voltage, and in the second mode, the step-up transistor configured to provide the voltage of the reference voltage to the pull-up transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Gi-Hong Kim, John D. Porter
  • Publication number: 20140204689
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for driving a signal are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a pre-driver circuit and a driver circuit. The pre-driver circuit includes a step-down transistor and the driver circuit includes a pull-down transistor configured to be coupled to a reference voltage. In a first mode, the step-down transistor is configured to reduce a voltage provided to the pull-down transistor to less than a supply voltage, and in a second mode, the step-down transistor configured to provide the voltage of the supply voltage to the pull-down transistor. The pre-driver circuit of the example signal driver circuit may further include a step-up transistor configured to increase a voltage provided to a pull-up transistor of the driver circuit to greater than the reference voltage, and in the second mode, the step-up transistor configured to provide the voltage of the reference voltage to the pull-up transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gi-Hong Kim, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 8760939
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes devices, methods, and systems for sensing memory, such as resistance variable memory, among other types of memory. One or more embodiments can include a method for generating currents to be used in sensing a memory cell, the method including providing a number of initial currents, and generating a number of reference currents by summing particular combinations of the initial currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer E. Taylor, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 8743640
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring the resistance of multiple memory elements are disclosed. The memory elements may be multi-bit memory and through precise measurement of resistance of the multi-bit memory elements, determination of how many and which memory elements fall into specific memory ranges can be accomplished. Furthermore, storage and/or display of this information may allow for the creation of resistance distribution histograms for modeling of one or more memory arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Taylor, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 8681566
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for driving a signal are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a pre-driver circuit and a driver circuit. The pre-driver circuit includes a step-down transistor and the driver circuit includes a pull-down transistor configured to be coupled to a reference voltage. In a first mode, the step-down transistor is configured to reduce a voltage provided to the pull-down transistor to less than a supply voltage, and in a second mode, the step-down transistor configured to provide the voltage of the supply voltage to the pull-down transistor. The pre-driver circuit of the example signal driver circuit may further include a step-up transistor configured to increase a voltage provided to a pull-up transistor of the driver circuit to greater than the reference voltage, and in the second mode, the step-up transistor configured to provide the voltage of the reference voltage to the pull-up transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gi-Hong Kim, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 8665635
    Abstract: Methods, and circuits, are disclosed for operating a programmable memory device. One method embodiment includes storing a value as a state in a first memory cell and as a complementary state in a second memory cell. Such a method further includes determining the state of the first memory cell using a first self-biased sensing circuit and the complementary state of the second memory cell using a second self-biased sensing circuit, and comparing in a differential manner an indication of the state of the first memory cell to a reference indication of the complementary state of the second memory cell to determine the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Porter