Patents by Inventor Michael G. Miller

Michael G. Miller 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: 20220013182
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for operating mixed mode blocks. One example method can include tracking single level cell (SLC) mode cycles and extra level cell (XLC) mode cycles performed on the mixed mode blocks, maintaining a mixed mode cycle count corresponding to the mixed mode blocks, and adjusting the mixed mode cycle count differently for mixed mode blocks operated in a SLC mode than for mixed blocks operated in a XLC mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Kishore K. Muchherla, Ashutosh Malshe, Preston A. Thomson, Michael G. Miller, Gary F. Besinga, Scott A. Stoller, Sampath K. Ratnam, Renato C. Padilla, Peter Feeley
  • Patent number: 11204696
    Abstract: Memory devices including a hybrid cache, methods of operating a memory device, and associated electronic systems including a memory device having a hybrid cache, are disclosed. The hybrid cache includes a dynamic cache that may include x-level cell (XLC) blocks of non-volatile memory cells, which may include multi-level cells (MLC), triple-level cells (TLC), quad-level cells (QLC), etc., shared between the dynamic cache and a main memory. The hybrid cache includes a static cache including single-level cell (SLC) blocks of non-volatile memory cells. The memory device further includes a memory controller configured to disable at least one of the static cache and the dynamic cache based on a workload of the hybrid cache relative to a Total Bytes Written (TBW) Spec for the memory device. The cache may be disabled based on, for example, program/erase (PE) cycles of one or more portions of the memory device or the workload exceeding a threshold, which may define one or more switch points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kishore K. Muchherla, Ashutosh Malshe, Sampath K. Ratnam, Peter Feeley, Michael G. Miller, Christopher S. Hale, Renato C. Padilla
  • Publication number: 20210365184
    Abstract: The occurrence of an asynchronous power loss (APL) event is detected in a memory sub-system. In response, an APL handling operation is performed. The APL handing operation includes identifying a last written page at a first page location in a block of the memory device, wherein the last written page is associated with a memory cell of the memory device, copying data from the last written page and from a related page associated with the memory cell to a temporary storage area in the memory device, copying the data from the temporary storage area to a second page location in the block of the memory device, and providing a notification that the memory device has recovered from the APL event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventor: Michael G. Miller
  • Patent number: 11158392
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for operating mixed mode blocks. One example method can include tracking single level cell (SLC) mode cycles and extra level cell (XLC) mode cycles performed on the mixed mode blocks, maintaining a mixed mode cycle count corresponding to the mixed mode blocks, and adjusting the mixed mode cycle count differently for mixed mode blocks operated in a SLC mode than for mixed blocks operated in a XLC mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kishore K. Muchherla, Ashutosh Malshe, Preston A. Thomson, Michael G. Miller, Gary F. Besinga, Scott A. Stoller, Sampath K. Ratnam, Renato C. Padilla, Peter Feeley
  • Publication number: 20210286525
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes memory blocks erasable in a single level cell mode. A number of embodiments include a memory comprising a plurality of mixed mode blocks and a controller. The controller may be configured to identify a particular mixed mode block for an erase operation and, responsive to a determined intent to subsequently write the particular mixed mode block in a single level cell (SLC) mode, perform the erase operation in the SLC mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Kishore K. Muchherla, Ashutosh Malshe, Preston A. Thomson, Michael G. Miller, Sampath K. Ratnam, Renato C. Padilla, Peter Feeley
  • Patent number: 11120885
    Abstract: An indication of an initialization of power to a memory device is received. Responsive to receiving the indication of the initialization of power to the memory device, whether a status indicator associated with a written page of the memory device can be read is determined. Responsive to determining that the status indicator cannot be read, a programming of data to the memory device did not complete based on a prior loss of power to the memory device is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Miller, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Harish R. Singidi, Walter Di Francesco, Renato C. Padilla, Gary F. Besinga, Violante Moschiano
  • Patent number: 11106372
    Abstract: An asynchronous power loss (APL) event is determined to occur. A first erased page (FEP) in a block of a memory device is determined and a last written page (LWP) is determined from the FEP. Data is read from the LWP and peer pages corresponding to the LWP. The data is copied to a temporary area in the memory device and a write pointer is incremented by a deterministic number of pages in the block. Data from the temporary area is copied to a page location in the block identified by the write pointer and the write pointer is incremented by the deterministic number of pages again. A host system is notified that the memory device is ready for a subsequent programming operation after the APL event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Miller
  • Publication number: 20210264991
    Abstract: Disclosed in some examples, are methods, systems, and machine readable mediums which compensate for read-disturb effects by shifting the read voltages used to read the value in a NAND cell based upon a read counter. For example, the NAND memory device may have a read counter that corresponds to a group of NAND cells (e.g., a page, a block, a superblock). Anytime a NAND cell in the group is read, the read counter may be incremented. The read voltage, Vread, may be adjusted based on the read counter to account for the read disturb voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Harish Singidi, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Gianni Stephen Alsasua, Ashutosh Malshe, Sampath Ratnam, Gary F. Besinga, Michael G. Miller
  • Publication number: 20210232508
    Abstract: An example method of the present disclosure includes, responsive to a loss of last written page information by a memory system, initiating a last written page search to determine last written page information of a memory device, where the last written page search is initiated via a command from a controller of the memory system to the memory device, responsive to receiving the command, performing the last written page search on the memory device, and providing the last written page information to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Dheeraj Srinivasan, Ali Mohammadzadeh, Michael G. Miller, Xiaoxiao Zhang, Jung Sheng Hoei
  • Publication number: 20210200435
    Abstract: An asynchronous power loss (APL) event is determined to occur. A first erased page (FEP) in a block of a memory device is determined and a last written page (LWP) is determined from the FEP. Data is read from the LWP and peer pages corresponding to the LWP. The data is copied to a temporary area in the memory device and a write pointer is incremented by a deterministic number of pages in the block. Data from the temporary area is copied to a page location in the block identified by the write pointer and the write pointer is incremented by the deterministic number of pages again. A host system is notified that the memory device is ready for a subsequent programming operation after the APL event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventor: Michael G. Miller
  • Patent number: 11042306
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes memory blocks erasable in a single level cell mode. A number of embodiments include a memory comprising a plurality of mixed mode blocks and a controller. The controller may be configured to identify a particular mixed mode block for an erase operation and, responsive to a determined intent to subsequently write the particular mixed mode block in a single level cell (SLC) mode, perform the erase operation in the SLC mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kishore K. Muchherla, Ashutosh Malshe, Preston A. Thomson, Michael G. Miller, Sampath K. Ratnam, Renato C. Padilla, Peter Feeley
  • Patent number: 11031089
    Abstract: Disclosed in some examples, are methods, systems, and machine readable mediums which compensate for read-disturb effects by shifting the read voltages used to read the value in a NAND cell based upon a read counter. For example, the NAND memory device may have a read counter that corresponds to a group of NAND cells (e.g., a page, a block, a superblock). Anytime a NAND cell in the group is read, the read counter may be incremented. The read voltage, Vread, may be adjusted based on the read counter to account for the read disturb voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Harish Reddy Singidi, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Gianni Stephen Alsasua, Ashutosh Malshe, Sampath Ratnam, Gary F. Besinga, Michael G. Miller
  • Publication number: 20210133099
    Abstract: An example apparatus for garbage collection can include a memory including a plurality of mixed mode blocks. The example apparatus can include a controller. The controller can be configured to write a first portion of sequential host data to the plurality of mixed mode blocks of the memory in a single level cell (SLC) mode. The controller can be configured to write a second portion of sequential host data to the plurality of mixed mode blocks in an XLC mode. The controller can be configured to write the second portion of sequential host data by performing a garbage collection operation. The garbage collection operation can include adding more blocks to a free block pool than a quantity of blocks that are written to in association with writing the second portion of sequential host data to the plurality of mixed mode blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Kishore K. Muchherla, Sampath K. Ratnam, Peter Feeley, Michael G. Miller, Daniel J. Hubbard, Renato C. Padilla, Ashutosh Malshe, Harish R. Singidi
  • Patent number: 10977186
    Abstract: An example method of the present disclosure includes, responsive to a loss of last written page information by a memory system, initiating a last written page search to determine last written page information of a memory device, where the last written page search is initiated via a command from a controller of the memory system to the memory device, responsive to receiving the command, performing the last written page search on the memory device, and providing the last written page information to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dheeraj Srinivasan, Ali Mohammadzadeh, Michael G. Miller, Xiaoxiao Zhang, Jung Sheng Hoei
  • Patent number: 10949344
    Abstract: An example apparatus for garbage collection can include a memory including a plurality of mixed mode blocks. The example apparatus can include a controller. The controller can be configured to write a first portion of sequential host data to the plurality of mixed mode blocks of the memory in a single level cell (SLC) mode. The controller can be configured to write a second portion of sequential host data to the plurality of mixed mode blocks in an XLC mode. The controller can be configured to write the second portion of sequential host data by performing a garbage collection operation. The garbage collection operation can include adding more blocks to a free block pool than a quantity of blocks that are written to in association with writing the second portion of sequential host data to the plurality of mixed mode blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kishore K. Muchherla, Sampath K. Ratnam, Peter Feeley, Michael G. Miller, Daniel J. Hubbard, Renato C. Padilla, Ashutosh Malshe, Harish R. Singidi
  • Publication number: 20210074374
    Abstract: An indication of an initialization of power to a memory device is received. Responsive to receiving the indication of the initialization of power to the memory device, whether a status indicator associated with a written page of the memory device can be read is determined. Responsive to determining that the status indicator cannot be read, a programming of data to the memory device did not complete based on a prior loss of power to the memory device is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Michael G. Miller, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Harish R. Singidi, Walter Di Francesco, Renato C. Padilla, Gary F. Besinga, Violante Moschiano
  • Patent number: 10942796
    Abstract: Apparatus having an array of memory cells include a controller configured to read a particular memory cell of a last written page of memory cells of a block of memory cells of the array of memory cells, determine whether a threshold voltage of the particular memory cell is less than a particular voltage level, and mark the last written page of memory cells as affected by power loss during a programming operation of the last written page of memory cells when the threshold voltage of the particular memory cell is determined to be higher than the particular voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Miller, Ashutosh Malshe, Violante Moschiano, Peter Feeley, Gary F. Besinga, Sampath K. Ratnam, Walter Di-Francesco, Renato C. Padilla, Jr., Yun Li, Kishore Kumar Muchherla
  • Publication number: 20210027846
    Abstract: Devices and techniques for initiating and controlling preemptive idle time read scans in a flash based storage system are disclosed. In an example, a memory device includes a NAND memory array and a memory controller to schedule and initiate read scans among multiple locations of the memory array, with such read scans being preemptively triggered during an idle (background) state of the memory device, thus reducing host latency during read and write operations in an active (foreground) state of the memory device. In an example, the optimization technique includes scheduling a read scan operation, monitoring an active or idle state of host IO operations, and preemptively initiating the read scan operation when entering an idle state, before the read scan operation is scheduled to occur. In further examples, the read scan may preemptively occur based on time-based scheduling, frequency-based conditions, or event-driven conditions triggering the read scan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Ashutosh Malshe, Harish Reddy Singidi, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Michael G. Miller, Sampath Ratnam, Xu Zhang, Jie Zhou
  • Patent number: 10854305
    Abstract: An indication of an initialization of power to a memory component can be received. In response to receiving the indication of the initialization, a last written page of a data block of the memory component can be identified. The last written page is associated with a status indicator. A determination is made of whether the status indicator is readable. Responsive to determining that the status indicator readable, it can be determined that programming of data to the data block of the memory component did complete and there is a data retention loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael G. Miller, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Harish R. Singidi, Walter Di Francesco, Renato C. Padilla, Gary F. Besinga, Violante Moschiano
  • Patent number: 10818361
    Abstract: Devices and techniques for initiating and controlling preemptive idle time read scans in a flash based storage system are disclosed. In an example, a memory device includes a NAND memory array and a memory controller to schedule and initiate read scans among multiple locations of the memory array, with such read scans being preemptively triggered during an idle (background) state of the memory device, thus reducing host latency during read and write operations in an active (foreground) state of the memory device. In an example, the optimization technique includes scheduling a read scan operation, monitoring an active or idle state of host IO operations, and preemptively initiating the read scan operation when entering an idle state, before the read scan operation is scheduled to occur. In further examples, the read scan may preemptively occur based on time-based scheduling, frequency-based conditions, or event-driven conditions triggering the read scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashutosh Malshe, Harish Reddy Singidi, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Michael G. Miller, Sampath Ratnam, Xu Zhang, Jie Zhou