Patents by Inventor Kenneth D. Hicks

Kenneth D. Hicks 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).

  • Read column select negative boost driver circuit, system, and method
    Patent number: 9672898
    Abstract: Embodiments include a read column select negative boost driver of a memory device. The negative boost driver may include a negative boost element coupled to a P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) pass gate, and configured to negatively boost a read column select signal below a negative power supply level VSS dependent on a boost control signal. The negative boost driver may further include an N-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) boost control transistor coupled to the negative boost element and to a read column select inverter, and configured to tri-state the read column select inverter dependent on the boost control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sumeer Goel, Kenneth D. Hicks