Patents by Inventor Kiyohiro Furutani

Kiyohiro Furutani 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: 11335393
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, a first counter circuit configured to periodically update a count value during a first operation mode, a burst clock generator configured to successively generate a burst pulse predetermined times when the count value indicates a predetermined value, and a row address control circuit configured to perform a refresh operation on the memory cell array in response to the burst pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Riho, Yoshinori Matsui, Kiyohiro Furutani, Takahiko Fukiage, Ki-Jun Nam, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 11274977
    Abstract: Disclosed here is an apparatus that includes a sensor including a plurality of sense nodes, a plurality of first latch circuits including a plurality of first input nodes and a plurality of first output nodes, respectively, the plurality of first input nodes coupled to the plurality of sense nodes, respectively, a plurality of second latch circuits including a plurality of second input nodes and a plurality of second output nodes, respectively, the plurality of second input nodes coupled to the plurality of first output nodes, respectively, and a selector including a plurality of third input nodes coupled respectively to the plurality of first output nodes, a plurality of fourth input nodes coupled respectively to the plurality of second output nodes and a plurality of third output nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kiyohiro Furutani
  • Publication number: 20210166753
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, a first counter circuit configured to periodically update a count value during a first operation mode, a burst clock generator configured to successively generate a burst pulse predetermined times When the count value indicates a predetermined value, and a row address control circuit configured to perform a refresh operation on the memory cell array in response to the burst pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Riho, Yoshinori Matsui, Kiyohiro Furutani, Takahiko Fukiage, Ki-Jun Nam, John D. Porter
  • Patent number: 10923171
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, a first counter circuit configured to periodically update a count value during a first operation mode, a burst clock generator configured to successively generate a burst pulse predetermined times when the count value indicates a predetermined value, and a row address control circuit configured to perform a refresh operation on the memory cell array in response to the burst pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Riho, Yoshinori Matsui, Kiyohiro Furutani, Takahiko Fukiage, Ki-Jun Nam, John D. Porter
  • Publication number: 20200126611
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, a first counter circuit configured to periodically update a count value during a first operation mode, a burst clock generator configured to successively generate a burst pulse predetermined times when the count value indicates a predetermined value, and a row address control circuit configured to perform a refresh operation on the memory cell array in response to the burst pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Riho, Yoshinori Matsui, Kiyohiro Furutani, Takahiko Fukiage, Ki-Jun Nam, John D. Porter
  • Publication number: 20190120704
    Abstract: Disclosed here is an apparatus that includes a sensor including a plurality of sense nodes, a plurality of first latch circuits including a plurality of first input nodes and a plurality of first output nodes, respectively, the plurality of first input nodes coupled to the plurality of sense nodes, respectively, a plurality of second latch circuits including a plurality of second input nodes and a plurality of second output nodes, respectively, the plurality of second input nodes coupled to the plurality of first output nodes, respectively, and a selector including a plurality of third input nodes coupled respectively to the plurality of first output nodes, a plurality of fourth input nodes coupled respectively to the plurality of second output nodes and a plurality of third output nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventor: Kiyohiro Furutani
  • Patent number: 10168233
    Abstract: Disclosed here is an apparatus that includes a sensor including a plurality of sense nodes, a plurality of first latch circuits including a plurality of first input nodes and a plurality of first output nodes, respectively, the plurality of first input nodes coupled to the plurality of sense nodes, respectively, a plurality of second latch circuits including a plurality of second input nodes and a plurality of second output nodes, respectively, the plurality of second input nodes coupled to the plurality of first output nodes, respectively, and a selector including a plurality of third input nodes coupled respectively to the plurality of first output nodes, a plurality of fourth input nodes coupled respectively to the plurality of second output nodes and a plurality of third output nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kiyohiro Furutani
  • Patent number: 9618562
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a first internal-potential generation circuit that generates a first internal potential from a power supply potential and that outputs the first internal potential to a first node, and an internal-potential force circuit that includes a first switch element provided between the first node and a second external terminal. The internal-potential force circuit causes the first switch element to enter into an off-state when the test signal supplied to a third external terminal is activated and a potential level of a first external terminal is a first level, and causes the first switch element to enter into an on-state when the test signal supplied to the third external terminal is activated and the potential level of the first external terminal is a second level different from the first level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kiyohiro Furutani
  • Patent number: 9355705
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a temperature sensor controlled so that temperature measurement is made once at each of a plurality of different reference temperatures at an interval of a preset number of times of refresh operations and a plurality of latch circuits holding the results of temperature measurement. A refresh period is set from outputs of the latch circuits inclusive of the result of temperature measurement carried out last time for each of a plurality of different reference temperatures. After start of measurement, temperature measurements are repeated every wait time corresponding to circulation of the refresh operations. The refresh period is set such that the high-temperature side results of temperature measurement are prioritized (FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Kiyohiro Furutani, Seiji Narui
  • Publication number: 20150330845
    Abstract: Disclosed here is an apparatus that comprises a sensor including a plurality of sense nodes, a plurality of first latch circuits including a plurality of first input nodes and a plurality of first output nodes, respectively, the plurality of first input nodes coupled to the plurality of sense nodes, respectively, a plurality of second latch circuits including a plurality of second input nodes and a plurality of second output nodes, respectively, the plurality of second input nodes coupled to the plurality of first output nodes, respectively, and a selector including a plurality of third input nodes coupled respectively to the plurality of first output nodes, a plurality of fourth input nodes coupled respectively to the plurality of second output nodes and a plurality of third output nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventor: KIYOHIRO FURUTANI
  • Patent number: 9136844
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device that includes: an internal voltage generator configured to produce an internal voltage in a first mode and stop producing the internal voltage in a second mode; a level shifter configured to receive the internal voltage, a first voltage and a first signal, in order to convert the first signal from a voltage level of internal voltage to a voltage level of the first voltage and output the first signal with the voltage level of the first voltage; and a logic circuit configured to produce the first signal, the logic circuit being supplied with the internal voltage in the first mode and supplied with the first voltage in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Kiyohiro Furutani
  • Publication number: 20150194204
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device including a row-based control circuit applied with a current reduction circuit having a standby state and an active state, a refresh control circuit generates a refresh request signal every predetermined time interval on a self-refresh mode and time-sequentially generates an internal active signal at N times in connection with the refresh request signal once. The row-based control circuit time-sequentially refreshes information of memory cells on the based of the internal active signal at the N times. The refresh control circuit inactivates the row-based control circuit by making the current reduction circuit the standby state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventor: Kiyohiro FURUTANI
  • Publication number: 20150131389
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a temperature sensor controlled so that temperature measurement is made once at each of a plurality of different reference temperatures at an interval of a preset number of times of refresh operations and a plurality of latch circuits holding the results of temperature measurement. A refresh period is set from outputs of the latch circuits inclusive of the result of temperature measurement carried out last time for each of a plurality of different reference temperatures. After start of measurement, temperature measurements are repeated every wait time corresponding to circulation of the refresh operations. The refresh period is set such that the high-temperature side results of temperature measurement are prioritized (FIG. 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Kiyohiro FURUTANI, Seiji NARUI
  • Patent number: 8995216
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device including a row-based control circuit applied with a current reduction circuit having a standby state and an active state, a refresh control circuit generates a refresh request signal every predetermined time interval on a self-refresh mode and time-sequentially generates an internal active signal at N times in connection with the refresh request signal once. The row-based control circuit time-sequentially refreshes information of memory cells on the based of the internal active signal at the N times. The refresh control circuit inactivates the row-based control circuit by making the current reduction circuit the standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Kiyohiro Furutani
  • Publication number: 20150061722
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a first internal-potential generation circuit that generates a first internal potential from a power supply potential and that outputs the first internal potential to a first node, and an internal-potential force circuit that includes a first switch element provided between the first node and a second external terminal. The internal-potential force circuit causes the first switch element to enter into an off-state when the test signal supplied to a third external terminal is activated and a potential level of a first external terminal is a first level, and causes the first switch element to enter into an on-state when the test signal supplied to the third external terminal is activated and the potential level of the first external terminal is a second level different from the first level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Kiyohiro Furutani
  • Patent number: 8971132
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a temperature sensor controlled so that temperature measurement is made once at each of a plurality of different reference temperatures at an interval of a preset number of times of refresh operations and a plurality of latch circuits holding the results of temperature measurement. A refresh period is set from outputs of the latch circuits inclusive of the result of temperature measurement carried out last time for each of a plurality of different reference temperatures. After start of measurement, temperature measurements are repeated every wait time corresponding to circulation of the refresh operations. The refresh period is set such that the high-temperature side results of temperature measurement are prioritized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Kiyohiro Furutani, Seiji Narui
  • Patent number: 8908457
    Abstract: A device may include, but is not limited to, a bit line; a power line supplied with a power voltage; a sense amplifier circuit amplifying a voltage of the bit line by using the power voltage of the power line; and a control circuit configured to respond to an active command and supply, as the power voltage, the power line with a first voltage during a first period and a second voltage lower than the first voltage during a second period. The control circuit is further configured to respond to a refresh command and supply, as the power voltage, the power line with the second voltage during both the first and second periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: PS4 Luxco S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Kiyohiro Furutani, Takuya Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 8675422
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an internal circuit and an internal voltage generation circuit which generates an internal voltage stabilized with respect to a variation of the power supply voltage supplied from the outside and supplies the internal voltage to the internal circuit. The internal voltage generation circuit performs control so that when the power supply voltage rises to exceed a predetermined value, an operation of stabilizing the internal voltage is stopped to cause the internal voltage to increase with the rise of the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kiyohiro Furutani, Yoshinori Matsui
  • Publication number: 20130250704
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device that includes: an internal voltage generator configured to produce an internal voltage in a first mode and stop producing the internal voltage in a second mode; a level shifter configured to receive the internal voltage, a first voltage and a first signal, in order to convert the first signal from a voltage level of internal voltage to a voltage level of the first voltage and output the first signal with the voltage level of the first voltage; and a logic circuit configured to produce the first signal, the logic circuit being supplied with the internal voltage in the first mode and supplied with the first voltage in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: ELPIDA MEMORY INC.
    Inventor: Kiyohiro FURUTANI
  • Publication number: 20130242674
    Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a temperature sensor controlled so that temperature measurement is made once at each of a plurality of different reference temperatures at an interval of a preset number of times of refresh operations and a plurality of latch circuits holding the results of temperature measurement. A refresh period is set from outputs of the latch circuits inclusive of the result of temperature measurement carried out last time for each of a plurality of different reference temperatures. After start of measurement, temperature measurements are repeated every wait time corresponding to circulation of the refresh operations. The refresh period is set such that the high-temperature side results of temperature measurement are prioritized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
    Inventors: Kiyohiro FURUTANI, Seiji NARUI