Patents by Inventor Markus H. Geiger

Markus H. Geiger 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: 20240126692
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with post-packaging master die selection, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a plurality of memory dies. Each memory die of the plurality includes a command/address decoder. The command/address decoders are configured to receive command and address signals from external contacts of the memory device. The command/address decoders are also configured, when enabled, to decode the command and address signals and transmit the decoded command and address signals to every other memory die of the plurality. Each memory die further includes circuitry configured to enable, or disable, or both individual command/address decoders of the plurality of memory dies. In some embodiments, the circuitry can enable a command/address decoder of a memory die of the plurality after the plurality of memory dies are packaged into a memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Evan C. Pearson, John H. Gentry, Michael J. Scott, Greg S. Gatlin, Lael H. Matthews, Anthony M. Geidl, Michael Roth, Markus H. Geiger, Dale H. Hiscock
  • Patent number: 11922050
    Abstract: A memory device can be operated with a set of refresh control features. A host can access the memory device to discover the set of refresh control features. The host can command the memory device to change at least one of the set of refresh control features. The memory device can be operated with the original and/or changed set of refresh control features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel J. Meier, Geoffrey B. Luken, Markus H. Geiger
  • Publication number: 20240036762
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods related to bloom filter implementation into a controller are described. A memory device is coupled to a memory controller. The memory controller is configured to implement a counting bloom filter, increment the counting bloom filter in response to a row activate command of the memory device, determine whether a value of the counting bloom filter exceeds a threshold value, and perform an action in response to the value exceeding the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Edmund J. Gieske, Cagdas Dirik, Elliott C. Cooper-Balis, Robert M. Walker, Amitava Majumdar, Sujeet Ayyapureddi, Yang Lu, Ameen D. Akel, Niccolò Izzo, Danilo Caraccio, Markus H. Geiger
  • Patent number: 11868252
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with post-packaging master die selection, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a plurality of memory dies. Each memory die of the plurality includes a command/address decoder. The command/address decoders are configured to receive command and address signals from external contacts of the memory device. The command/address decoders are also configured, when enabled, to decode the command and address signals and transmit the decoded command and address signals to every other memory die of the plurality. Each memory die further includes circuitry configured to enable, or disable, or both individual command/address decoders of the plurality of memory dies. In some embodiments, the circuitry can enable a command/address decoder of a memory die of the plurality after the plurality of memory dies are packaged into a memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan C. Pearson, John H. Gentry, Michael J. Scott, Greg S. Gatlin, Lael H. Matthews, Anthony M. Geidl, Michael Roth, Markus H. Geiger, Dale H. Hiscock
  • Publication number: 20230282258
    Abstract: Systems and methods for finite time counting period counting of infinite data streams is presented. In particular example systems and methods enable counting row accesses to a memory media device over predetermined time intervals in order to deterministically detect row hammer attacks on the memory media device. Example embodiments use two identical tables that are reset at times offset in relation to each other in a ping-pong manner in order to ensure that there exists no false negative detections. The counting techniques described in this disclosure can be used in various types of row hammer mitigation techniques and can be implemented in content addressable memory or another type of memory. The mitigation may be implemented on a per-bank basis, per-channel basis or per-memory media device basis. The memory media device may be a dynamic random access memory type device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund GIESKE, Amitava MAJUMDAR, Cagdas DIRIK, Sujeet AYYAPUREDDI, Yang LU, Ameen D. AKEL, Danilo CARACCIO, Niccolo' IZZO, Elliott C. COOPER-BALIS, Markus H. GEIGER
  • Publication number: 20230268022
    Abstract: There are provided systems and methods that include at least one memory that has a plurality of memory cells. The cells may be disposed in rows and columns. The device can further include a controller that is communicatively coupled to the at least one memory, and the controller may be configured by its hardware topology and its instruction set and/or by a communicatively coupled processor or higher-level system or subsystem to maintain data integrity in the at least one memory and/or to prevent or mitigate malicious access patterns that may compromise the at least one memory. The controller may be configured to execute a deterministic protocol in conjunction with or sequentially to a probabilistic protocol to achieve one or more of the above-noted functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang LU, Markus H. GEIGER, Nathaniel J. MEIER
  • Publication number: 20230260590
    Abstract: There are provided systems and methods that include at least one memory that has a plurality of memory cells. The cells may be disposed in rows and columns. The device can further include a controller that is communicatively coupled to the at least one memory, and the controller may be configured by its hardware topology and its instruction set and/or by a communicatively coupled processor or higher-level system or subsystem to maintain data integrity in the at least one memory and/or to prevent or mitigate malicious access patterns that may compromise the at least one memory. The controller may be configured to execute a deterministic protocol in conjunction with or sequentially to a probabilistic protocol to achieve one or more of the above-noted functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang LU, Markus H. GEIGER, Nathaniel J. MEIER
  • Patent number: 11728001
    Abstract: Apparatuses for characterizing system channels and associated methods and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a tester is coupled to an adaptor configured to plug into a CPU socket of a system platform (e.g., a motherboard). The motherboard includes a memory socket that is connected to the CPU socket through system channels. The adaptor may include a connector configured to physically and electrically engage with the CPU socket, an interface configured to receive test signals from the tester, and circuitry configured to internally route the test signals to the connector. The adaptor, if plugged into the CPU socket, can facilitate the tester to directly assess signal transfer characteristics of the system channels. Accordingly, the tester can determine optimum operating parameters for the memory device in view of the system channel characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus H. Geiger, Anthony D. Newton, Ron A. Hughes, Eric J. Stave
  • Publication number: 20230244793
    Abstract: There are provided systems and methods that include at least one memory that has a plurality of memory cells. The cells may be disposed in rows and columns. The device can further include a controller that is communicatively coupled to the at least one memory, and the controller may be configured by its hardware topology and its instruction set and/or by a communicatively coupled processor or higher level system or subsystem to maintain data integrity in the at least one memory and/or to prevent or mitigate malicious access patterns that may compromise the at least one memory. The controller may be configured to execute a deterministic protocol in conjunction with or sequentially to a probabilistic protocol to achieve one or more of the above-noted functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang LU, Markus H. GEIGER, Nathaniel J. MEIER
  • Publication number: 20230237152
    Abstract: A system and method detect a row hammer attack on the memory media device and generates a hardware interrupt based on the detection of the row hammer attack. This row hammer interrupt is communicated to an operating system of a host computing device, which in turn performs an interrupt service routine including generating a command to perform a row hammer mitigation operation. This command is provided to the memory controller which performs the row hammer mitigation operation in response to the command such as activating victim row(s) of the memory media device or throttling data traffic to the memory media device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sujeet AYYAPUREDDI, Tamara SCHMITZ, Edmund GIESKE, Nicolo IZZO, Markus H. GEIGER
  • Patent number: 11670358
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with adjustable through-silicon via (TSV) delay, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of memory dies and a TSV configured to transmit signals to or receive signals from the plurality of memory dies. The apparatus further includes circuitry coupled to the TSV and configured to introduce propagation delay onto signals transmitted to or received from the TSV. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes additional circuitry configured to activate, deactivate, adjust at least a portion of the circuitry, or any combination thereof, to alter the propagation delay. In this manner, the apparatus can align internal timings of memory dies of the plurality of memory dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Gentry, Michael J. Scott, Greg S. Gatlin, Lael H. Matthews, Anthony M. Geidl, Michael Roth, Markus H. Geiger, Dale H. Hiscock, Evan C. Pearson
  • Patent number: 11646751
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for multi-bit error detection. A memory device may store data bits and parity bits in a memory array. An error correction code (ECC) circuit may generate syndrome bits based on the data and parity bits and use the syndrome bits to correct up to a single bit error in the data and parity bits. A multi-bit error (MBE) detection circuit may detect an MBE in the data and parity based on at least one of the syndrome bits or the parity bits. For example, the MBE detection circuit may determine if the syndrome bits have a mapped or unmapped state and/or may compare the parity bits, data bits, and an additional parity bit to determine if there is an MBE. When an MBE is detected an MBE signal is activated. In some embodiments, an MBE flag may be set based on the MBE signal being active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus H. Geiger, Matthew A. Prather, Sujeet Ayyapureddi, C. Omar Benitez, Dennis Montierth
  • Publication number: 20220399902
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for multi-bit error detection. A memory device may store data bits and parity bits in a memory array. An error correction code (ECC) circuit may generate syndrome bits based on the data and parity bits and use the syndrome bits to correct up to a single bit error in the data and parity bits. A multi-bit error (MBE) detection circuit may detect an MBE in the data and parity based on at least one of the syndrome bits or the parity bits. For example, the MBE detection circuit may determine if the syndrome bits have a mapped or unmapped state and/or may compare the parity bits, data bits, and an additional parity bit to determine if there is an MBE. When an MBE is detected an MBE signal is activated. In some embodiments, an MBE flag may be set based on the MBE signal being active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus H. Geiger, Matthew A. Prather, Sujeet Ayyapureddi, C. Omar Benitez, Dennis Montierth
  • Patent number: 11393790
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with TSV health monitor circuitry, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a plurality of memory dies, a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSVs) in electrical communication with the memory dies; and circuitry. In some embodiments, the circuitry is configured to electrically couple a pair of TSVs of the plurality of TSVs to form a passive circuit. For example, the circuitry can activate a transistor electrically positioned between TSVs of the pair of TSVs to electrically couple the pair of TSVs. In these and other embodiments, the circuitry applies a test voltage to the pair of TSVs using the passive circuit to determine whether a TSV of the pair of TSVs includes degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale H. Hiscock, Evan C. Pearson, John H. Gentry, Michael J. Scott, Greg S. Gatlin, Lael H. Matthews, Anthony M. Geidl, Michael Roth, Markus H. Geiger
  • Publication number: 20220197542
    Abstract: A memory device can be operated with a set of refresh control features. A host can access the memory device to discover the set of refresh control features. The host can command the memory device to change at least one of the set of refresh control features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Nathaniel J. Meier, Geoffrey B. Luken, Markus H. Geiger
  • Publication number: 20220157396
    Abstract: Apparatuses for characterizing system channels and associated methods and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a tester is coupled to an adaptor configured to plug into a CPU socket of a system platform (e.g., a motherboard). The motherboard includes a memory socket that is connected to the CPU socket through system channels. The adaptor may include a connector configured to physically and electrically engage with the CPU socket, an interface configured to receive test signals from the tester, and circuitry configured to internally route the test signals to the connector. The adaptor, if plugged into the CPU socket, can facilitate the tester to directly assess signal transfer characteristics of the system channels. Accordingly, the tester can determine optimum operating parameters for the memory device in view of the system channel characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Markus H. Geiger, Anthony D. Newton, Ron A. Hughes, Eric J. Stave
  • Publication number: 20220028443
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with adjustable through-silicon via (TSV) delay, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of memory dies and a TSV configured to transmit signals to or receive signals from the plurality of memory dies. The apparatus further includes circuitry coupled to the TSV and configured to introduce propagation delay onto signals transmitted to or received from the TSV. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes additional circuitry configured to activate, deactivate, adjust at least a portion of the circuitry, or any combination thereof, to alter the propagation delay. In this manner, the apparatus can align internal timings of memory dies of the plurality of memory dies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: John H. Gentry, Michael J. Scott, Greg S. Gatlin, Lael H. Matthews, Anthony M. Geidl, Michael Roth, Markus H. Geiger, Dale H. Hiscock, Evan C. Pearson
  • Patent number: 11145352
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with adjustable through-silicon via (TSV) delay, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of memory dies and a TSV configured to transmit signals to or receive signals from the plurality of memory dies. The apparatus further includes circuitry coupled to the TSV and configured to introduce propagation delay onto signals transmitted to or received from the TSV. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes additional circuitry configured to activate, deactivate, adjust at least a portion of the circuitry, or any combination thereof, to alter the propagation delay. In this manner, the apparatus can align internal timings of memory dies of the plurality of memory dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Gentry, Michael J. Scott, Greg S. Gatlin, Lael H. Matthews, Anthony M. Geidl, Michael Roth, Markus H. Geiger, Dale H. Hiscock, Evan C. Pearson
  • Patent number: 11087829
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for phase charge sharing are described. In some memory systems or memory devices, one or more decoders may be used to bias access lines of a memory die. The decoders may transfer voltage or current between a first conductive line of the decoder and a second conductive line of the decoder via a shorting device. Transferring the voltage or current may be performed as part of or in association with an operation (e.g., an activate or pre-charge operation) to access one or more memory cells of the memory die. In some examples, the decoders may transfer voltage or current between a first conductive line of a decoder associated with a first refresh activity and a second conductive line of the decoder associated with a second refresh activity via a shorting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Rehmeyer, George B. Raad, Debra M. Bell, Markus H. Geiger, Anthony D. Veches
  • Publication number: 20210175208
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with TSV health monitor circuitry, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a plurality of memory dies, a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSVs) in electrical communication with the memory dies; and circuitry. In some embodiments, the circuitry is configured to electrically couple a pair of TSVs of the plurality of TSVs to form a passive circuit. For example, the circuitry can activate a transistor electrically positioned between TSVs of the pair of TSVs to electrically couple the pair of TSVs. In these and other embodiments, the circuitry applies a test voltage to the pair of TSVs using the passive circuit to determine whether a TSV of the pair of TSVs includes degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Dale H. Hiscock, Evan C. Pearson, John H. Gentry, Michael J. Scott, Greg S. Gatlin, Lael H. Matthews, Anthony M. Geidl, Michael Roth, Markus H. Geiger