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: 20060120156
    Abstract: The nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array containing a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells and an initial setup data region in which initial setup data specified to determine operation conditions of the device is to be written. The device further includes a detection circuit which detects turn-on of power. The device further includes a readout circuit which reads out the initial setup data from the initial setup data region of the memory cell array upon detecting power-on by the detection circuit. The device further includes a determination circuit which determines whether the initial setup data read out by the readout circuit is effective or ineffective. The device further includes a setup circuit which sets up the device in an operative-prohibiting status when the initial setup data is determined as ineffective by the determination circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Koichi Kawai, Kenichi Imamiya, Koji Hosono
  • Publication number: 20060120168
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of this invention includes an initialization circuit for initializing a predetermined circuit in accordance with the level of a power source voltage, and a status setting unit for setting the status of the semiconductor device to “busy” during a period in which the initialization circuit performs initialization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Kazushige Kanda, Koichi Kawai, Hiroshi Nakamura, Kenichi Imamiya
  • Patent number: 7054209
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device vice disclosed herein comprises: a memory cell array divided into a plurality of blocks, each of which includes a plurality of memory cells; a plurality of row decoders which correspond to the blocks, each of the row decoders including an access information holder configured to hold access information indicating whether its corresponding row decoder has been accessed; and an access information reader configured to read the access information held in the access information holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koichi Kawai, Kenichi Imamiya
  • Publication number: 20060092708
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: a plurality of cell array blocks in each of which a plurality of memory cells are arranged; address decode circuits for selecting memory cells in the cell array blocks; sense amplifier circuits for reading cell data of the cell array blocks; and a busy signal generation circuit for generating a busy signal to the chip external, wherein in a first read cycle selecting a first area in a first cell array block, cell data read operations for the first area of the first cell array block and a second area of a second cell array block are simultaneously executed, while the busy signal generation circuit generates a true busy signal, and then a read data output operation is executed for outputting the read out data of the first area held in the sense amplifier circuits to the chip external, and in a second read cycle selecting the second area in the second cell array block, after the busy signal generation circuit has output a dummy busy signal shorter in time length than the t
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Koichi Kawai, Tomoharu Tanaka, Noboru Shibata
  • Patent number: 7023741
    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 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Kenichi Imamiya, Toshio Yamamura, Koji Hosono, Koichi Kawai
  • Patent number: 7016241
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of this invention includes an initialization circuit for initializing a predetermined circuit in accordance with the level of a power source voltage, and a status setting unit for setting the status of the semiconductor device to “busy” during a period in which the initialization circuit performs initialization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazushige Kanda, Koichi Kawai, Hiroshi Nakamura, Kenichi Imamiya
  • Patent number: 7016228
    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: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koichi Kawai, Kenichi Imamiya, Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20060050564
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array, in which electrically rewritable and non-volatile memory cells are arranged: a sense amplifier circuit configured to read data of the memory cell array; and a pass/fail detection circuit configured to detect write or erase completion based on verify-read data stored in the sense amplifier circuit in data write or erase mode, wherein the pass/fall detection circuit comprises a data latch, into which a defective column isolation data is writable in accordance with a command input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Masatsugu Kojima, Koji Hosono, Koichi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20060018152
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array with electrically rewritable and non-volatile memory cells arranged therein, each memory cell storing one of first, second, third and fourth data defined as being arranged in order of threshold voltage height; a read/write circuit configured to read data of and write data in the memory cell array; and a controller configured to control the read/write circuit so as to execute first and second write sequences, the first write sequence being defined as to write the second data into a first selected memory cell or cells within a selected page of the memory cell array which has been initialized in the first data state, the second write sequence being defined as to write the fourth data into a second selected memory cell or cells within memory cells storing the second or first data in the selected page, and successively write the third data into a third selected memory cell or cells within memory cells storing the first or second data in the selected page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Koichi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20060018157
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device including: a memory cell array with electrically rewritable and non-volatile memory cells arranged therein; a sense amplifier circuit configured to read data of the memory cell array; first data hold circuits configured to hold data for designating whether each column of the memory cell array is defective or not; and a second data hold circuit configured to hold data read out of the first dada hold circuits, and control to skip a defective column address of the memory cell array in accordance with the data read out of the first data hold circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Koichi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20060018162
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array having a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines, which cross each other, and electrically rewritable and non-volatile memory cells disposed at crossings thereof; a read/write circuit configured to write data into a selected memory cell with applying a write voltage to a selected word line, and detect a discharge state of a selected bit line to read data of the selected memory cell after having precharged the selected bit line to a certain voltage; and a controller configured to control the read/write circuit to execute a write sequence by repeat of a write operation and a verify-read operation for the selected memory cell in such a way as to start a precharge operation of the selected bit line for the verify-read operation prior to the ending time of the write operation in the write sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Koichi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20060002213
    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: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Koichi Kawai, Kenichi Imamiya, Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20060002214
    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: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Koichi Kawai, Kenichi Imamiya, Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6977845
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: a plurality of cell array blocks in each of which a plurality of memory cells are arranged; address decode circuits for selecting memory cells in the cell array blocks; sense amplifier circuits for reading cell data of the cell array blocks; and a busy signal generation circuit for generating a busy signal to the chip external, wherein in a first read cycle selecting a first area in a first cell array block, cell data read operations for the first area of the first cell array block and a second area of a second cell array block are simultaneously executed, while the busy signal generation circuit generates a true busy signal, and then a read data output operation is executed for outputting the read out data of the first area held in the sense amplifier circuits to the chip external, and in a second read cycle selecting the second area in the second cell array block, after the busy signal generation circuit has output a dummy busy signal shorter in time length than the t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koichi Kawai, Tomoharu Tanaka, Noboru Shibata
  • Patent number: 6977846
    Abstract: A plurality of memory cell arrays are provided. Each of the memory cell arrays has a plurality of memory cells and the memory cells are connected to a plurality of word lines. Corresponding with the plurality of memory cell arrays, a plurality of word line drive circuits and a plurality of bit line control circuits are provided. Each of the word line drive circuits selects and drives the word lines of the corresponding memory cell array. Each of the bit control circuits carries out verifying reading for the data written in advance in the plurality of memory cells of the corresponding memory cell array, and controls a select and driving operation for the word lines of the corresponding word line drive circuit based on a result of the verifying reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koichi Kawai, Kenichi Imamiya, Hiroshi Nakamura, Koji Hosono
  • Publication number: 20050243620
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array having electrically erasable and programmable non-volatile memory cells, a part of the memory cell array being defined as a initial set-up data region for storing a plurality of initial set-up data that define memory operation conditions, data latch circuits for holding the initial set-up data read out from the initial set-up data region, a controller for controlling data program and erase operations for the memory cell array, and a clock generator for generating a clock, signal that is used to define an operation timing of the controller, wherein the controller is configured to perform such an initial set-up operation that sequentially reads out the plurality of initial set-up data stored in the initial set-up data region and transfers them to the respective data latch circuits on receipt of power-on or a command input, the initial set-up operation being so performed as to read out a clock cycle adjustment data within the plurality of in
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventors: Kenichi Imamiya, Koichi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20050213402
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device vice disclosed herein comprises: a memory cell array divided into a plurality of blocks, each of which includes a plurality of memory cells; a plurality of row decoders which correspond to the blocks, each of the row decoders including an access information holder configured to hold access information indicating whether its corresponding row decoder has been accessed; and an access information reader configured to read the access information held in the access information holders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Koichi Kawai, Kenichi Imamiya
  • Publication number: 20050190602
    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 3, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Kenichi Imamiya, Toshio Yamamura, Koji Hosono, Koichi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20050191414
    Abstract: A method for producing an optical information recording medium includes the steps of: coating a solution for forming a dye recording layer onto a surface of a rotating disc-shaped resin substrate; and discharging a cleaning solution from a nozzle onto a peripheral edge to remove the dye recording layer from the peripheral edge, wherein discharge of the cleaning solution is initiated 1.0 to 300 seconds after completion of the coating, and the nozzle is disposed on a plane that extends in a normal line direction of the substrate and includes a straight line representing a discharge direction of the cleaning solution, so that an angle defined by the discharge direction and the normal line is 0 to 60°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Usami, Koichi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20050185468
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array in which electrically erasable and programmable memory cells are arrayed, each of the memory cells storing therein a first logic state with a threshold voltage lower than or equal to a first value or a second logic state with a threshold voltage higher than or equal to a second value that is higher than the first value, a data hold circuit for holding program data and sensing data as read out of the memory cell array, and a controller configured to control a program sequence, wherein the controller has the control functions of: a program control function for applying a program voltage to a selected memory cell of the memory cell array to let the data shift from the first logic state to the second logic state; a program verify control function for verifying that the programmed data of the selected memory cell shifted to the second logic state; an erratic program verify control function for checking that the threshold voltage of a memory ce
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Koji Hosono, Kenichi Imamiya, Hiroshi Nakamura, Mikito Nakabayashi, Koichi Kawai