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).

  • Publication number: 20220269432
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to combining and utilizing multiple memory circuits having complementary characteristics are described. An apparatus may include a first memory circuit having a first emphasized characteristic and a second memory circuit having a second emphasized characteristic. The first and second memory circuits may be connected in parallel and to a common interface configured to communicate data between the apparatus and an external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20220270657
    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: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20220230698
    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: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Taeksang Song, Saira Samar Malik, Hyunyoo Lee, Chinnakrishnan Ballapuram, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 11386940
    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: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20220209998
    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: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Hyun Yoo Lee, Timothy M. Hollis, Dong Soon Lim
  • Publication number: 20220206717
    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: December 27, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Hyun Yoo Lee, Timothy M. Hollis, Dong Soon Lim
  • Patent number: 11360695
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to combining and utilizing multiple memory circuits having complementary characteristics are described. An apparatus may include a first memory circuit having a first characteristic and a second memory circuit having a second characteristic. Contact pads of the first and second memory circuits may be connected in parallel and to a common interface configured to communicate data between the apparatus and an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20220172756
    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: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventor: Kang-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 11347666
    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: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Dean Gans
  • Publication number: 20220154071
    Abstract: A technology disclosed in the present disclosure provides a Group III-V-based quantum dot including a seed which includes a Group III element, a Group V element, and an active metal having various oxidation numbers and in which a molar ratio of the Group III element and the active metal is 1:3 to 1:30, and a method of manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Eun Byul BANG, Do Eon KIM, Yun Hee PARK, Jong Nam PARK, Kang Yong KIM, Yong Hoon Choi
  • Publication number: 20220137881
    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: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Hyun Yoo Lee
  • Publication number: 20220139448
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods related to a memory device, such as a low-power dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), and an associated host device are described. The memory device includes control circuitry that can determine an operational status of the memory device (e.g., whether the memory device is currently performing a self-refresh operation). The control circuitry can also transmit a signal indicative of the operational status to the host device in response to receiving a command directing the memory device to exit a self-refresh mode. The host device can operate based on the signal. The signal may therefore allow the memory device, the host device, or both to manage operations, including whether to send, receive, or process commands and data read/write requests during times that may be associated with self-refresh operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Hyun Yoo Lee
  • Patent number: 11309001
    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: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kang-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 11295793
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for system-level timing budget improvements are described. Each memory die in a memory device may determine an offset between its system clock signal and its data clock signal. The offsets of each memory die in the memory device may be different; e.g., having different magnitudes and/or polarities. A memory die in the memory device may adjust its own data clock signal by a delay that is based on the offsets of two or more memory die in the device. The memory die may adjust its data clock signal by setting a fuse in a delay adjuster on the memory die. Adjusting the data clock signal may match an offset of a first memory die with an offset of a second memory die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20220083254
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to combining and utilizing multiple memory circuits having complementary characteristics are described. An apparatus may include a first memory circuit having a first characteristic and a second memory circuit having a second characteristic. Contact pads of the first and second memory circuits may be connected in parallel and to a common interface configured to communicate data between the apparatus and an external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20220066874
    Abstract: Described apparatuses and methods provide error correction code (ECC) circuitry that is shared between two or more memory banks of a memory, such as a low-power dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). A memory device may include one or more dies, and a die can have multiple memory banks. The ECC circuitry can service at least two memory banks by producing ECC values based on respective data stored in the two memory banks. By sharing the ECC circuitry, instead of including a per-bank ECC engine, a total die area allocated to ECC functionality can be reduced. Thus, the ECC circuitry can be elevated from a one-bit ECC algorithm to a multibit ECC algorithm, which may increase data reliability. In some cases, memory architecture may operate in environments in which a masked-write command or an internal read-modify-write operation is precluded, including with shared ECC circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Hyun Yoo Lee
  • Publication number: 20220066655
    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: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20220066700
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods related to a memory device and an associated host device are described. The memory device and the host device can include control logic that allow the memory device and host device to share refresh-timing information, which may allow either the memory device or the host, or both, to manage operations during time that is dedicated to, but unused for, refresh or self-refresh operations. Refresh-timing information shared from the host device may indicate elapsed time since the host device issued a refresh command to the memory device and/or how much time remains before the host device is scheduled to issue another refresh command. Refresh-timing information shared from the memory device may indicate elapsed time since the memory device performed a self-refresh operation and/or how much time remains before the memory device is scheduled to initiate or undergo another self-refresh operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Hyun Yoo Lee
  • Publication number: 20220066675
    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: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Sourabh Dhir, Kang-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20220068365
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods related to a memory device, such as a low-power dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and an associated host device are described. The memory device and the host device can include control logic that enables the host device to transmit a burst value to the memory device, which may enable the memory device, the host, or both, to manage refresh operations during a normal operation mode or a self-refresh mode. The burst value can be transmitted to the memory device in association with a command (e.g., a command directing the memory device to enter the self-refresh mode). The burst value can specify a number of self-refresh operations to be initiated at the memory device in response to receiving the command. When the specified number of self-refresh operations are completed, regular self-refresh operations may begin, with an internal self-refresh timer counting an interval to the next self-refresh operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Kim, Hyun Yoo Lee