Patents by Inventor Kang Yong Kim

Kang Yong 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).

  • Patent number: 12033720
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for setting a duty cycler adjuster for improving clock duty cycle are disclosed. The duty cycle adjuster may be adjusted by different amounts, at least one smaller than another. Determining when to use the smaller adjustment may be based on duty cycle results. A duty cycle monitor may have an offset. A duty cycle code for the duty cycle adjuster may be set to an intermediate value of a duty cycle monitor offset. The duty cycle monitor offset may be determined by identifying duty cycle codes for an upper and for a lower boundary of the duty cycle monitor offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Inventor: Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20240221800
    Abstract: Multilevel command and address (CA) signals are used to provide commands and memory addresses from a controller to a memory system. Using multilevel signals CA signals may allow for using fewer signals compared to binary signals to represent a same number of commands and/or address space, or using a same number of multilevel CA signals to represent a larger number of commands and/or address space. A number of external command/address terminals may be reduced without reducing a set of commands and/or address space. Alternatively, a number of external terminals may be maintained, but provide for an expanded set of commands and/or address space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2024
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventor: Kang-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 12019570
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods including memory commands for semiconductor memories are described. A controller provides a memory system with memory commands to access memory. The commands are decoded to provide internal signals and commands for performing operations, such as operations to access the memory array. The memory commands provided for accessing memory may include timing command and access commands. Examples of access commands include a read command and a write command. Timing commands may be used to control the timing of various operations, for example, for a corresponding access command. The timing commands may include opcodes that set various modes of operation during an associated access operation for an access command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Dean Gans
  • Patent number: 12020771
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for die location detection for grouped memory dies are described. A memory device may include multiple memory die that are coupled with a shared bus. In some examples, each memory die may include a circuit configured to output an identifier associated with a location of the respective memory die. For example, a first memory die may output a first identifier, based on receiving one or more signals, that identifies a location of the first memory die. Identifying the locations of the respective memory dies may allow for the dies to be individually accessed despite being coupled with a shared bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyunyoo Lee, Kang-Yong Kim, Yang Lu
  • Patent number: 12021668
    Abstract: Described apparatuses and methods are directed to equalization with pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) signaling. As bus frequencies have increased, the time for correctly transitioning between voltage levels has decreased, which can lead to errors. Symbol decoding reliability can be improved with equalization, like with decision-feedback equalization (DFE). DFE, however, can be expensive for chip area and power usage. Therefore, instead of applying DFE to all voltage level determination paths in a receiver, DFE can be applied to a subset of such determination paths. With PAM4 signaling, for example, a DFE circuit can be coupled between an output and an input of a middle slicer. In some cases, symbol detection reliability can be maintained even with fewer DFE circuits by compressing a middle eye of the PAM4 signal. The other two eyes thus have additional headroom for expansion. Encoding schemes, impedance terminations, or reference voltage levels can be tailored accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Hyun Yoo Lee, Timothy M. Hollis, Dong Soon Lim
  • Publication number: 20240202145
    Abstract: This disclosure describes aspects of memory die interconnections to physical layer interfaces (PHYs) that may enable expanded channel bus width and improved signal integrity (SI). In aspects, a memory die is operably coupled to a first PHY via a command-and-address (CA) bus and data input/output (DQ) bus of the first PHY and to a second PHY via a chip select (CS) bus of the second PHY. The second PHY may provide a CS signal to the memory die, and the first PHY can perform a training procedure via CA signaling or DQ signaling. The training procedure may improve SI between the memory die and the PHYs. Additionally, a memory die may be interconnected to different PHYs to expand a channel bus width. Thus, by interconnecting memory dies to one or more PHYs as described herein, improved SI and expanded channel bus width can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Lu, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20240201885
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for improved inter-memory movement in a multi-memory system are described. A memory device may receive from a host device a command to move data from a first memory controlled by a first controller to a second memory controller by a second controller. The memory device may use the first and second controllers to facilitate the movement of the data from the first memory to the second memory via a path external to the host device. The memory device may indicate to the host device when to suspend activity to the first memory or the second memory and when to resume activity to the first memory or second memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Sourabh Dhir, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20240192862
    Abstract: Described apparatuses and methods provide automated error correction with memory refresh. Memory devices can include error correction code (ECC) technology to detect or correct one or more bit-errors in data. Dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), including low-power double data rate (LPPDR) synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), performs refresh operations to maintain data stored in a memory array. A refresh operation can be a self-refresh operation or an auto-refresh operation. Described implementations can combine ECC technology with refresh operations to determine a data error with data that is being refreshed or to correct erroneous data that is being refreshed. In an example, data for a read operation is checked for errors. If an error is detected, a corresponding address can be stored. Responsive to the corresponding address being refreshed, corrected data is stored at the corresponding address in conjunction with the refresh operation. Alternatively, data being refreshed can be checked for an error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 12009050
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for selective access for grouped memory dies are described. A memory device may be configured with a select die access protocol for a group of memory dies that share a same channel. The protocol may be enabled by one or more commands from the host device, which may be communicated to each of the memory dies of the group via the channel. The command(s) may indicate a first set of one or more memory dies of the group for which a set of commands may be enabled and may also indicate a second set of one or more memory dies of the group for which at least a subset of the set of commands is disabled. When the select die access mode is enabled, the disabled memory dies may be restricted from performing the subset of commands received via the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Lu, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20240177745
    Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques for implementing shareable usage-based disturbance circuitry are described. Shareable usage-based disturbance circuitry includes circuits (e.g., shared circuits) that manage usage-based disturbance across at least two sections of a bank of memory within a die of a memory device. In example implementations, the shareable usage-based disturbance circuitry includes a counter circuit and/or an error-correction-code circuit that is coupled to sense amplifiers associated with two neighboring sections. With the shareable usage-based disturbance circuitry, dies within the memory device can be cheaper to manufacture, can consume less power, and can have a smaller footprint with less complex signal routing compared to other dies with other circuits dedicated to mitigating usage-based disturbance within each section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Lu, Yuan He, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 11996161
    Abstract: Multilevel command and address (CA) signals are used to provide commands and memory addresses from a controller to a memory system. Using multilevel signals CA signals may allow for using fewer signals compared to binary signals to represent a same number of commands and/or address space, or using a same number of multilevel CA signals to represent a larger number of commands and/or address space. A number of external command/address terminals may be reduced without reducing a set of commands and/or address space. Alternatively, a number of external terminals may be maintained, but provide for an expanded set of commands and/or address space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Inventor: Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20240170038
    Abstract: Described apparatuses and methods relate to adaptive refresh staggering for a memory system that may support a nondeterministic protocol. To help manage power-delivery networks in a memory system, a memory device can include logic that can be programmed to stagger the start of refresh operations for each die upon receiving a command to enter a lower-power mode, such as self-refresh. The staggered start can be implemented at a channel level, a package level, or both. The programming sets a delay for each die so that initiation of refresh operations is staggered. Thus, a first die can initiate refresh operations when a command to enter the lower-power mode is received (e.g., approximately zero delay). However, initiation of refresh operations for subsequent dies (e.g., “after” the first die) is delayed, which can reduce peak current draw and power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Smruti Subhash Jhaveri, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 11990199
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for centralized error correction circuit are described. An apparatus may include a non-volatile memory disposed on a first die and a volatile memory disposed on a second die (different than the first die). The apparatus may also include an interface controller disposed on a third die (different than the first die and the second die). The interface controller may be coupled with the non-volatile memory and the volatile memory and may include an error correction circuit that is configured to operate on one or more codewords received from the volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Taeksang Song, Saira Samar Malik, Hyunyoo Lee, Chinnakrishnan Ballapuram, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20240161796
    Abstract: Described apparatuses and methods enable communication between a host device and a memory device to establish relative delays between different data lines. If data signals propagate along a bus with the same timing, simultaneous switching output (SSO) and crosstalk can adversely impact channel timing budget parameters. An example system includes an interconnect having multiple data lines that couple the host device to the memory device. In example operations, the host device can transmit to the memory device a command indicative of a phase offset between two or more data lines of the multiple data lines. The memory device can implement the command by transmitting or receiving signals via the interconnect with different relative phase offsets between data lines. The host device (e.g., a memory controller) can determine appropriate offsets for a given apparatus. Lengths of the offsets can vary. Further, a system can activate the phase offsets based on frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Hyun Yoo Lee, Timothy M. Hollis, Dong Soon Lim
  • Publication number: 20240161794
    Abstract: Some memory dies in a stack can be connected externally to the stack and other memory dies in the stack can be connected internally to the stack. The memory dies that are connected externally can act as interface dies for other memory dies that are connected internally thereto. The external connections can be used for transmitting signals indicative of data to and/or from the memory dies while the memory dies in the stack can be connected by a cascading connection for transmission of other signals such as command, address, power, ground, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Hyunyoo Lee
  • Patent number: 11947840
    Abstract: Described systems, apparatuses, and methods relate to volatile memories that are refreshed to maintain data integrity, such as dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and synchronous DRAM (SDRAM). A memory device includes multiple dies, with each die having a memory array to be refreshed. The multiple dies may be interconnected via at least one inter-die bus of the memory device. A memory controller sends a command to the memory device to enter a self-refresh mode. In response, a die of the multiple dies can enter the self-refresh mode and initiate or otherwise coordinate refresh operations of the other dies. To do so, the die may transmit at least one refresh-related command to at least one other die using the inter-die bus. Multiple different signaling schemes and timing approaches are disclosed. The described inter-die refresh control principles may be implemented in energy-efficient applications, such as in low-power double data rate (LPDDR) SDRAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Hyun Yoo Lee
  • Patent number: 11947841
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for managing address access information are described. A device may receive a command for an address of a memory array. Based on or in response to the command, the device may read a first set of tag bits from the memory array. The first set of tag bits may indicate access information for a set of addresses that includes the address. The device may determine a second set of tag bits based on the command and the address. The second set of tag bits may indicate updated access information for the address. The device may generate a codeword based on the first set of tag bits and the second set of tag bits and may store the codeword in the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Keun Soo Song, Hyunyoo Lee, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20240086090
    Abstract: An apparatus can include memory devices and a memory controller coupled to the memory devices via memory channels. The memory channels can disable a first memory channel associated with a first memory die in a respective memory chip of a memory device and perform a memory operation via a second memory channel involving a second memory die in the respective memory chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Yang Lu, Yu-Sheng Hsu, Kang-Yong Kim, Ke Wei Chan
  • Patent number: 11928039
    Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques for implementing a data-transfer test mode are described. The data-transfer test mode refers to a mode in which the transfer of data from an interface die to a linked die can be tested prior to connecting the interface die to the linked die. In particular, the data-transfer test mode enables the interface die to perform aspects of a write operation and output a portion of write data that is intended for the linked die. With the data-transfer test mode, testing (or debugging) of the interface die can be performed during an earlier stage in the manufacturing process before integrating the interface die into an interconnected die architecture. For example, this type of testing can be performed at a wafer level or at a single-die-package (SDP) level. In general, the data-transfer test mode can be executed independent of whether the interface die is connected to the linked die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Lu, Kang-Yong Kim, Mark Kalei Hadrick, Keun Soo Song
  • Publication number: 20240078041
    Abstract: This document describes apparatuses and techniques for die-based rank management for a memory system. In various aspects, a die-based rank controller (controller) can determine which memory dies of a memory device are not functional to store data and correlate rank selections of a memory system to ranks of other memory dies (e.g., functional memory dies). The controller may store information that indicates the correlation or mapping of the rank selections to the ranks of the other memory dies to enable access to those ranks of the memory system. In some aspects, the controller receives a command to access the memory device with a rank selection, and the controller enables access to a corresponding rank based on the information. By so doing, aspects of die-based rank management enable memory packages with non-functional memory dies to be used instead of discarded, which can increase production utilization or lower manufacturing costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Lu, Kang-Yong Kim