Patents by Inventor John K. DeBrosse

John K. DeBrosse 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: 20140211550
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to detecting a state of a memory element in a memory device, comprising: applying a pulse of a predetermined magnitude and duration to the memory element to induce a transition in the state of the memory element when a polarity of the pulse is opposite to the state, monitoring, by a device, a signal associated with the memory element to detect a presence or absence of a transition in the signal in an amount greater than a threshold, and determining the state of the memory element based on said monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicants: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC., INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan Z. Sun, John K. DeBrosse, Po-Kang Wang
  • Patent number: 8755213
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a bipolar memory cell array including a bidirectional access diode. The system includes a column voltage. The column voltage switch includes column voltages and an output electrically coupled to the bidirectional access diode. The column voltages include at least one write-one column voltage and at least one write-zero column voltage. The system also includes a row voltage switch. The row voltage switch includes row voltages and an output electrically coupled to the bidirectional access diode. The row voltages include at least one write-one row voltage and at least one write-zero row voltage. The system further includes a column decoder and a row decoder electrically coupled to a select line of the column voltage switch and row voltage switch, respectively. The system includes a write driver electrically coupled to the select lines of the row and column switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, Kailash Gopalakrishnan, Chung H. Lam, Jing Li
  • Publication number: 20130223125
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a bipolar memory cell array including a bidirectional access diode. The system includes a column voltage. The column voltage switch includes column voltages and an output electrically coupled to the bidirectional access diode. The column voltages include at least one write-one column voltage and at least one write-zero column voltage. The system also includes a row voltage switch. The row voltage switch includes row voltages and an output electrically coupled to the bidirectional access diode. The row voltages include at least one write-one row voltage and at least one write-zero row voltage. The system further includes a column decoder and a row decoder electrically coupled to a select line of the column voltage switch and row voltage switch, respectively. The system includes a write driver electrically coupled to the select lines of the row and column switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, Kailash Gopalakrishnan, Chung H. Lam, Jing Li
  • Patent number: 8456899
    Abstract: A method for operating a memory array device, includes initiating a write “0” state in the device, wherein the initiating the write “0” state includes inducing a first voltage in a word line of the device; and inducing a second voltage in a first bit line (BLTE) of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, Yutaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8456901
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory array connected to the processor comprising a first memory cell comprising a first magnetic tunnel junction device having a first terminal connected to a first bit line and a second terminal, and a first field effect transistor having a source terminal connected to a second bit line, a gate terminal connected to a word line, and a drain terminal connected to the second terminal of the first magnetic tunnel junction device, and a second memory cell comprising a second magnetic tunnel junction device having a first terminal connected to a third bit line and a second terminal, and a second field effect transistor having a source terminal connected to the second bit line, a gate terminal connected to the word line, and a drain terminal connected to the second terminal of the second magnetic tunnel junction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, Yutaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8446757
    Abstract: A memory array device comprising a first memory cell comprising a first magnetic tunnel junction device having a first terminal connected to a first bit line (BLTE) and a second terminal, and a first field effect transistor (FET) having a source terminal connected to a second bit line (BLC), a gate terminal connected to a word line (WL), and a drain terminal connected to the second terminal of the first magnetic tunnel junction device, and a second memory cell comprising, a second magnetic tunnel junction device having a first terminal connected to a third bit line (BLT0) and a second terminal, and a second field effect transistor (FET) having a source terminal connected to the second bit line (BLC), a gate terminal connected to the word line (WL), and a drain terminal connected to the second terminal of the second magnetic tunnel junction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, Yutaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8370714
    Abstract: A method of reading and correcting data within a memory device that includes reading each data bit of a data word using a plurality of reference cells corresponding to each data bit, performing error detection on the read data bits, and correcting a read data bit when an error is detected using error correction code (ECC) and writing each corresponding reference cells to an original memory state thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, Daniel C. Worledge
  • Patent number: 8331125
    Abstract: A high density memory architecture comprising magnetic racetrack memory and a method of operation. The memory architecture comprises a plurality of magnetic memory structures, each the structure formed of magnetic material; a sensing device associated with each magnetic memory structure; first decoder device initiating a track select signal for activating a single magnetic memory structure from among the plurality to perform a bit read or bit storage operation; a bit drive device for applying a first signal to form a new magnetic memory domain associated with a bit value to be stored in the activated magnetic memory structure at a first position thereof during a bit storage operation; and, a second decoder applying a second signal for advancing each the formed magnetic memory domain toward a second position of the activated memory structure. The sensing device reads a memory bit value stored at a magnetic domain at the second position of the activated memory structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: John K. DeBrosse
  • Publication number: 20120294071
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory array connected to the processor comprising a first memory cell comprising a first magnetic tunnel junction device having a first terminal connected to a first bit line and a second terminal, and a first field effect transistor having a source terminal connected to a second bit line, a gate terminal connected to a word line, and a drain terminal connected to the second terminal of the first magnetic tunnel junction device, and a second memory cell comprising a second magnetic tunnel junction device having a first terminal connected to a third bit line and a second terminal, and a second field effect transistor having a source terminal connected to the second bit line, a gate terminal connected to the word line, and a drain terminal connected to the second terminal of the second magnetic tunnel junction device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, Yutaka Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20120287705
    Abstract: A method for operating a memory array device, includes initiating a write “0” state in the device, wherein the initiating the write “0” state includes inducing a first voltage in a word line of the device; and inducing a second voltage in a first bit line (BLTE) of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, Yutaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8228706
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a magnetic shift register memory device. One embodiment of a memory cell includes a magnetic column including a plurality of magnetic domains, a reader coupled to the magnetic column, for reading data from the magnetic domains, a temporary memory for storing data read from the magnetic domains, and a writer coupled to the magnetic column, for writing data in the temporary memory to the magnetic domains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, William J. Gallagher, Yu Lu
  • Publication number: 20120182781
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a magnetic shift register memory device. One embodiment of a memory cell includes a magnetic column including a plurality of magnetic domains, a reader coupled to the magnetic column, for reading data from the magnetic domains, a temporary memory for storing data read from the magnetic domains, and a writer coupled to the magnetic column, for writing data in the temporary memory to the magnetic domains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: JOHN K. DeBrosse, William J. Gallagher, Yu Lu
  • Publication number: 20120044754
    Abstract: A memory array device comprising a first memory cell comprising a first magnetic tunnel junction device having a first terminal connected to a first bit line (BLTE) and a second terminal, and a first field effect transistor (FET) having a source terminal connected to a second bit line (BLC), a gate terminal connected to a word line (WL), and a drain terminal connected to the second terminal of the first magnetic tunnel junction device, and a second memory cell comprising, a second magnetic tunnel junction device having a first terminal connected to a third bit line (BLT0) and a second terminal, and a second field effect transistor (FET) having a source terminal connected to the second bit line (BLC), a gate terminal connected to the word line (WL), and a drain terminal connected to the second terminal of the second magnetic tunnel junction device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, Yutaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8023305
    Abstract: A magnetic domain wall memory apparatus with write/read capability includes a plurality of coplanar shift register structures each comprising an elongated track formed from a ferromagnetic material having a plurality of magnetic domains therein, the shift register structures further having a plurality of discontinuities therein to facilitate domain wall location; a magnetic read element associated with each of the shift register structures; and a magnetic write element associated with each of the shift register structures, the magnetic write element further comprising a single write wire having a longitudinal axis substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of each of the coplanar shift register structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Gaidis, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Timothy J. Dalton, John K. DeBrosse, Louis L. C. Hsu, Carl Radens, Keith Kwong-Hon Wong, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 8009453
    Abstract: A magnetic domain wall memory apparatus with write/read capability includes a plurality of coplanar shift register structures each comprising an elongated track formed from a ferromagnetic material having a plurality of magnetic domains therein, the shift register structures further having a plurality of discontinuities therein to facilitate domain wall location; a magnetic read element associated with each of the shift register structures; and a magnetic write element associated with each of the shift register structures, the magnetic write element further comprising a write wire having a constriction therein, the constriction located at a point corresponding to the location of the plurality of discontinuities in the associated shift register structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Gaidis, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Timothy J. Dalton, John K. DeBrosse, Louis L. C. Hsu, Carl Radens, Keith Kwong-Hon Wong, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Publication number: 20110173513
    Abstract: A method of reading and correcting data within a memory device that includes reading each data bit of a data word using a plurality of reference cells corresponding to each data bit, performing error detection on the read data bits, and correcting a read data bit when an error is detected using error correction code (ECC) and writing each corresponding reference cells to an original memory state thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, Daniel C. Worledge
  • Publication number: 20110051490
    Abstract: A high density memory architecture comprising magnetic racetrack memory and a method of operation. The memory architecture comprises a plurality of magnetic memory structures, each the structure formed of magnetic material; a sensing device associated with each magnetic memory structure; first decoder device initiating a track select signal for activating a single magnetic memory structure from among the plurality to perform a bit read or bit storage operation; a bit drive device for applying a first signal to form a new magnetic memory domain associated with a bit value to be stored in the activated magnetic memory structure at a first position thereof during a bit storage operation; and, a second decoder applying a second signal for advancing each the formed magnetic memory domain toward a second position of the activated memory structure. The sensing device reads a memory bit value stored at a magnetic domain at the second position of the activated memory structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: John K. DeBrosse
  • Publication number: 20100002486
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a magnetic shift register memory device. One embodiment of a memory cell includes a magnetic column including a plurality of magnetic domains, a reader coupled to the magnetic column, for reading data from the magnetic domains, a temporary memory for storing data read from the magnetic domains, and a writer coupled to the magnetic column, for writing data in the temporary memory to the magnetic domains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, William J. Gallagher, Yu Lu
  • Patent number: 7596045
    Abstract: A design structure embodied in a machine readable medium used in a design process includes an apparatus for initializing a reference cell in a toggle switched MRAM device, with a first sense amplifier configured for performing a first read operation of the reference cell by comparing current through the reference cell with the average current passing through a pair of data cells; a first latch for storing the result of the first read operation; a second latch for storing the result of a second read operation by the first sense amplifier, wherein the second read operation is performed following the first read operation and the inversion of the value of one of the pair of the data cells; a third latch for storing the result of a third read operation by the first sense amplifier, wherein the third read operation is performed following the second read operation and the inversion of the value of the other of the pair of the data cells; and a majority compare device configured to compare of the results of the first
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, Mark C. H. Lamorey
  • Patent number: 7535783
    Abstract: A precision sense amplifier apparatus includes a current source configured to introduce an adjustable reference current through a reference leg; a current mirror configured to mirror the reference current to a data leg, the data leg selectively coupled to a programmable resistance memory element; an active clamping device coupled to the data leg, and configured to clamp a fixed voltage across the memory element, thereby establishing a fixed current sinking capability thereof; and a differential sense amplifier having a first input thereof coupled to the data leg and a second input thereof coupled to the reference leg; wherein an output of the differential sense amplifier assumes a first logic state whenever the reference current is less than the fixed current sinking capability of the memory element, and assumes a second logic state whenever the reference current exceeds the fixed current sinking capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John K. DeBrosse, Thomas M. Maffitt, Mark C. H. Lamorey