Patents by Inventor Keiichi Tsutsui

Keiichi Tsutsui 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: 20150234749
    Abstract: Provided is a storage control device including a first read processing unit configured to read data having any one value of a first value or a second value based on a first threshold value in a memory cell, the data being read as first read data, a first write processing unit configured to rewrite the memory cell to the first value when write data is the first value and the first read data is the second value, a second read processing unit configured to read second read data based on a second threshold value different from the first threshold value in the memory cell, and a second write processing unit configured to rewrite the memory cell to the second value when the write data is the second value and the second read data is the first value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naohiro Adachi, Keiichi Tsutsui, Kenichi Nakanishi, Hideaki Okubo, Makiko Yamamoto, Yasushi Fujinami
  • Patent number: 9110827
    Abstract: An error detection and correction apparatus includes a code word read-out unit to execute read processing to read out a code word including a plurality of code elements by detection of an erasure position as read data from a memory address and to execute re-read processing to read out the code word as re-read data from the memory address after a predetermined time is elapsed from the time to read out the read data; a timing control erasure position detection unit to detect a position of the code element having a value not matched as the erasure position in the code word by determining whether or not the value is matched per the code word in the read data and the re-read data; and an error correction unit to correct an error based on the erasure position in the code word where the erasure position is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Lui Sakai, Yasushi Fujinami, Naohiro Adachi, Keiichi Tsutsui, Tatsuo Shinbashi, Ryoji Ikegaya
  • Publication number: 20150227459
    Abstract: A storage control apparatus includes: a pre-processing-execution determining block for determining whether or not either one of an erase operation and a program operation is to be executed as pre-processing in a write operation to be carried out on a predetermined data area to serve as a write-operation object; and a pre-read processing block for reading out pre-read data from the data area prior to the write operation if a result of the determination indicates that the pre-processing is to be executed. The apparatus further includes a bit operating block for carrying out: the pre-processing and one of the erase and program operations which is not the pre-processing as post-processing if a result of the determination indicates that the pre-processing is to be executed; and the post-processing without carrying out the pre-processing if a determination result indicates that the pre-processing is not to be executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Naohiro Adachi, Keiichi Tsutsui, Kenichi Nakanishi, Hideaki Okubo, Yasushi Fujinami, Ken Ishii
  • Patent number: 9058162
    Abstract: A storage control apparatus includes: a pre-processing-execution determining block for determining whether or not either one of an erase operation and a program operation is to be executed as pre-processing in a write operation to be carried out on a predetermined data area to serve as a write-operation object; and a pre-read processing block for reading out pre-read data from the data area prior to the write operation if a result of the determination indicates that the pre-processing is to be executed. The apparatus further includes a bit operating block for carrying out: the pre-processing and one of the erase and program operations which is not the pre-processing as post-processing if a result of the determination indicates that the pre-processing is to be executed; and the post-processing without carrying out the pre-processing if a determination result indicates that the pre-processing is not to be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Naohiro Adachi, Keiichi Tsutsui, Kenichi Nakanishi, Hideaki Okubo, Yasushi Fujinami, Ken Ishii
  • Publication number: 20150154125
    Abstract: Data are stored using a writing method according to the property of the data in a storage device. An area defining unit defines, in a second memory, a system area for storing system information causing a system to operate and a cache area temporarily storing data of a first memory. A moving processing unit moves data stored in the cache area to the first memory at a predetermined point in time. An access control unit accesses the second memory in accordance with the definition with regard to access corresponding to the system area or the cache area, and read data from the first memory with regard to read-access corresponding to those other than the system area and the cache area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Ken Ishii, Keiichi Tsutsui, Ryoji Ikegaya
  • Patent number: 9043541
    Abstract: A storage control device is disclosed including a write block and a read block. The write block establishes a high-speed access data count. If a plurality of data are to be written to high- and low-speed access storage blocks, the write block writes as many data as the high-speed access data count from among the plurality of data to the high-speed access storage block as high-speed access data while writing the remaining data to the low-speed access storage block as low-speed access data. If the plurality of data written to the low- and high-speed access storage blocks are to be read, the read block issues a request to the high-speed access storage block to read the high-speed access data and a request to the low-speed access storage block to start reading the low-speed access data after the high-speed access data have been read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Okubo, Keiichi Tsutsui, Kenichi Nakanishi, Naohiro Adachi
  • Publication number: 20150026538
    Abstract: An error detection-correction unit reads system information for operating a system from a first memory and performs error detection-correction processing. A control unit supplies the system information to a host computer in a case where the error detection-correction processing is successful. In addition, the control unit reads a backup of the system information from a second memory that is different from the first memory and supplies the backup of the system information to the host computer in a case where the detection-correction processing fails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Lui SAKAI, Keiichi TSUTSUI, Yasushi FUJINAMI
  • Publication number: 20150006836
    Abstract: A storage control device includes: a detection unit that determines whether a preliminary process of saving data from a first memory to a second memory is necessary, where the second memory includes a suspend area and a typical area; a preliminary processing unit that writes a first value to the suspend area when the detection unit has determined that the preliminary process is necessary; and a saving processing unit that writes a second value corresponding to the data. The first value is different from the second value when the detection unit has determined that the preliminary process is necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Haruhiko Terada, Keiichi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 8898541
    Abstract: A storage controller includes an error correcting code managing portion, an address managing portion and an error correcting portion. The error correcting code managing portion manages a correspondence relationship between predetermined plural pieces of unit data, and a second error code corresponding to the plural pieces of unit data every entry when plural pieces of unit data and a second error correcting code are stored in a storage portion. The address managing portion manages a correspondence relationship between logical addresses and the entries in the error correcting code managing portion. The error correcting portion acquires the entry in the error correction managing portion corresponding to the logical address as an object of read from the address managing portion, and carries out error correction based on the plural pieces of unit data managed in the entry concerned, and the second error correcting code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Okubo, Keiichi Tsutsui, Kenichi Nakanishi, Yasushi Fujinami, Makiko Yamamoto, Naohiro Adachi
  • Patent number: 8862963
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a nonvolatile memory including: a nonvolatile memory cell device including at least a nonvolatile memory cell array accessible in units of a word and further accessible at least with a fixed latency in a first access mode and with a variable latency in a second access mode; a first access path used in the first access mode; a second access path used in the second access mode; a first ECC processing part configured to be connected to the first access path and to perform error detection and correction using an ECC on the data output from the nonvolatile memory cell array in the first access mode; and a second ECC processing part configured to be connected to the second access path and to perform error detection and correction using the ECC on the data output from the nonvolatile memory cell array in the second access mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakanishi, Keiichi Tsutsui
  • Publication number: 20140301132
    Abstract: Provided is a storage control device including a history information holding unit configured to hold history information in a predetermined data area of a memory cell holding either a first value or a second value for each bit, the history information indicating which mode of a first mode or a second mode is employed upon a previous write operation, the first mode setting all bits to the first value and then setting any bit to the second value, the second mode setting all bits to the second value and then setting any bit to the first value, and a bitwise operation unit configured to perform a write operation in the second mode if the history information indicates the first mode and to perform a write operation in the first mode if the history information indicates the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naohiro Adachi, Hideaki Okubo, Makiko Yamamoto, Keiichi Tsutsui, Kenichi Nakanishi, Yasushi Fujinami
  • Publication number: 20140229761
    Abstract: A storage controller includes: an error information management section configured to manage information in a plurality of addresses of a memory; and a refresh object determination section configured to determine a refresh object address in the memory based on the error information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Okubo, Kenichi Nakanishi, Yasushi Fujinami, Keiichi Tsutsui
  • Publication number: 20140129904
    Abstract: An error detection and correction apparatus includes a code word read-out unit to execute read processing to read out a code word including a plurality of code elements by detection of an erasure position as read data from a memory address and to execute re-read processing to read out the code word as re-read data from the memory address after a predetermined time is elapsed from the time to read out the read data; a timing control erasure position detection unit to detect a position of the code element having a value not matched as the erasure position in the code word by determining whether or not the value is matched per the code word in the read data and the re-read data; and an error correction unit to correct an error based on the erasure position in the code word where the erasure position is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lui Sakai, Yasushi Fujinami, Naohiro Adachi, Keiichi Tsutsui, Tatsuo Shinbashi, Ryoji Ikegaya
  • Publication number: 20140122972
    Abstract: A storage control apparatus includes a standard read request unit, an error correcting unit, and a high-accuracy read request unit. The standard read request unit is configured to issue a request for a read with standard accuracy to a read address in a memory. The error correcting unit is configured to perform error correction on the basis of an error correcting code and data returned by the memory in response to the read request with the standard accuracy. The high-accuracy read request unit is configured to issue, when an error incapable of being corrected by the error correction is caused, a request again for a read with higher accuracy than the standard accuracy to the read address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakanishi, Yasushi Fujinami, Keiichi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 8683290
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a nonvolatile memory, including: a memory area including a data area configured to retain data and an error correction code area configured to retain an error correction code known as ECC; and a control unit configured to control access to the memory area. The control unit includes an error detection and correction function configured to detect an error in the data read from the data area and to correct the detected error, at least one save area configured such that if data at a designated address and ECC corresponding thereto are read from the memory area and if an error is detected, then the save area retaining the address and correct data corresponding thereto, and a validity presentation block configured to indicate whether or not the address and the correct data retained in the save area are valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Koshiyama, Kenichi Nakanishi, Keiichi Tsutsui
  • Publication number: 20140059404
    Abstract: There is provided a memory control device, including a request determining unit that determines a type of a request, and a control unit that writes read data read from a memory cell array in the memory cell array in units of predetermined pages of the memory cell array when the request is a refresh request, and divides the page of write data into units of groups and writes the page of the write data in the memory cell array over twice or more when the request is a write request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Okubo, Keiichi Tsutsui, Yasushi Fujinami, Kenichi Nakanishi, Naohiro Adachi, Ken Ishii, Tatsuo Shinbashi
  • Publication number: 20140059268
    Abstract: Provided is a memory control device, including a write control unit that sequentially designates a memory block, a write processing unit that writes write data in the designated memory block, a verifying unit that reads read data from the memory block and verifies whether or not the read data matches the write data for each of a plurality of memory cells, a retry inhibiting unit that inhibits a retry process from being performed in a memory cell in which the read data matches the write data among the plurality of memory cells, and a retry control unit that designates at least some memory blocks among the plurality of memory blocks and simultaneously executes the retry process when the read data does not match the write data in any one of the plurality of memory cells in which all the write data is written.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Naohiro Adachi, Keiichi Tsutsui, Ken Ishii, Hideaki Okubo, Kenichi Nakanishi, Yasushi Fujinami, Tatsuo Shinbashi, Lui Sakai, Ryoji Ikegaya
  • Publication number: 20140025907
    Abstract: There is provided a storage control apparatus including a memory state acquisition unit acquiring a storage state of a memory associated with a write target, and an operation instruction generation unit generating an operation instruction of at least 2 bits per cell of the memory associated with the write target, from the acquired storage state and write data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Yasushi Fujinami, Naohiro Adachi, Ken Ishii, Hideaki Okubo, Keiichi Tsutsui, Kenichi Nakanishi, Tatsuo Shinbashi
  • Publication number: 20140009996
    Abstract: There is provided a storage control device including a read processing unit that reads data and inversion state information indicating whether the data is in an inverted state or a non-inverted state from a specific region of a memory cell array that stores the data and the inversion state information with first intensity in association, and a write processing unit that writes data obtained by inverting the data and a state obtained by changing a state indicated by the inversion state information to an opposite state in the specific region with second intensity that is different from the first intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Ishii, Keiichi Tsutsui, Kenichi Nakanishi, Hideaki Okubo, Yasushi Fujinami, Naohiro Adachi, Tatsuo Shinbashi
  • Publication number: 20130339637
    Abstract: There is provided a memory control apparatus including: a pre-read processing section reading pre-read data from a data area to be written to before a write process in a predetermined data area of a memory cell array; a conversion determination section which, upon selectively allowing the pre-read data to transition to either a first conversion candidate or a second conversion candidate of the write data to be written in the write process, generates a determination result for selecting either of the candidates based on the larger of two values of which one is the number of bits transitioning from the first value to the second value and of which the other is the number of bits transitioning from the second value to the first value; and a conversion control section selecting either of the candidates in accordance with the determination result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken Ishii, Keiichi Tsutsui, Yasushi Fujinami, Kenichi Nakanishi, Naohiro Adachi, Hideaki Okubo, Tatsuo Shinbashi