Patents by Inventor Martin Brox

Martin Brox 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).

  • Patent number: 11699993
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for signal sampling with offset calibration are described. For example, sampling circuitry may include an input pair of transistors where input signals may be provided to gate nodes of the transistors, and an output signal may be generated based on a comparison of voltages of drain nodes of the transistors. In some examples, source nodes of the transistors may be coupled with each other, such as via a resistance, and each source node may be configured to be coupled with a ground node. In some examples, a conductive path between the source nodes may be coupled with one or more switching components configurable for further coupling of the source nodes with the ground node. In some examples, enabling such switching components may add an electrical characteristic (e.g., capacitance) to the conductive path between the source nodes, which may be configurable to mitigate sampling circuitry imbalances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Brox, Thomas Hein, Mani Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11688435
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for drive strength calibration for multi-level signaling are described. A driver may be configured to have an initial drive strength and to drive an output pin of a transmitting device toward an intermediate voltage level of a multi-level modulation scheme, where the output pin is coupled with a receiving device via a channel. The receiving device may generate, and the transmitting device may receive, a feedback signal indicating a relationship between the resulting voltage of the channel and an value for the intermediate voltage level. The transmitting device may determine and configure the driver to use an adjusted drive strength for the intermediate voltage level based on the feedback signal. The driver may be calibrated (e.g., independently) for each intermediate voltage level of the multi-level modulation scheme. Further, the driver may be calibrated for the associated channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Mayer, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Michael Dieter Richter, Martin Brox, Thomas Hein
  • Publication number: 20230195655
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for signal path biasing in an electronic system (e.g., a memory system) are described. In one example, a memory device, a host device, or both may be configured to bias a signal path, between an idle state and an information transfer or between an information transfer and an idle state, to an intermediate or mid-bias voltage level, which may reduce signal interference associated with such transitions. In various examples, the described biasing to a voltage, such as a mid-bias voltage, may be associated with an access command or other command for information to be communicated between devices of the electronic system, such as a command for information to be communicated between a memory device and a host device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Thomas Hein, Martin Brox, Peter Mayer, Michael Dieter Richter
  • Publication number: 20230198652
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for data scrambling for repeat operations are described. A first device may communicate a data set to a second device as a first set of bits. The first device may use a first scrambling code to scramble the first set of bits and the second device may use a first descrambling code to descramble the first set of bits. Upon determining that the first set of bits was received by the second device with an error, the first device may communicate the data set to the second device as a second set of bits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Brox, Thomas Hein
  • Publication number: 20230188248
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for data inversion techniques are described to enable a memory device to transmit or receive a multi-symbol signal that includes more than two (2) physical levels. Some portions of some multi-symbol signals may be inverted. A transmitting device may determine to invert one or more data symbols based on one or more parameters. A receiving device may determine that one or more data symbols are inverted and may re-invert the one or more data symbols (e.g., to an original value). When receiving or transmitting a multi-symbol signal, a device may invert or re-invert a data symbol by changing a value of one bit of the data symbol. Additionally or alternatively, a device may invert or re-invert a data symbol of a multi-symbol signal by inverting a physical level of the signal across an axis located between or associated with one or more physical levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Thomas Hein, Natalija Jovanovic, Ronny Schneider, Michael Dieter Richter, Martin Brox
  • Patent number: 11652567
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for replacement scheme for a pulse amplitude modulated bus are described. A device may receive a signal indicative of a set of data associated with a multi-level modulation scheme that includes three or more levels. The device may determine, based on the signal, a first quantity of symbols corresponding to a first level of the multi-level modulation scheme and a second quantity of symbols corresponding to a second level of the multi-level modulation scheme. And the device may modify the signal, based on a sum of the first quantity and the second quantity satisfying a threshold, to replace one or more of the symbols corresponding to the first level with a respective symbol corresponding to a third level of the multi-level modulation scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Brox
  • Patent number: 11620241
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for dynamically configuring transmission lines of a bus between two electronic devices (e.g., a controller and memory device) are described. A first device may determine a quantity of bits (e.g., data bits, control bits) to be communicated with a second device over a data bus. The first device may partition the data bus into a first set of transmission lines (e.g., based on the quantity of data bits) and a second set of transmission lines (e.g., based on the quantity of control bits). The first device may communicate the quantity of data bits over the first set of transmission lines and communicate the quantity of control bits over the second set of transmission lines. In some cases, the first device may repartition the data bus based on different quantities of data bits and control bits to be communicated with the second device at a different time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dieter Richter, Thomas Hein, Martin Brox, Peter Mayer, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl
  • Patent number: 11621033
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for techniques for low power operation are described. A device may be configurable to operate in a first mode and a second mode, where the first mode may include transmitting using a first modulation scheme having two logic levels and the second mode may include transmitting using a second modulation scheme having three or more (e.g., four) logic levels. The device may identify a data symbol for transmission and select, from the first mode and the second mode, the first modulation scheme for the transmission. In some example, the device may determine which of the two modes to select based on a value stored at a mode register. Here, the value stored by the mode register may indicate to utilize the first modulation scheme associated with the first mode. Thus, the device may transmit the data symbol by a signal modulated by the first modulation scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Brox, Thomas Hein, Stefan Dietrich, Natalija Jovanovic, Ronny Schneider, Michael Dieter Richter
  • Patent number: 11609865
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for signal path biasing in an electronic system (e.g., a memory system) are described. In one example, a memory device, a host device, or both may be configured to bias a signal path, between an idle state and an information transfer or between an information transfer and an idle state, to an intermediate or mid-bias voltage level, which may reduce signal interference associated with such transitions. In various examples, the described biasing to a voltage, such as a mid-bias voltage, may be associated with an access command or other command for information to be communicated between devices of the electronic system, such as a command for information to be communicated between a memory device and a host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Thomas Hein, Martin Brox, Peter Mayer, Michael Dieter Richter
  • Patent number: 11601215
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for data inversion techniques are described to enable a memory device to transmit or receive a multi-symbol signal that includes more than two (2) physical levels. Some portions of some multi-symbol signals may be inverted. A transmitting device may determine to invert one or more data symbols based on one or more parameters. A receiving device may determine that one or more data symbols are inverted and may re-invert the one or more data symbols (e.g., to an original value). When receiving or transmitting a multi-symbol signal, a device may invert or re-invert a data symbol by changing a value of one bit of the data symbol. Additionally or alternatively, a device may invert or re-invert a data symbol of a multi-symbol signal by inverting a physical level of the signal across an axis located between or associated with one or more physical levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Thomas Hein, Natalija Jovanovic, Ronny Schneider, Michael Dieter Richter, Martin Brox
  • Patent number: 11600312
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for activate commands for memory preparation are described. A memory device may receive an activate command for a row of a memory bank in the memory device. The activate command may include an indicator that indicates a type of an access operation associated with the activate command. The memory device may perform, based on the type of the access operation, an operation to prepare the memory device for the access operation. The memory device may then receive an access command for the access operation after performing the operation to prepare the memory device for the access operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Schneider, Casto Salobrena Garcia, Martin Brox, Nobuyuki Umeda, Peter Mayer, Rethin Raj
  • Publication number: 20230048217
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for activate commands for memory preparation are described. A memory device may receive an activate command for a row of a memory bank in the memory device. The activate command may include an indicator that indicates a type of an access operation associated with the activate command. The memory device may perform, based on the type of the access operation, an operation to prepare the memory device for the access operation. The memory device may then receive an access command for the access operation after performing the operation to prepare the memory device for the access operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Andreas Schneider, Casto Salobrena Garcia, Martin Brox, Nobuyuki Umeda, Peter Mayer, Rethin Raj
  • Patent number: 11579988
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for reporting control information errors are described. A state of a memory array may be monitored during operation. After detecting an error (e.g., in received control information), the memory device may enter a first state (e.g., a locked state) and may indicate to a host device that an error was detected, the state of the memory array before the error was detected, and/or at least a portion of a control signal carrying the received control information. The host device may diagnose a cause of the error based on receiving the indication of the error and/or the copy of the control signal. After identifying and/or resolving the cause of the error, the host device may transmit one or more commands (e.g., unlocking the memory device and returning the memory array to the original state) based on receiving the original state from the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dieter Richter, Thomas Hein, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Martin Brox, Peter Mayer
  • Publication number: 20230030776
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for error detection, error correction, and error management by memory devices are described. Programmable thresholds may be configured for a memory device based on a type of data or a location of stored data, among other aspects. For example, a host device may configure a threshold quantity of errors for data at a memory device. When retrieving the data, the memory device may track or count errors in the data and determine whether the threshold has been satisfied. The memory device may transmit (e.g., to the host device) an indication whether the threshold has been satisfied, and the system may perform functions to correct the errors and/or prevent further errors. The memory device may also identify errors in received commands or may identify errors introduced in data after the data was received (e.g., using an error detecting code associated with a command or bus).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Dieter Richter, Thomas Hein, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Martin Brox, Peter Mayer
  • Patent number: 11561603
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for memory device operation are described. A memory device may operate in different modes in response to various conditions and user constraints. Such modes may include a power-saving or low power mode. While in the low power mode, the memory device may refrain from operations, such as self-refresh operations, on one or more of the memory array(s) included in the memory device. The memory device may deactivate external interface components and components that may generate operating voltages for the memory array(s), while the memory device may continue to power circuits that store operating information for the memory device. The memory device may employ similar techniques in other operating modes to accommodate or react to different conditions or user constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dieter Richter, Thomas Hein, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Martin Brox, Peter Mayer
  • Publication number: 20230013927
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for multi-voltage operation for driving a multi-mode channel are described. A transmitting device and a receiving device may be coupled via a channel, and the channel may support multiple modes such as a terminated mode and an unterminated mode. A driver may be coupled with the channel, and a voltage supply for the driver may be adjusted based on the mode of the channel, such as based on whether the channel is terminated or unterminated. Adjusting the voltage supply may result in similar or otherwise desirable voltage levels on the channel for each mode of the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Brox, Thomas Hein
  • Patent number: 11531632
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for multi-level receivers with various operating modes (e.g., on-die termination mode, termination-off mode, etc.) are described. Different modes may be utilized for receiving different types of signaling over a channel. Each mode may correspond to the use of a respective set of receivers configured for the different types of signaling. For example, a device may include a first set of receivers used to receive a first type of signal (e.g., with the channel being actively terminated) and a second set of receivers used to receive a second type of signal (e.g., with the channel being non-terminated). When communicating with another device, based on the type of signaling used for communications, either the first set of receivers or the second set of receivers may be enabled (e.g., through selecting a receiver path for the corresponding mode).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Brox, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Thomas Hein, Michael Dieter Richter, Peter Mayer
  • Publication number: 20220391114
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for memory operations that support configuring a channel, such as a command/address (C/A) channel, are described. A configuration of a C/A channel may be dynamically adapted based on power saving considerations, control information execution latency, or both. Configuring a C/A channel may include determining a quantity of pins, or a quantity of cycles, both for communicating control information over the C/A channel. The quantity of pins may be determined based on previous control information transmissions, characteristics of a memory device, or predicted control information transmissions, or any combination thereof in some cases. The determined quantity of pins, quantity of cycles, or both may be explicitly or implicitly indicated to other devices (e.g., that use the C/A channel).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Dieter Richter, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Thomas Hein, Peter Mayer, Martin Brox
  • Publication number: 20220383972
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for testing of multi-level signaling associated with a memory device are described. A tester may be used to test one or more operations of a memory device. The memory device may be configured to communicate data using a modulation scheme that includes three or more symbols. The tester may be configured to communicate data using a modulation scheme that includes three or fewer symbols. Techniques for testing the memory device using such a tester are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Michael Dieter Richter, Thomas Hein, Peter Mayer, Martin Brox
  • Publication number: 20220375518
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for drive strength calibration for multi-level signaling are described. A driver may be configured to have an initial drive strength and to drive an output pin of a transmitting device toward an intermediate voltage level of a multi-level modulation scheme, where the output pin is coupled with a receiving device via a channel. The receiving device may generate, and the transmitting device may receive, a feedback signal indicating a relationship between the resulting voltage of the channel and an value for the intermediate voltage level. The transmitting device may determine and configure the driver to use an adjusted drive strength for the intermediate voltage level based on the feedback signal. The driver may be calibrated (e.g., independently) for each intermediate voltage level of the multi-level modulation scheme. Further, the driver may be calibrated for the associated channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Peter Mayer, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Michael Dieter Richter, Martin Brox, Thomas Hein