Patents by Inventor Kazuhiro Fukutomi

Kazuhiro Fukutomi 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: 20240126433
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a block management unit, and a transcription unit. The semiconductor memory includes a plurality of blocks to which data can be written in both the first mode and the second mode. The block management unit manages a block that stores therein no valid data as a free block. When the number of free blocks managed by the block management unit is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the transcription unit selects one or more used blocks that stores therein valid data as transcription source blocks and transcribes valid data stored in the transcription source blocks to free blocks in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi YAO, Shinichi KANNO, Kazuhiro FUKUTOMI
  • Patent number: 11893238
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a block management unit, and a transcription unit. The semiconductor memory includes a plurality of blocks to which data can be written in both the first mode and the second mode. The block management unit manages a block that stores therein no valid data as a free block. When the number of free blocks managed by the block management unit is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the transcription unit selects one or more used blocks that stores therein valid data as transcription source blocks and transcribes valid data stored in the transcription source blocks to free blocks in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yao, Shinichi Kanno, Kazuhiro Fukutomi
  • Publication number: 20240004555
    Abstract: A memory system includes a nonvolatile memory that includes a plurality of regions; a volatile memory; and a controller that is connected to the nonvolatile memory and the volatile memory. The controller is configured to store in the volatile memory a plurality of first counter values each indicating the number of times each of the plurality of regions has been accessed and a plurality of second counter values respectively corresponding to the plurality of first counter values, and write the first counter value of a first region of the plurality of regions to the nonvolatile memory in response to the second counter value of the first region being equal to or more than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventor: Kazuhiro FUKUTOMI
  • Publication number: 20230267075
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a write instructing unit instructs a data access unit to write, in a storage area of a data storage unit indicated by a first physical address, write object data, instructs a management information access unit to update address conversion information, and instructs a first access unit to update the first physical address. A compaction unit extracts a physical address of compaction object data, instructs the data access unit to read the compaction object data stored in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by the physical address, instructs the data access unit to write the compaction object data in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by a second physical address, instructs the management information access unit to update the address conversion information, and instructs a second access unit to update the second physical address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro FUKUTOMI, Kenichiro YOSHII, Shinichi KANNO, Shigehiro ASANO
  • Patent number: 11675697
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a write instructing unit instructs a data access unit to write, in a storage area of a data storage unit indicated by a first physical address, write object data, instructs a management information access unit to update address conversion information, and instructs a first access unit to update the first physical address. A compaction unit extracts a physical address of compaction object data, instructs the data access unit to read the compaction object data stored in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by the physical address, instructs the data access unit to write the compaction object data in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by a second physical address, instructs the management information access unit to update the address conversion information, and instructs a second access unit to update the second physical address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fukutomi, Kenichiro Yoshii, Shinichi Kanno, Shigehiro Asano
  • Publication number: 20230152969
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a block management unit, and a transcription unit. The semiconductor memory includes a plurality of blocks to which data can be written in both the first mode and the second mode. The block management unit manages a block that stores therein no valid data as a free block. When the number of free blocks managed by the block management unit is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the transcription unit selects one or more used blocks that stores therein valid data as transcription source blocks and transcribes valid data stored in the transcription source blocks to free blocks in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi YAO, Shinichi KANNO, Kazuhiro FUKUTOMI
  • Patent number: 11579773
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a block management unit, and a transcription unit. The semiconductor memory includes a plurality of blocks to which data can be written in both the first mode and the second mode. The block management unit manages a block that stores therein no valid data as a free block. When the number of free blocks managed by the block management unit is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the transcription unit selects one or more used blocks that stores therein valid data as transcription source blocks and transcribes valid data stored in the transcription source blocks to free blocks in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yao, Shinichi Kanno, Kazuhiro Fukutomi
  • Publication number: 20220156182
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a write instructing unit instructs a data access unit to write, in a storage area of a data storage unit indicated by a first physical address, write object data, instructs a management information access unit to update address conversion information, and instructs a first access unit to update the first physical address. A compaction unit extracts a physical address of compaction object data, instructs the data access unit to read the compaction object data stored in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by the physical address, instructs the data access unit to write the compaction object data in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by a second physical address, instructs the management information access unit to update the address conversion information, and instructs a second access unit to update the second physical address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro FUKUTOMI, Kenichiro YOSHII, Shinichi KANNO, Shigehiro ASANO
  • Publication number: 20220100377
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a block management unit, and a transcription unit. The semiconductor memory includes a plurality of blocks to which data can be written in both the first mode and the second mode. The block management unit manages a block that stores therein no valid data as a free block. When the number of free blocks managed by the block management unit is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the transcription unit selects one or more used blocks that stores therein valid data as transcription source blocks and transcribes valid data stored in the transcription source blocks to free blocks in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi YAO, Shinichi KANNO, Kazuhiro FUKUTOMI
  • Patent number: 11269766
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a write instructing unit instructs a data access unit to write, in a storage area of a data storage unit indicated by a first physical address, write object data, instructs a management information access unit to update address conversion information, and instructs a first access unit to update the first physical address. A compaction unit extracts a physical address of compaction object data, instructs the data access unit to read the compaction object data stored in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by the physical address, instructs the data access unit to write the compaction object data in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by a second physical address, instructs the management information access unit to update the address conversion information, and instructs a second access unit to update the second physical address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fukutomi, Kenichiro Yoshii, Shinichi Kanno, Shigehiro Asano
  • Patent number: 11216185
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a block management unit, and a transcription unit. The semiconductor memory includes a plurality of blocks to which data can be written in both the first mode and the second mode. The block management unit manages a block that stores therein no valid data as a free block. When the number of free blocks managed by the block management unit is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the transcription unit selects one or more used blocks that stores therein valid data as transcription source blocks and transcribes valid data stored in the transcription source blocks to free blocks in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yao, Shinichi Kanno, Kazuhiro Fukutomi
  • Publication number: 20200409555
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a block management unit, and a transcription unit. The semiconductor memory includes a plurality of blocks to which data can be written in both the first mode and the second mode. The block management unit manages a block that stores therein no valid data as a free block. When the number of free blocks managed by the block management unit is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the transcription unit selects one or more used blocks that stores therein valid data as transcription source blocks and transcribes valid data stored in the transcription source blocks to free blocks in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi YAO, Shinichi KANNO, Kazuhiro FUKUTOMI
  • Patent number: 10877664
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a block management unit, and a transcription unit. The semiconductor memory includes a plurality of blocks to which data can be written in both the first mode and the second mode. The block management unit manages a block that stores therein no valid data as a free block. When the number of free blocks managed by the block management unit is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the transcription unit selects one or more used blocks that stores therein valid data as transcription source blocks and transcribes valid data stored in the transcription source blocks to free blocks in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yao, Shinichi Kanno, Kazuhiro Fukutomi
  • Patent number: 10871900
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system comprises a non-volatile semiconductor memory having a plurality of first storage areas, the first storage areas being capable of including one or more second storage areas, a plurality of third storage areas in which data is written in a first mode, and a plurality of fourth storage areas in which data is written in a second mode, the first mode being different from the second mode, and processing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yao, Shinichi Kanno, Kazuhiro Fukutomi
  • Publication number: 20200379901
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a write instructing unit instructs a data access unit to write, in a storage area of a data storage unit indicated by a first physical address, write object data, instructs a management information access unit to update address conversion information, and instructs a first access unit to update the first physical address. A compaction unit extracts a physical address of compaction object data, instructs the data access unit to read the compaction object data stored in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by the physical address, instructs the data access unit to write the compaction object data in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by a second physical address, instructs the management information access unit to update the address conversion information, and instructs a second access unit to update the second physical address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro FUKUTOMI, Kenichiro YOSHII, Shinichi KANNO, Shigehiro ASANO
  • Patent number: 10783072
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a write instructing unit instructs a data access unit to write, in a storage area of a data storage unit indicated by a first physical address, write object data, instructs a management information access unit to update address conversion information, and instructs a first access unit to update the first physical address. A compaction unit extracts a physical address of compaction object data, instructs the data access unit to read the compaction object data stored in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by the physical address, instructs the data access unit to write the compaction object data in a storage area of the data storage unit indicated by a second physical address, instructs the management information access unit to update the address conversion information, and instructs a second access unit to update the second physical address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fukutomi, Kenichiro Yoshii, Shinichi Kanno, Shigehiro Asano
  • Patent number: 10572187
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a controller includes a write control unit configured to make a control that converts data requested to be written by an external device into pieces of cluster data with a size of a cluster of a storage medium, compresses each piece of cluster data, determines a corresponding physical address of a write destination in the storage medium according to a predetermined rule, and writes the compressed pieces of cluster data to the storage medium using the physical address of the write destination. The write control unit also makes a control that writes a correspondence between the physical address and a corresponding logical address to a storage unit. The controller also includes a read control unit configured to a control that reads a piece of cluster data from the storage medium using an acquired physical address, and decompresses the read piece of cluster data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fukutomi, Shinichi Kanno
  • Patent number: 10417124
    Abstract: A storage system connectable to a host includes a plurality of interface units, a plurality of semiconductor memory modules, each being detachably coupled with one of the interface units, and a controller configured to maintain an address conversion table indicating mappings between logical addresses and physical addresses of memory locations in the semiconductor memory modules. When the controller determines that a first semiconductor memory module needs to be detached, the controller converts physical addresses of the first semiconductor memory module into corresponding logical addresses using the address conversion table and copies valid data stored in the corresponding logical addresses to another semiconductor memory module and update the address conversion table to indicate new mappings for the corresponding logical addresses of the valid data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fukutomi, Shingo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10366003
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a controller is connected to an external storage device and controls access to a semiconductor storage device including blocks each including memory cell groups each having memory cells. The block includes pages associated with each memory cell group. A writing process for each memory cell group includes writing stages. The controller includes a determining unit configured to determine data to be transferred to the page required in the writing process for a first memory cell group before the writing stage first starts when the writing stage is performed; a reading unit configured to read the determined data from the semiconductor storage device and to store the read data in the external storage device before the writing stage starts; and a writing unit configured to perform the writing process using the data stored in the external storage device when the writing stage is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fukutomi, Shinichi Kanno, Shigehiro Asano
  • Publication number: 20190220215
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a data storage device includes a first storage unit, a second storage unit, a first queue, a second queue, and a distributor. The second storage unit is used as a cache of the first storage unit and has a lower write transfer rate and a faster response time than the first storage unit. The first queue corresponds to the first storage unit. The second queue corresponds to the second storage unit. The distributor distributes a write command received presently from a host to one of the first and second queues in which the number of write commands registered presently is smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Shinichi Kanno, Kazuhiro Fukutomi