Patents by Inventor Koichi Kawai

Koichi Kawai 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: 20130262754
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit, an internal circuit is capable of executing a first operation and a second operation concurrently, and an output circuit outputs to the outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit information indicating whether or not the first operation is being executed and information indicating whether or not the second operation is executable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi NAKAMURA, Kenichi Imamiya, Toshio Yamamura, Koji Hosono, Koichi Kawai
  • Patent number: 8537623
    Abstract: Devices and methods of programming memory cells, both SLC and MLC, such as to reduce charge-storage structure to charge-storage structure coupling, are shown and described. Programming of memory cells can include comparing a first page of data to a second page of data, and further programming cells corresponding to the first page of data that will not likely be affected by coupling from programming the second page of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Koichi Kawai, Koji Sakui, Peter Feeley
  • Patent number: 8514624
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods are disclosed, including a method involving erasing a block of memory cells. After erasing the block, and before subsequent programming of the block, a number of bad strings in the block are determined based on charge accumulation on select gate transistors. The block is retired from use if the number of bad strings exceeds a threshold. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna K. Parat, Akira Goda, Koichi Kawai, Brian J. Soderling, Jeremy Binfet, Arnaud A. Furnemont, Tejas Krishnamohan, Tyson M. Stichka, Giuseppina Puzzilli
  • Patent number: 8477541
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit, an internal circuit is capable of executing a first operation and a second operation concurrently, and an output circuit outputs to the outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit information indicating whether or not the first operation is being executed and information indicating whether or not the second operation is executable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Kenichi Imamiya, Toshio Yamamura, Koji Hosono, Koichi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20130033899
    Abstract: A reflecting base material that can reliably prevent the occurrence of uneven brightness, a backlight unit that uses the same, and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. Surface profile information of the reflecting base material 7 is obtained by a laser displacement gauge 3. Next, the unevenness information obtained is subjected to Fourier transform, and the relationship between frequency and intensity for the surface unevenness profile of the reflecting base material is obtained. Next, the calculated relationship between the frequency and intensity is compared with a preset standard data. When the intensity exceeds 0.6 at a predetermined range of frequency domain, a judgment of rejection is made; when no data exceeding 0.6 exists in said judgment domain, a judgment of acceptance is made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Nishiwaki, Nobuyuki Morita, Akihiko Ishikawa, Motohiro Yamane, Daisuke Hayashi, Koichi Kawai, Yusuke Satoh
  • Publication number: 20130010537
    Abstract: Devices and methods of programming memory cells, both SLC and MLC, such as to reduce charge-storage structure to charge-storage structure coupling, are shown and described. Programming of memory cells can include comparing a first page of data to a second page of data, and further programming cells corresponding to the first page of data that will not likely be affected by coupling from programming the second page of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Koichi Kawai, Koji Sakui, Peter Feeley
  • Publication number: 20120327713
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods are disclosed, including a method involving erasing a block of memory cells. After erasing the block, and before subsequent programming of the block, a number of bad strings in the block are determined based on charge accumulation on select gate transistors. The block is retired from use if the number of bad strings exceeds a threshold. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna K. Parat, Akira Goda, Koichi Kawai, Brian J. Soderling, Jeremy Binfet, Arnaud A. Furnemont, Tejas Krishnamohan, Tyson M. Stichka, Giuseppina Puzzilli
  • Publication number: 20120243322
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit, an internal circuit is capable of executing a first operation and a second operation concurrently, and an output circuit outputs to the outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit information indicating whether or not the first operation is being executed and information indicating whether or not the second operation is executable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Hiroshi NAKAMURA, Kenichi Imamiya, Toshio Yamamura, Koji Hosono, Koichi Kawai
  • Patent number: 8218373
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit, an internal circuit is capable of executing a first operation and a second operation concurrently, and an output circuit outputs to the outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit information indicating whether or not the first operation is being executed and information indicating whether or not the second operation is executable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Kenichi Imamiya, Toshio Yamamura, Koji Hosono, Koichi Kawai
  • Patent number: 8218374
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit, an internal circuit is capable of executing a first operation and a second operation concurrently, and an output circuit outputs to the outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit information indicating whether or not the first operation is being executed and information indicating whether or not the second operation is executable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Kenichi Imamiya, Toshio Yamamura, Koji Hosono, Koichi Kawai
  • Patent number: 8111551
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array constituted by a plurality of memory blocks, an interface, a write circuit, and a read circuit. A protect flag is written in the memory block. The readout protect flag can be output to an external device through the interface. When a write command is input from the interface, the write circuit executes the write command when the protect flag in the selected memory block has a first value and does not execute the write command when the protect flag has a second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Sandisk Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoharu Tanaka, Koichi Kawai, Khandker N Quader
  • Publication number: 20110205794
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array constituted by a plurality of memory blocks, an interface, a write circuit, and a read circuit. A protect flag is written in the memory block. The readout protect flag can be output to an external device through the interface. When a write command is input from the interface, the write circuit executes the write command when the protect flag in the selected memory block has a first value and does not execute the write command when the protect flag has a second value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Tomoharu Tanaka, Koichi Kawai, Khandker N. Quader
  • Patent number: 7952925
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array constituted by a plurality of memory blocks, an interface, a write circuit, and a read circuit. A protect flag is written in the memory block. The readout protect flag can be output to an external device through the interface. When a write command is input from the interface, the write circuit executes the write command when the protect flag in the selected memory block has a first value and does not execute the write command when the protect flag has a second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoharu Tanaka, Koichi Kawai, Khandker N Quader
  • Publication number: 20110096606
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit, an internal circuit is capable of executing a first operation and a second operation concurrently, and an output circuit outputs to the outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit information indicating whether or not the first operation is being executed and information indicating whether or not the second operation is executable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Kenichi Imamiya, Toshio Yamamura, Koji Hosono, Koichi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20110090742
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit, an internal circuit is capable of executing a first operation and a second operation concurrently, and an output circuit outputs to the outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit information indicating whether or not the first operation is being executed and information indicating whether or not the second operation is executable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroshi NAKAMURA, Kenichi Imamiya, Toshio Yamamura, Koji Hosono, Koichi Kawai
  • Patent number: 7916555
    Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit, an internal circuit is capable of executing a first operation and a second operation concurrently, and an output circuit outputs to the outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit information indicating whether or not the first operation is being executed and information indicating whether or not the second operation is executable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Kenichi Imamiya, Toshio Yamamura, Koji Hosono, Koichi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20100296339
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array constituted by a plurality of memory blocks, an interface, a write circuit, and a read circuit. A protect flag is written in the memory block. The readout protect flag can be output to an external device through the interface. When a write command is input from the interface, the write circuit executes the write command when the protect flag in the selected memory block has a first value and does not execute the write command when the protect flag has a second value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Tomoharu Tanaka, Koichi Kawai, Khandker N. Quader
  • Patent number: 7787296
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array constituted by a plurality of memory blocks, an interface, a write circuit, and a read circuit. A protect flag is written in the memory block. The readout protect flag can be output to an external device through the interface. When a write command is input from the interface, the write circuit executes the write command when the protect flag in the selected memory block has a first value and does not execute the write command when the protect flag has a second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoharu Tanaka, Koichi Kawai, Khandker N Quader
  • Patent number: 7729178
    Abstract: The non-volatile semiconductor memory device has a circuit which maintains and holds the potentials of bit lines, and either ones of even-bit lines or odd-bit lines are connected to the circuit. When the bit line potential holding circuit is connected to even-bit lines and a block copy is performed, data is first outputted to the even-bit lines, and after the potential of the even-bit line is determined, the bit line potential holding circuit operates. Then, biasing of the potential of the even-bit lines is carried out by the bit line potential holding circuit, the potentials of the bit lines are maintained and held. At the same time, data is outputted to the odd-bit lines and the potentials of the odd-bit lines are determined. Then, a program voltage is supplied to a selected word line, and data is simultaneously written (programmed) in the memory cells connected to the even-bit lines, and the memory cells connected to the odd-bit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasushi Kameda, Ken Takeuchi, Hitoshi Shiga, Takuya Futatsuyama, Koichi Kawai
  • Patent number: 7596027
    Abstract: Data read from memory cells of one page in a memory cell array that corresponds to a page address of a copy source is sensed and latched by a sense/latch circuit. The sense/latch circuit has a plurality of latch circuits, and the plurality of latch circuits is specified according to the column address. The latch circuit specified in accordance with the column address is supplied with the data to be rewritten. The latch circuit specified in accordance with its address latches the data to be rewritten, whereby rewriting of the data is performed. The data of one page after rewritten is written into the page in the memory cell array that corresponds to the page address of a copy destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koichi Kawai, Kenichi Imamiya, Hiroshi Nakamura