Patents by Inventor Marco Sforzin

Marco Sforzin 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: 20220223204
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a memory device comprising a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell being programmable to a logic state corresponding to a threshold voltage exhibited by the memory cell in response to an applied voltage, and a logic circuit portion operatively coupled to the plurality of memory cells, wherein the logic circuit portion is configured to scan memory addresses of the memory device, and to generate seasoning pulses to be applied to the addressed pages of the memory device. A related electronic system and related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Paolo Amato, Marco Sforzin
  • Patent number: 11386954
    Abstract: A memory device can include a plurality of memory cells including a first group of memory cells and a second group of memory cells programmed to a predefined logic state. The plurality of memory cells includes a memory controller configured to apply a reading voltage to at least one selected memory cell of the first group during a reading operation, apply the reading voltage to the memory cells of the second group, and responsive to the logic state of at least one memory cell of the second group being assessed to be different from the predefined logic state perform a refresh operation of the memory cells of the first group by applying a recovery voltage higher than the reading voltage to assess the logic state thereof and reprogramming the memory cells of the first group to the logic state assessed with the recovery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Sforzin, Paolo Amato, Innocenzo Tortorelli
  • Publication number: 20220208262
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to auto-referenced memory cell read techniques are described. The auto-referenced read may encode user data to include a predetermined number of bits having a first logic state prior to storing the user data in memory cells. The auto-referenced read may store a total number of bits of the user data having a first logic state in a separate set of memory cells. Subsequently, reading the user data may be carried out by applying a read voltage to the memory cells storing the user data while monitoring a series of switching events by activating a subset of the memory cells having the first logic state. During the read operation, the auto-referenced read may compare the number of activated memory cells to either the predetermined number or the total number to determine whether all the bits having the first logic state has been detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Graziano Mirichigni, Paolo Amato, Federico Pio, Alessandro Orlando, Marco Sforzin
  • Publication number: 20220189574
    Abstract: Symbols interleaved among a set of codewords can provide an error correction/detection capability to a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) with memory chips having a comparatively larger bus width. Data corresponding to a set of multibit symbols and received from one or more memory devices can be interleaved/distributed with other bits of at least one codeword.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Paolo Amato, Marco Sforzin, Stephen S. Pawlowski
  • Patent number: 11361801
    Abstract: An apparatus has an array of memory cells and a controller coupled to the array. The controller is configured to track a sub-threshold leakage current through a number of memory cells of the array and determine a threshold voltage based on the sub-threshold leakage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Fantini, Paolo Amato, Marco Sforzin
  • Publication number: 20220179736
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods related to modified parity data using a poison data unit. An example method can include receiving, from a controller of a memory device, a first set of bits including data and a second set of at least one bit indicating whether the first set of bits comprises one or more erroneous or corrupted bits. The method can further include generating, at an encoder of the memory device, parity data associated with the first set of bits. The method can further include generating, at logic of the memory device, modified parity data with the parity data component and the second set of at least one bit. The method can further include writing the first set of bits and the modified parity data in an array of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Marco Sforzin, Paolo Amato, Daniele Balluchi
  • Patent number: 11335416
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operational modes for reduced power consumption in a memory system are described. A memory device may be coupled with a capacitor of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC). The memory device may operate in a first mode where a supply voltage is provided to the memory device from the PMIC. The memory device may operate in a second mode where it is isolated from the PMIC. When isolated, a node of the memory device (e.g., an internal node) may be discharged while the capacitor of the PMIC remains charged. When the memory device resumes operating in the first mode, a supply voltage may be provided to it based on the residual charge of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Sforzin, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Daniele Balluchi
  • Patent number: 11335408
    Abstract: A counter can have a number of sensing components. Each respective sensing component can be configured to sense a respective event and can include a respective first capacitor configured to be selectively coupled to a second capacitor in response to the respective sensing component sensing the respective event. The second capacitor can be configured to be charged to a voltage by each respective first capacitor that is selectively coupled to the second capacitor. The counter can have a comparator with a first input coupled to the second capacitor and a second input coupled to a reference voltage corresponding to a threshold quantity of events. The comparator can be configured to output a signal indicative of the threshold quantity of events being sensed in response to the voltage of the second capacitor being greater than or equal to the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Sforzin, Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Publication number: 20220130461
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for timing parameter adjustment mechanisms are described. The memory system may receive an access command to access a block of data. Based on receiving the access command, the memory system may determine a parameter (e.g., a timing parameter) associated with accessing the block of data. The timing parameter may indicate a duration between a first time to access a first page of the block of data and a second time to access a second page of the block of data. The memory system may perform an access operation on the block of data based on determining the timing parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Marco Sforzin, Daniele Balluchi
  • Patent number: 11309021
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a memory device comprising a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell being programmable to a logic state corresponding to a threshold voltage exhibited by the memory cell in response to an applied voltage, and a logic circuit portion operatively coupled to the plurality of memory cells, wherein the logic circuit portion is configured to scan memory addresses of the memory device, and to generate seasoning pulses to be applied to the addressed pages of the memory device. A related electronic system and related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Amato, Marco Sforzin
  • Publication number: 20220100244
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a memory system with centralized power management are described. A memory system may include memory devices and a power management circuit. The memory devices may use one or more supply voltages during operation of the memory devices, which may include supply voltages received from an external device and high supply voltages generated within the memory system. The power management circuit may receive supply voltages from the external device and generate the supply voltages to the memory devices. The memory devices may exclude charge pump circuitry for generating supply voltages and may instead include pads for receiving the supply voltages from the power management circuit, in some examples. The memory system may include a controller that is configured to determine an amount of power to provide to the memory devices and transmit an indication of the amount of power to the power management circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Marco Sforzin, Paolo Amato, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Daniele Balluchi
  • Patent number: 11282571
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to auto-referenced memory cell read techniques are described. The auto-referenced read may encode user data to include a certain number bits having a first logic state prior to storing the user data in memory cells. Subsequently, reading the encoded user data may be carried out by applying a read voltage to the memory cells while monitoring a series of switching events by activating a subset of the memory cells having the first logic state. The auto-referenced read may identify a particular switching event that correlates to a median threshold voltage value of the subset of the memory cells. Then, the auto-referenced read may determine a reference voltage that takes into account a statistical property of threshold voltage distribution of the subset of the memory cells. The auto-referenced read may identify a time duration to maintain the read voltage based on determining the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Graziano Mirichigni, Marco Sforzin, Alessandro Orlando
  • Patent number: 11282574
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to auto-referenced memory cell read techniques are described. The auto-referenced read may encode user data to include a predetermined number of bits having a first logic state prior to storing the user data in memory cells. The auto-referenced read may store a total number of bits of the user data having a first logic state in a separate set of memory cells. Subsequently, reading the user data may be carried out by applying a read voltage to the memory cells storing the user data while monitoring a series of switching events by activating a subset of the memory cells having the first logic state. During the read operation, the auto-referenced read may compare the number of activated memory cells to either the predetermined number or the total number to determine whether all the bits having the first logic state has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Graziano Mirichigni, Paolo Amato, Federico Pio, Alessandro Orlando, Marco Sforzin
  • Publication number: 20220068367
    Abstract: A method including obtaining temperature values of at least one region of the non-volatile memory, each temperature value obtained at a given time instant, for each obtained temperature value at each given time instant, calculating the value of an operating function representative of an operating condition of the non-volatile memory, the value such operating function being time-dependent according to the temperature time-variation of such at least one region of the non-volatile memory, summing subsequent computed values of said operating function to obtain an accumulated value being representative of an elapsed fraction of a time limit associated with the at least one region of the non-volatile memory, comparing the accumulated value with a threshold value, and, based on said comparison, performing a management operation on the cells of the at least one region of the non-volatile memory when the accumulated value has a magnitude equal or greater than the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Dionisio Minopoli, Marco Sforzin, Daniele Balluchi
  • Patent number: 11262937
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to balancing data are described. Data may be communicated using an original set of bits that may be partitioned into segments. Each of the original set of bits may have a first value or a second value, where a weight of the original set of bits may be based on a quantity of the set of bits that have the first value. If the weight of the original set of bits is outside of a target weight range, a different, encoded set of bits may be used to represent the data, the encoded set of bits having a weight within the target weight range. The encoded set of bits may be identified based an inversion of the original set of bits in a one-at-a-time and cumulative fashion. The encoded set of bits may be stored in place of the original set of bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christophe Vincent Antoine Laurent, Andrea Martinelli, Marco Sforzin, Paolo Amato
  • Patent number: 11256565
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to providing transaction metadata. Providing transaction metadata includes providing an address of data stored in the memory device using an address bus coupled to the memory device and the controller. Providing transaction metadata also includes transferring the data, associated with the address, from the memory device using a data bus coupled to the memory device and the controller. Providing transaction metadata further includes transferring a sideband signal synchronously with the data bus and in conjunction with the address bus using a transaction metadata bus coupled to the memory device and the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Graziano Mirichigni, Marco Sforzin, Paolo Amato, Danilo Caraccio
  • Publication number: 20220036937
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for distribution-following access operations for a memory device are described. In an example, the described techniques may include identifying an activation of a first memory cell at a first condition of a biasing operation, and identifying an activation of a second memory cell at a second condition of the biasing operation, and determining a parameter of an access operation based at least in part on a difference between the first condition and the second condition. In some examples, the memory cells may be associated with a configurable material element, such as a chalcogenide material, that stores a logic state based on a material property of the material element. In some examples, the described techniques may at least partially compensate for a change in memory material properties due to aging or other degradation or changes over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Marco Sforzin, Paolo Amato
  • Patent number: 11237901
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to correcting errors can include using FD decoders and AD decoders. Correcting errors can include receiving input data from the memory array, performing a plurality of operations associated with an error detection on the input data, and providing, based on processing the input data, output data, a validation flag, and a plurality of parity bits to a second decoder hosted by a controller coupled to the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Amato, Marco Sforzin
  • Publication number: 20220019384
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for buffer reset commands for write buffers. An example apparatus includes a memory and a controller coupled to the memory. The memory can include an array of resistance variable memory cells configured to store data corresponding to a managed unit across multiple partitions each having a respective write buffer corresponding thereto. The controller can be configured to update the managed unit by providing, to the memory, a write buffer reset command followed by a write command. The memory can be configured to execute the write buffer reset command to place the write buffers in a reset state. The memory can be further configured to execute the write command to modify the content of the write buffers based on data corresponding to the write command and write the modified content of the write buffers to an updated location in the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Marco Sforzin, Paolo Amato
  • Patent number: 11217306
    Abstract: Sensing memory cells can include: applying a voltage ramp to a group of memory cells to sense their respective states; sensing when a first switching event occurs to one of the memory cells responsive to the applied voltage ramp; stopping application of the voltage ramp after a particular amount of time subsequent to when the first switching event occurs; and determining which additional memory cells of the group experience the switching event during the particular amount of time. Those cells determined to have experienced the switching event responsive to the applied voltage ramp are sensed as storing a first data value and those cells determined to not have experienced the switching event responsive to the applied voltage ramp are sensed as storing a second data value. The group stores data according to an encoding function constrained such that each code pattern includes at least one data unit having the first data value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Sforzin, Paolo Amato