Patents by Inventor Michael A. Dieter
Michael A. Dieter 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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Publication number: 20220004466Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Michael Dieter Richter, Thomas Hein, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Martin Brox, Peter Mayer
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Publication number: 20210397381Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for receive-side crosstalk cancelation are described. A device that receives multiple signals over different transmission lines may include a circuit for canceling crosstalk. The circuit may include one or more capacitors or inductors that are coupled with the inputs of multiple receive circuits. The circuit may also include a set of resistors that are coupled with the receive circuits. In some cases, the device may dynamically configure the cancelation circuit to provide a particular bandwidth or strength of cancelation. In such cases, the device may configure the circuit autonomously or based on control information from another device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Peter Mayer, Martin Brox, Michael Dieter Richter, Thomas Hein
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Publication number: 20210319811Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Peter Mayer, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Michael Dieter Richter, Martin Brox, Thomas Hein
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Publication number: 20210318968Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for training procedures on reference voltages and sampling times associated with symbols communicated with a memory device are described. The training procedures may be configured to compensate for variations that may occur in different symbols of a signal. For example, an individual training operation may be performed for each reference voltage within a first unit interval. These individual training operations may allow a reference voltage of the first unit interval to be positionable independent of other reference voltages in the same unit interval or in different unit intervals. In another example, an individual training operation may be performed for the sampling time associated with a reference voltage. These individual training operations may allow a sampling time associated with a reference voltage in the first unit interval to be positionable independent of other sampling times in the same unit interval or in different unit intervals.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Peter Mayer, Thomas Hein, Martin Brox, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Michael Dieter Richter
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Patent number: 11144385Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for transmission failure feedback associated with a memory device are described. A memory device may detect errors in received data and transmit an indication of the error when detected. The memory device may receive data and checksum information for the data from a controller. The memory device may generate a checksum for the received data and may detect transmission errors. The memory device may transmit an indication of detected errors to the controller, and the indication may be transmitted using a line that is different than an error detection code (EDC) line. A low-speed tracking clock signal may also be transmitted by the memory device over a line different than the EDC line. The memory device may transmit a generated checksum to the controller with a time offset applied to the checksum signaled over the EDC line.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Peter Mayer, Thomas Hein, Martin Brox, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Michael Dieter Richter
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Patent number: 11138064Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for error detection, error correction, and error management by memory devices are described. Error thresholds for a memory device are configurable based on parameters such as a type of data or a location of stored data. When retrieving the data, the memory device tracks or counts errors in the data and determines whether the error threshold has been satisfied. The memory device transmits (e.g., to a host device) an indication of whether the error threshold has been satisfied, and the system is configured to perform functions to correct the errors and/or prevent further errors. The memory device is also configured to identify errors in received commands or to identify errors introduced in data after the data was received (e.g., using an error detecting code associated with a command or bus).Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Michael Dieter Richter, Thomas Hein, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Martin Brox, Peter Mayer
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Patent number: 11119700Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for receive-side crosstalk cancelation are described. A device that receives multiple signals over different transmission lines may include a circuit for canceling crosstalk. The circuit may include one or more capacitors or inductors that are coupled with the inputs of multiple receive circuits. The circuit may also include a set of resistors that are coupled with the receive circuits. In some cases, the device may dynamically configure the cancelation circuit to provide a particular bandwidth or strength of cancelation. In such cases, the device may configure the circuit autonomously or based on control information from another device.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2020Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Peter Mayer, Martin Brox, Michael Dieter Richter, Thomas Hein
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Patent number: 11113212Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Martin Brox, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Thomas Hein, Michael Dieter Richter, Peter Mayer
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Patent number: 11086803Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Michael Dieter Richter, Thomas Hein, Martin Brox, Peter Mayer, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl
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Patent number: 11086733Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Michael Dieter Richter, Thomas Hein, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Martin Brox, Peter Mayer
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Publication number: 20210234732Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for postamble for multi-level signal modulation are described. One or more channels of a bus may be driven with a multi-level signal having at least two (2) distinct signal levels. After driving the bus with the multi-level signal, at least one (1) of the channels may be terminated. In some examples, the channel may be terminated to a relatively high signal level. Before termination, the channel may be driven with a postamble having an intermediate signal level. Driving the channel to an intermediate signal level before terminating the channel (e.g., to a high signal level) may avoid maximum transitions of the signal. For example, transitions between a lowest potential signal level and the high signal level (e.g., the termination level) may be avoided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2021Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Natalija Jovanovic, Ronny Schneider, Martin Brox, Thomas Hein, Michael Dieter Richter
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Publication number: 20210224149Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for bit and signal level mapping are described to enable a memory device to transmit or receive a multi-symbol signal that includes more than two (2) physical levels. Some cyclic redundancy check (CRC) calculations may generate one or more bits of CRC output per symbol of an associated signal and the output may be transmitted via a multi-symbol signal by converting one or more CRC output bit to a physical level of the signal. The conversion, or mapping, process may be performed such that the physical levels of the signal avoid a transition between a highest physical level and lowest physical level. For example, a modulation scheme or mapping process may be configured to map different values of CRC output bits to different physical levels, where the different physical levels are separated by one other physical level associated with the signal or the modulation scheme.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Martin Brox, Michael Dieter Richter, Thomas Hein, Ronny Schneider, Natalija Jovanovic
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Publication number: 20210226722Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Stefan Dietrich, Thomas Hein, Natalija Jovanovic, Ronny Schneider, Michael Dieter Richter, Martin Brox
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Publication number: 20210217458Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2021Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Martin Brox, Thomas Hein, Stefan Dietrich, Natalija Jovanovic, Ronny Schneider, Michael Dieter Richter
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Patent number: 10998011Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 12, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Peter Mayer, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Michael Dieter Richter, Martin Brox, Thomas Hein
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Patent number: 10997095Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for training procedures on reference voltages and sampling times associated with symbols communicated with a memory device are described. The training procedures may be configured to compensate for variations that may occur in different symbols of a signal. For example, an individual training operation may be performed for each reference voltage within a first unit interval. These individual training operations may allow a reference voltage of the first unit interval to be positionable independent of other reference voltages in the same unit interval or in different unit intervals. In another example, an individual training operation may be performed for the sampling time associated with a reference voltage. These individual training operations may allow a sampling time associated with a reference voltage in the first unit interval to be positionable independent of other sampling times in the same unit interval or in different unit intervals.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Peter Mayer, Thomas Hein, Martin Brox, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Michael Dieter Richter
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Publication number: 20210089230Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for controlled and mode-dependent heating of a memory device are described. In various examples, a memory device or an apparatus that includes a memory device may have circuitry configured to heat the memory device. The circuitry configured to heat the memory device may be activated, deactivated, or otherwise operated based on an indication of a temperature (e.g., of the memory device). In some examples, activating or otherwise operating the circuitry configured to heat the memory device may be based on an operating mode (e.g., of the memory device), which may be associated with certain access operations or operational states (e.g., of the memory device). Various operations or operating modes (e.g., of the memory device) may also be based on indications of a temperature (e.g., of the memory device).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Peter Mayer, Michael Dieter Richter, Martin Brox, Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Thomas Hein
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Publication number: 20210083720Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for pre-distortion of multi-level signaling are described. A device may identify two multi-level signals that are to be transmitted over two transmission lines at the same time. The device may estimate the crosstalk expected to be caused by one of the multi-level signals on the other during propagation. Based on the expected crosstalk, the device may generate a signal that compensates for the expected crosstalk. In some examples, the signal may be a combination of the first signal and a cancelation signal. In some examples, once the compensated signal has been generated, it is transmitted over its respective transmission line at the same time that the other multi-level is transmitted over its respective transmission line.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Michael Dieter Richter, Martin Brox, Peter Mayer, Thomas Hein
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Patent number: 10860417Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for multiple memory die techniques are described. A memory device may include multiple memory dies and may be configured to communicate with a host device. For example, each memory die may be coupled with a set of data pins that includes respective subsets of data pins (e.g., a set of eight data pins having two subsets of four data pins). Further, each memory die may have one or more auxiliary pins used for channel coding information for data communicated over one or more of the subsets of data pins. In some cases, each memory die may include one or more additional auxiliary pins, which may be used for channel coding information for a respective subset of data pins or multiple subsets of data pins. The channel coding information associated with the auxiliary pin(s) may include error detection code information, data coding information, or any combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2019Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Wolfgang Anton Spirkl, Thomas Hein, Peter Mayer, Michael Dieter Richter, Martin Brox
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Publication number: 20200379936Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for reconfigurable channel interfaces for memory devices are described. A memory device may be split into multiple logical channels, where each logical channel is associated with a memory array and a command/address (CA) interface. In some cases, the memory device may configure a first CA interface associated with a first channel to forward commands to a first memory array associated with the first channel and a second memory array associated with a second channel. The configuring may include isolating a second CA interface associated with the second channel from the second array and coupling the first CA interface with the second memory array.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventor: Michael Dieter Richter