Patents by Inventor Michael Grobis

Michael Grobis 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: 20220108158
    Abstract: An MRAM-based vector multiplication device, such as can be used for inferencing in a neural network, is presented that is ultralow power, low cost, and does not require special on-chip programming. A crosspoint array has an MRAM cell at each crosspoint junction and periphery array circuitry capable of supplying independent input voltages to each word line and reading current on each bit line. Vector multiplication is performed as an in-array multiplication of a vector of input voltages with matrix weight values encoded by the MRAM cell states. The MRAM cells can be individually programmed using a combination of input voltages and an external magnetic field. The external magnetic field is chosen so that a write voltage of one polarity reduces the anisotropy sufficiently to align the cell state with the external field, but is insufficient to align the cell if only half of the write voltage is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael Grobis, Michael Nicolas Albert Tran
  • Publication number: 20220108759
    Abstract: Non-volatile memory structures for performing compute-in-memory inferencing for neural networks are presented. A memory array is formed according to a crosspoint architecture with a memory cell at each crosspoint junction. The multi-levels memory cells (MLCs) are formed of multiple of ultra-thin dielectric layers separated by metallic layers, where programming of the memory cell is done by selectively breaking down one or more of the dielectric layers by selecting the write voltage level. In an alternate set of embodiments, the memory cells are formed as anti-fuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael Nicolas Albert Tran, Michael Grobis
  • Patent number: 11289171
    Abstract: Non-volatile memory structures for performing compute-in-memory inferencing for neural networks are presented. A memory array is formed according to a crosspoint architecture with a memory cell at each crosspoint junction. The multi-levels memory cells (MLCs) are formed of multiple of ultra-thin dielectric layers separated by metallic layers, where programming of the memory cell is done by selectively breaking down one or more of the dielectric layers by selecting the write voltage level. In an alternate set of embodiments, the memory cells are formed as anti-fuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael Nicolas Albert Tran, Michael Grobis
  • Patent number: 11271040
    Abstract: A memory cell includes an ovonic threshold switch (OTS) selector containing a first electrode, a second electrode, an OTS located between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a current focusing layer containing discrete electrically conductive current focusing regions having a width of 30 nm or less located between the first electrode and the OTS, and a memory device located in electrical series with the OTS selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Derek Stewart, John Read, Michael Grobis
  • Patent number: 11031435
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of memory cells, and an isolation material portion located between the memory cells. The isolation material portion includes at least one ovonic threshold switch material portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Grobis, Joyeeta Nag, Derek Stewart
  • Patent number: 11004489
    Abstract: A perpendicular spin transfer torque MRAM memory cell includes a magnetic tunnel junction stack comprising a pinned layer having a fixed direction of magnetization, a free layer having a direction of magnetization that can be switched, a tunnel barrier between the pinned layer and the free layer, a cap layer above the free layer and one or more in-stack multi-layer thermal barrier layers having multiple internal interfaces between materials. The thermal barrier layers have high enough thermal resistivity to maintain the heat generated in the memory cell and low enough electrical resistivity to not materially change the electrical resistance of the memory cell. One embodiment further includes a thermal barrier liner surrounding the free layer, pinned layer, tunnel barrier and cap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Goran Mihajlovic, Tiffany Santos, Michael Grobis
  • Patent number: 10891999
    Abstract: A MRAM memory cell comprises a SHE layer, a magnetic bit layer with perpendicular anisotropy and an Oersted layer. The magnetic bit layer has a switchable direction of magnetization in order to store data. Data is written to the MRAM memory cell using the Spin Hall Effect so that spin current generated in the SHE layer exerts a torque on the magnetic bit layer while the Oersted layer provides heat and an Oersted field to enable deterministic switching. Data is read form the MRAM memory cell using the Anomalous Hall Effect and sensing voltage at the Oersted layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Goran Mihajlovic, Michael Grobis
  • Publication number: 20200402559
    Abstract: A perpendicular spin transfer torque MRAM memory cell includes a magnetic tunnel junction stack comprising a pinned layer having a fixed direction of magnetization, a free layer having a direction of magnetization that can be switched, a tunnel barrier between the pinned layer and the free layer, a cap layer above the free layer and one or more in-stack multi-layer thermal barrier layers having multiple internal interfaces between materials. The thermal barrier layers have high enough thermal resistivity to maintain the heat generated in the memory cell and low enough electrical resistivity to not materially change the electrical resistance of the memory cell. One embodiment further includes a thermal barrier liner surrounding the free layer, pinned layer, tunnel barrier and cap layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Goran Mihajlovic, Tiffany Santos, Michael Grobis
  • Publication number: 20200402561
    Abstract: A MRAM memory cell comprises a SHE layer, a magnetic bit layer with perpendicular anisotropy and an Oersted layer. The magnetic bit layer has a switchable direction of magnetization in order to store data. Data is written to the MRAM memory cell using the Spin Hall Effect so that spin current generated in the SHE layer exerts a torque on the magnetic bit layer while the Oersted layer provides heat and an Oersted field to enable deterministic switching. Data is read form the MRAM memory cell using the Anomalous Hall Effect and sensing voltage at the Oersted layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Goran Mihajlovic, Michael Grobis
  • Publication number: 20200395410
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of memory cells, and an isolation material portion located between the memory cells. The isolation material portion includes at least one ovonic threshold switch material portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Michael GROBIS, Joyeeta NAG, Derek STEWART
  • Patent number: 10868245
    Abstract: A phase change memory device includes a phase change material portion located between a first electrode and a second electrode, and a crystallization template material portion located between the first electrode and the second electrode in contact with the phase change material portion. The crystallization template material portion and the phase change material portion belong to a same crystal system and have matching lattice spacing, or the crystallization template material portion and the phase change material portion do not belong to the same crystal system, but have a matching translational symmetry along at least one paired lattice plane with a matching lattice spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Zhaoqiang Bai, Mac Apodaca, Michael Grobis, Michael Nicolas Albert Tran, Neil Leslie Robertson, Gerardo Bertero
  • Publication number: 20200388752
    Abstract: A phase change memory device includes a phase change material portion located between a first electrode and a second electrode, and a crystallization template material portion located between the first electrode and the second electrode in contact with the phase change material portion. The crystallization template material portion and the phase change material portion belong to a same crystal system and have matching lattice spacing, or the crystallization template material portion and the phase change material portion do not belong to the same crystal system, but have a matching translational symmetry along at least one paired lattice plane with a matching lattice spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Zhaoqiang BAI, Mac APODACA, Michael GROBIS, Michael Nicolas Albert TRAN, Neil Leslie ROBERTSON, Gerardo BERTERO
  • Patent number: 10777248
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) memory cell comprises a pinned layer having fixed direction of magnetization that is perpendicular to a plane of the pinned layer, a first free layer having a direction of magnetization that can be switched and is perpendicular to a plane of the first free layer, a tunnel barrier positioned between the pinned layer and the first free layer, a second free layer having a direction of magnetization that can be switched, and a spacer layer positioned between the first free layer and the second free layer. Temperature dependence of coercivity of the second free layer is greater than temperature dependence of coercivity of the first free layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Goran Mihajlovic, Neil Smith, Michael Grobis, Michael Tran
  • Patent number: 10622063
    Abstract: A method of operating a phase change memory device includes flowing a write current of a first polarity through a phase change memory element of a selected phase change memory cell, and flowing a read current of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity through the phase change memory element of the selected phase change memory cell. A first junction between the phase change memory element and a first electrode and a second junction between the phase change memory element and a second electrode exhibit asymmetric thermoelectric heat generation during the step of flowing the write current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Michael Grobis, Zhaoqiang Bai, Ward Parkinson
  • Publication number: 20200005863
    Abstract: A method of operating a phase change memory device includes flowing a write current of a first polarity through a phase change memory element of a selected phase change memory cell, and flowing a read current of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity through the phase change memory element of the selected phase change memory cell. A first junction between the phase change memory element and a first electrode and a second junction between the phase change memory element and a second electrode exhibit asymmetric thermoelectric heat generation during the step of flowing the write current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Michael GROBIS, Zhaoqiang BAI, Ward PARKINSON
  • Patent number: 10388646
    Abstract: A surge protection device contains a first electrode, a second electrode electrically connected to electrical ground, and a field-induced switching component electrically contacting the first electrode and the second electrode. The field-induced switching component can include a correlated-electron material or a volatile conductive bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Derek Stewart, Daniel Bedau, Michael Grobis, Christopher J. Petti
  • Patent number: 9190093
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magnetic medium that includes a substrate and a bit patterned magnetic layer applied to the substrate. The bit-patterned magnetic layer includes islands and each island includes a first magnetic material having a first magnetic anisotropy and that has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral surface. Each island also includes a second magnetic material covering the peripheral surface of the first magnetic material and having a second magnetic anisotropy that is higher than the first magnetic anisotropy. In one embodiment, the first magnetic material may comprise a nucleation domain in a centrally located surface portion of the magnetic islands and/or the second magnetic material may comprise an outer shell on the peripheral surface of the islands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: HGST NETHERLANDS, B.V.
    Inventors: Michael Grobis, Dan S. Kercher, Kurt A. Rubin
  • Publication number: 20140218824
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magnetic medium that includes a substrate and a bit patterned magnetic layer applied to the substrate. The bit-patterned magnetic layer includes islands and each island includes a first magnetic material having a first magnetic anisotropy and that has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral surface. Each island also includes a second magnetic material covering the peripheral surface of the first magnetic material and having a second magnetic anisotropy that is higher than the first magnetic anisotropy. In one embodiment, the first magnetic material may comprise a nucleation domain in a centrally located surface portion of the magnetic islands and/or the second magnetic material may comprise an outer shell on the peripheral surface of the islands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Michael Grobis, Dan S. Kercher, Kurt A. Rubin