Patents by Inventor Kyoichi Nagata

Kyoichi Nagata 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: 20240134596
    Abstract: The content output device includes an information acquisition unit, a content generation unit and an output unit. The information acquisition unit acquires driving state information which is information related to a current driving state of a vehicle. The content generation unit acquires one or more content elements corresponding to a trigger condition, from among a plurality of content elements combinable with each other, when the driving state information satisfies the trigger condition, and generates an output content using the acquired content elements. The output unit outputs the output content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Takashi IIZAWA, Keita KURAMOCHI, Atsuhiro YAMANAKA, Hideki NAGATA, Kazuaki TANAKA, Kyoichi TERAO, Takashi KAMIMURA, Daiki WAGURI, Yuya ISHIZAKI, Kei SUZUKI, Takayuki SHIMAZU
  • Publication number: 20240071472
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a sense amplifier including first and second cross-coupled transistors to amplify a potential difference between first and second digit lines, a compensation circuit configured to compensate a threshold difference between the first and second transistors, first and second local I/O lines coupled to the first and second digit lines, respectively, and an equalizing circuit configured to equalize the first and second local I/O lines. The equalizing circuit is configured to change a precharge level of the first and second local I/O lines from a first potential to a second potential before a compensation operation of the compensation circuit is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: KYOICHI NAGATA
  • Patent number: 11915779
    Abstract: A sense component of a memory device in accordance with the present disclosure may selectively employ components having a relatively high voltage isolation characteristic in a portion of the sense component associated with relatively higher voltage signals (e.g., signals associated with accessing a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) cell), and components having a relatively low voltage isolation characteristic in a portion of the sense component associated with relatively lower voltage signals (e.g., input/output signals according to some memory architectures). Voltage isolation characteristics may include isolation voltage, activation threshold voltage, a degree of electrical insulation, and others, and may refer to such characteristics as a nominal value or a threshold value. In some examples the sense component may include transistors, and the voltage isolation characteristics may be based at least in part on gate insulation thickness of the transistors in each portion of the sense component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyoichi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20220383912
    Abstract: A sense component of a memory device in accordance with the present disclosure may selectively employ components having a relatively high voltage isolation characteristic in a portion of the sense component associated with relatively higher voltage signals (e.g., signals associated with accessing a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) cell), and components having a relatively low voltage isolation characteristic in a portion of the sense component associated with relatively lower voltage signals (e.g., input/output signals according to some memory architectures). Voltage isolation characteristics may include isolation voltage, activation threshold voltage, a degree of electrical insulation, and others, and may refer to such characteristics as a nominal value or a threshold value. In some examples the sense component may include transistors, and the voltage isolation characteristics may be based at least in part on gate insulation thickness of the transistors in each portion of the sense component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventor: Kyoichi Nagata
  • Patent number: 11289151
    Abstract: Compensation for threshold voltage mismatches in cross-coupled pairs of transistors and related systems, devices, and methods are disclosed. An apparatus includes a cross-coupled pair of transistors, and a compensation pair of transistors. The cross-coupled pair of transistors includes a first transistor and a second transistor. A first gate of the first transistor is coupled to a first bit line and a second gate of the second transistor coupled to a second bit line. The compensation pair of transistors includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor. The third transistor is coupled in series with the first transistor between a first source of the first transistor and a common source line. The fourth transistor is coupled in series with the second transistor between a second source of the second transistor and the common source line. A memory device includes the sense amplifier. A computing system includes the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyoichi Nagata
  • Patent number: 11270740
    Abstract: A sense component of a memory device in accordance with the present disclosure may selectively employ components having a relatively high voltage isolation characteristic in a portion of the sense component associated with relatively higher voltage signals (e.g., signals associated with accessing a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) cell), and components having a relatively low voltage isolation characteristic in a portion of the sense component associated with relatively lower voltage signals (e.g., input/output signals according to some memory architectures). Voltage isolation characteristics may include isolation voltage, activation threshold voltage, a degree of electrical insulation, and others, and may refer to such characteristics as a nominal value or a threshold value. In some examples the sense component may include transistors, and the voltage isolation characteristics may be based at least in part on gate insulation thickness of the transistors in each portion of the sense component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyoichi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20210142842
    Abstract: Compensation for threshold voltage mismatches in cross-coupled pairs of transistors and related systems, devices, and methods are disclosed. An apparatus includes a cross-coupled pair of transistors, and a compensation pair of transistors. The cross-coupled pair of transistors includes a first transistor and a second transistor. A first gate of the first transistor is coupled to a first bit line and a second gate of the second transistor coupled to a second bit line. The compensation pair of transistors includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor. The third transistor is coupled in series with the first transistor between a first source of the first transistor and a common source line. The fourth transistor is coupled in series with the second transistor between a second source of the second transistor and the common source line. A memory device includes the sense amplifier. A computing system includes the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventor: Kyoichi Nagata
  • Patent number: 10916289
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory and for refreshing ferroelectric memory. An example apparatus includes: a word line; a first memory cell coupled to a first digit line and stores a first data on the first digit line responsive to the word line in an active state; a second memory cell coupled to a second digit line and stores a second data on the second digit line responsive to the word line in the active state. The first digit line is coupled to a first power potential and the second digit line is coupled to a second power potential in a refresh operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyoichi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20190385650
    Abstract: A sense component of a memory device in accordance with the present disclosure may selectively employ components having a relatively high voltage isolation characteristic in a portion of the sense component associated with relatively higher voltage signals (e.g., signals associated with accessing a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) cell), and components having a relatively low voltage isolation characteristic in a portion of the sense component associated with relatively lower voltage signals (e.g., input/output signals according to some memory architectures). Voltage isolation characteristics may include isolation voltage, activation threshold voltage, a degree of electrical insulation, and others, and may refer to such characteristics as a nominal value or a threshold value. In some examples the sense component may include transistors, and the voltage isolation characteristics may be based at least in part on gate insulation thickness of the transistors in each portion of the sense component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventor: Kyoichi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20190371385
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory and for refreshing ferroelectric memory. An example apparatus includes: a word line; a first memory cell coupled to a first digit line and stores a first data on the first digit line responsive to the word tine in an active state; a second memory cell coupled to a second digit line and stores a second data on the second digit line responsive to the word line in the active state. The first digit line is coupled to a first power potential and the second digit line is coupled to a second power potential in a refresh operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyoichi Nagata
  • Patent number: 10490260
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an equalizing circuit and a control circuit. The equalizing circuit executes an operation of pre-charging the signal input/output line pair used for data inputting/outputting and an operation of equalizing it independently of each other. In case a plurality of data write operations occur in succession, the control circuit halts pre-charge control in the equalizing circuit in the course of consecutive write operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoichi Nagata, Yuuji Motoyama
  • Patent number: 10403347
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory and for refreshing ferroelectric memory. An example apparatus includes: a word line; a first memory cell coupled to a first digit line and stores a first data on the first digit line responsive to the word line in an active state; a second memory cell coupled to a second digit line and stores a second data on the second digit line responsive to the word line in the active state. The first digit line is coupled to a first power potential and the second digit line is coupled to a second power potential in a refresh operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyoichi Nagata
  • Patent number: 10388335
    Abstract: A sense component of a memory device in accordance with the present disclosure may selectively employ components having a relatively high voltage isolation characteristic in a portion of the sense component associated with relatively higher voltage signals (e.g., signals associated with accessing a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) cell), and components having a relatively low voltage isolation characteristic in a portion of the sense component associated with relatively lower voltage signals (e.g., input/output signals according to some memory architectures). Voltage isolation characteristics may include isolation voltage, activation threshold voltage, a degree of electrical insulation, and others, and may refer to such characteristics as a nominal value or a threshold value. In some examples the sense component may include transistors, and the voltage isolation characteristics may be based at least in part on gate insulation thickness of the transistors in each portion of the sense component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyoichi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20190237122
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that include ferroelectric memory and for refreshing ferroelectric memory. An example apparatus includes: a word line; a first memory cell coupled to a first digit line and stores a first data on the first digit line responsive to the word line in an active state; a second memory cell coupled to a second digit line and stores a second data on the second digit line responsive to the word line in the active state. The first digit line is coupled to a first power potential and the second digit line is coupled to a second power potential in a refresh operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyoichi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20190051335
    Abstract: A sense component of a memory device in accordance with the present disclosure may selectively employ components having a relatively high voltage isolation characteristic in a portion of the sense component associated with relatively higher voltage signals (e.g., signals associated with accessing a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) cell), and components having a relatively low voltage isolation characteristic in a portion of the sense component associated with relatively lower voltage signals (e.g., input/output signals according to some memory architectures). Voltage isolation characteristics may include isolation voltage, activation threshold voltage, a degree of electrical insulation, and others, and may refer to such characteristics as a nominal value or a threshold value. In some examples the sense component may include transistors, and the voltage isolation characteristics may be based at least in part on gate insulation thickness of the transistors in each portion of the sense component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventor: Kyoichi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20180061480
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an equalizing circuit and a control circuit. The equalizing circuit executes an operation of pre-charging the signal input/output line pair used for data inputting/outputting and an operation of equalizing it independently of each other. In case a plurality of data write operations occur in succession, the control circuit halts pre-charge control in the equalizing circuit in the course of consecutive write operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kyoichi Nagata, Yuuji Motoyama
  • Patent number: 9837139
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an equalizing circuit and a control circuit. The equalizing circuit executes an operation of pre-charging the signal input/output line pair used for data inputting/outputting and an operation of equalizing it independently of each other. In case a plurality of data write operations occur in succession, the control circuit halts pre-charge control in the equalizing circuit in the course of consecutive write operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoichi Nagata, Yuuji Motoyama
  • Patent number: 9520177
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is equipped with memory cells which are provided at the intersections of word lines and local bit lines, hierarchical switches which are respectively connected between the local bit lines and a global bit line, and a hierarchical sense amplifier which amplifies a potential difference generated between signal nodes, with the signal nodes being respectively connected to the local bit lines. According to the present invention, because the hierarchical sense amplifier is a differential type circuit, a stable sensing operation can be performed. In addition, because one hierarchical sense amplifier can be assigned to multiple local bit lines, the number of hierarchical sense amplifiers can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: LONGITUDE SEMICONDUCTOR S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Matsumoto, Kyoichi Nagata, Izumi Nakai
  • Patent number: 9424222
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for charge sharing across data buses based on respective levels of the data buses are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may include a first bus, a second bus, and a charge sharing circuit coupled to each of the first bus and the second bus. The charge sharing circuit may be configured to couple the first bus to the second bus based on logic levels of the first bus and the second bus. For example, the charge sharing circuit may couple the first bus to the second bus responsive to the first bus and the second bus having inverted logic levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyoichi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20150302914
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is equipped with memory cells which are provided at the intersections of word lines and local bit lines, hierarchical switches which are respectively connected between the local bit lines and a global bit line, and a hierarchical sense amplifier which amplifies a potential difference generated between signal nodes, with the signal nodes being respectively connected to the local bit lines. According to the present invention, because the hierarchical sense amplifier is a differential type circuit, a stable sensing operation can be performed. In addition, because one hierarchical sense amplifier can be assigned to multiple local bit lines, the number of hierarchical sense amplifiers can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Matsumoto, Kyoichi Nagata, Izumi Nakai