Patents by Inventor Meir Avraham
Meir Avraham 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).
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Patent number: 8665645Abstract: A plurality of memory cells are managed by obtaining values of one or more environmental parameters of the cells and adjusting values of one or more reference voltages of the cells accordingly. Alternatively, a statistic of at least some of the cells, relative to a single reference parameter that corresponds to a control parameter of the cells, is measured, and the value of the reference voltage is adjusted accordingly. Examples of environmental parameters include program-erase cycle count, data retention time and temperature. Examples of reference voltages include read reference voltages and program verify reference voltages. Examples of statistics include the fraction of cells whose threshold voltages exceed initial lower bounds or initial medians.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Sandisk IL Ltd.Inventors: Meir Avraham, Amir Ronen
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Patent number: 8135904Abstract: A method includes storing at a non-volatile memory in a data storage device a first copy of a memory management table. The method further includes storing, at the non-volatile memory, a list of data entries that identify unused blocks of the non-volatile memory, where the list defines an order of allocating the unused blocks. The method further includes, in response to detecting a power event, accessing an entry of the ordered list to identify a block, and selectively updating the first copy of the memory management table based on a status of the identified block.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2010Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Sandisk IL Ltd.Inventors: Menahem Lasser, Meir Avraham
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Publication number: 20110170349Abstract: A plurality of memory cells are managed by obtaining values of one or more environmental parameters of the cells and adjusting values of one or more reference voltages of the cells accordingly. Alternatively, a statistic of at least some of the cells, relative to a single reference parameter that corresponds to a control parameter of the cells, is measured, and the value of the reference voltage is adjusted accordingly. Examples of environmental parameters include program-erase cycle count, data retention time and temperature. Examples of reference voltages include read reference voltages and program verify reference voltages. Examples of statistics include the fraction of cells whose threshold voltages exceed initial lower bounds or initial medians.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Inventors: Meir Avraham, Amir Ronen
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Patent number: 7957189Abstract: A plurality of memory cells are managed by obtaining values of one or more environmental parameters of the cells and adjusting values of one or more reference voltages of the cells accordingly. Alternatively, a statistic of at least some of the cells, relative to a single reference parameter that corresponds to a control parameter of the cells, is measured, and the value of the reference voltage is adjusted accordingly. Examples of environmental parameters include program-erase cycle count, data retention time and temperature. Examples of reference voltages include read reference voltages and program verify reference voltages. Examples of statistics include the fraction of cells whose threshold voltages exceed initial lower bounds or initial medians.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2006Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: SanDisk IL Ltd.Inventors: Meir Avraham, Amir Ronen
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Patent number: 7817469Abstract: A plurality of memory cells are managed by obtaining values of one or more environmental parameters of the cells and adjusting values of one or more reference voltages of the cells accordingly. Alternatively, a statistic of at least some of the cells, relative to a single reference parameter that corresponds to a control parameter of the cells, is measured, and the value of the reference voltage is adjusted accordingly. Examples of environmental parameters include program-erase cycle count, data retention time and temperature. Examples of reference voltages include read reference voltages and program verify reference voltages. Examples of statistics include the fraction of cells whose threshold voltages exceed initial lower bounds or initial medians.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2005Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: SanDisk IL Ltd.Inventors: Meir Avraham, Amir Ronen
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Publication number: 20100262799Abstract: A method includes storing at a non-volatile memory in a data storage device a first copy of a memory management table. The method further includes storing, at the non-volatile memory, a list of data entries that identify unused blocks of the non-volatile memory, where the list defines an order of allocating the unused blocks. The method further includes, in response to detecting a power event, accessing an entry of the ordered list to identify a block, and selectively updating the first copy of the memory management table based on a status of the identified block.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: SANDISK IL LTD.Inventors: Menahem Lasser, Meir Avraham
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Patent number: 7769945Abstract: Methods for maintaining data structures in accordance with the events of a nonvolatile memory system. At least part of one or more management tables and a future information data structure are stored in a nonvolatile memory. The future information data structure contains records of events expected to occur subsequent to the storing of the future information data structure. When flash memory events occur, those events are handled in accordance with the future information data structure. When the memory system wakes up, the management table(s) is/are retrieved and the records of the future information data structure are compared with the table(s) state. The table(s) is/are updated in accordance with the future information data structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Sandisk IL Ltd.Inventors: Menahem Lasser, Meir Avraham
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Patent number: 7752380Abstract: A memory device includes two dies. A first memory is fabricated on one die. A controller of the first memory is fabricated on the other die. Also fabricated on the other die is another component, such as a second memory, that communicates with a host system using a plurality of signals different from the signals used by the first memory. The device includes a single interface for communicating with the host system using only the respective signals of the second component. In a most preferred embodiment, the first memory is a NAND flash memory and the second memory is a SDRAM.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2003Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: SanDisk IL LtdInventors: Meir Avraham, Dan Inbar, Ziv Paz
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Patent number: 7743293Abstract: A method of testing a SIP that has a CPU, a nonvolatile memory and a volatile memory. First, the CPU is used to test the memories. Then the CPU is tested separately. Preferably, the programs for testing the memories are pre-stored in and loaded from the nonvolatile memory into the volatile memory and are executed by the CPU in the volatile memory. Preferably, the test results are stored in the nonvolatile memory.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2008Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: SanDisk IL Ltd.Inventor: Meir Avraham
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Patent number: 7721040Abstract: Systems and computer readable codes for maintaining data structures in accordance with the events of a nonvolatile memory system. At least part of one or more management tables and a future information data structure are stored in a nonvolatile memory. The future information data structure contains records of events expected to occur subsequent to the storing of the future information data structure. When flash memory events occur, those events are handled in accordance with the future information data structure. When the memory system wakes up, the management table(s) is/are retrieved and the records of the future information data structure are compared with the table(s) state. The table(s) is/are updated in accordance with the future information data structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: SanDisk IL Ltd.Inventors: Menahem Lasser, Meir Avraham
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Patent number: 7546510Abstract: A compact high-speed data encoder/decoder for single-bit forward error-correction, and methods for same. This is especially useful in situations where hardware and software complexity is restricted, such as in a monolithic flash memory controller during initial startup and software loading, where robust hardware and software error correction is not feasible, and where rapid decoding is important. The present invention arranges the data to be protected into a rectangular array and determines the location of a single bit error in terms of row and column positions. So doing greatly reduces the size of lookup tables for converting error syndromes to error locations, and allows fast error correction by a simple circuit with minimal hardware allocation. Use of square arrays reduces the hardware requirements even further.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2004Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Sandisk IL Ltd.Inventors: Itai Dror, Meir Avraham, Boris Dulgunov, Eliyahu Fumbarov
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Publication number: 20080313511Abstract: A method of testing a SIP that has a CPU, a nonvolatile memory and a volatile memory. First, the CPU is used to test the memories. Then the CPU is tested separately. Preferably, the programs for testing the memories are pre-stored in and loaded from the nonvolatile memory into the volatile memory and are executed by the CPU in the volatile memory. Preferably, the test results are stored in the nonvolatile memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2008Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: SanDisk IL Ltd.Inventor: Meir Avraham
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Patent number: 7424659Abstract: A method of testing a SIP that has a CPU, a nonvolatile memory and a volatile memory. First, the CPU is used to test the memories. Then the CPU is tested separately. Preferably, the programs for testing the memories are pre-stored in and loaded from the nonvolatile memory into the volatile memory and are executed by the CPU in the volatile memory. Preferably, the test results are stored in the nonvolatile memory.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2003Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Sandisk Il Ltd.Inventor: Meir Avraham
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Publication number: 20080177935Abstract: Methods for maintaining data structures in accordance with the events of a nonvolatile memory system. At least part of one or more management tables and a future information data structure are stored in a nonvolatile memory. The future information data structure contains records of events expected to occur subsequent to the storing of the future information data structure. When flash memory events occur, those events are handled in accordance with the future information data structure. When the memory system wakes up, the management table(s) is/are retrieved and the records of the future information data structure are compared with the table(s) state. The table(s) is/are updated in accordance with the future information data structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventors: Menahem Lasser, Meir Avraham
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Publication number: 20080177936Abstract: Systems and computer readable codes for maintaining data structures in accordance with the events of a nonvolatile memory system. At least part of one or more management tables and a future information data structure are stored in a nonvolatile memory. The future information data structure contains records of events expected to occur subsequent to the storing of the future information data structure. When flash memory events occur, those events are handled in accordance with the future information data structure. When the memory system wakes up, the management table(s) is/are retrieved and the records of the future information data structure are compared with the table(s) state. The table(s) is/are updated in accordance with the future information data structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventors: Menahem Lasser, Meir Avraham
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Publication number: 20070132550Abstract: An electromechanical lock device includes a communication mechanism, wherein are received digital data include an instruction set of operational instructions; a controller that is operative to produce electric signals in association with the instruction set; an actuator that is responsive to the controller to perform a set of operations that correspond to the electronic signals; and a lock mechanism that is manipulated in response to the set of operations, such that the locking mechanism is operative to unlock according to a specific pre-defined set of operations. A token operationally interacts with the communication mechanism of the electromechanical lock device. Access to a location is controlled by blocking the access using such an electromechanical lock device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2006Publication date: June 14, 2007Applicant: MSYSTEMS LTD.Inventors: Meir Avraham, Itzhak Pomerantz, Nitzan Achsaf
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Publication number: 20070070696Abstract: A plurality of memory cells are managed by obtaining values of one or more environmental parameters of the cells and adjusting values of one or more reference voltages of the cells accordingly. Alternatively, a statistic of at least some of the cells, relative to a single reference parameter that corresponds to a control parameter of the cells, is measured, and the value of the reference voltage is adjusted accordingly. Examples of environmental parameters include program-erase cycle count, data retention time and temperature. Examples of reference voltages include read reference voltages and program verify reference voltages. Examples of statistics include the fraction of cells whose threshold voltages exceed initial lower bounds or initial medians.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2006Publication date: March 29, 2007Inventors: Meir Avraham, Amir Ronen
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Patent number: 7177200Abstract: A datum is stored in a memory by placing a memory cell in a first state that is indicative of the datum, and later placing the same or a different cell in a second state that is indicative of the same datum. If a different cell is placed in the second state, both cells are programmed to store the same number of bits, and then preferably the first cell is erased. Preferably, the first cell is placed in the first state by the application thereto of a first train of voltage pulses until the cell's threshold voltage exceeds a first reference voltage, and the first or second cell is placed in the second state by the application thereto of a second train of voltage pulses until the cell's threshold voltage exceeds a second reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2004Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: msystems Ltd.Inventors: Amir Ronen, Meir Avraham
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Patent number: 7003620Abstract: An appliance that includes a host device and a memory unit with a primary memory, and a method of operating the appliance. According to one aspect of the appliance, the primary memory is nonvolatile and the memory unit also includes a volatile memory a power sensor and a controller. When the power sensor detects interruption of power to the memory unit, the controller copies data selectively from the volatile memory to the primary memory. Power for this copying is provided by a secondary power source such as a battery or a capacitor. According to another aspect of the appliance, the appliance includes primary and secondary power sources, and the memory unit also includes a charge pump whose functions include both boosting power from the primary source for the primary memory and charging the secondary source.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd.Inventors: Meir Avraham, Menahem Lasser
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Publication number: 20060028875Abstract: A plurality of memory cells are managed by obtaining values of one or more environmental parameters of the cells and adjusting values of one or more reference voltages of the cells accordingly. Alternatively, a statistic of at least some of the cells, relative to a single reference parameter that corresponds to a control parameter of the cells, is measured, and the value of the reference voltage is adjusted accordingly. Examples of environmental parameters include program-erase cycle count, data retention time and temperature. Examples of reference voltages include read reference voltages and program verify reference voltages. Examples of statistics include the fraction of cells whose threshold voltages exceed initial lower bounds or initial medians.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2005Publication date: February 9, 2006Inventors: Meir Avraham, Amir Ronen