Patents by Inventor Michael Sheperek

Michael Sheperek 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: 20250362823
    Abstract: A system includes a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device determines a reference temperature value for a block family while the block family is open and measures a temporal voltage shift (TVS) value of a voltage level within one or more memory cells of the block family. The processing device determines a threshold voltage offset bin based on the reference temperature value and the TVS value and reads data from any page of the block family via application of a threshold voltage offset, specified by the threshold voltage offset bin, to a base read level voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2025
    Publication date: November 27, 2025
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Patent number: 12482530
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system that comprises a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled with the memory device, to perform operations that include, responsive to detecting a triggering event, selecting a family of memory blocks of the memory device, the selected family being associated with a set of bins, each bin associated with a plurality of read voltage offsets to be applied to base read voltages during read operations. The operations performed by the processing device further include calibration operations to determine data state metric values characterizing application of read voltage offsets of various bins. The operations performed by the processing device further include identifying, based on the determined data state metrics, a target bin and associating the selected family with the target bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Publication number: 20250355777
    Abstract: A system includes a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device initializes a block family associated with the memory device and initializes a timer associated with the block family. In response to the timer reaching a soft closure value, the processing device performs a soft closure of the block family while programming a block, determines an amount of time until filling the block completely with data being received from a host system, and decides whether to finish programming the block based on the amount of time and a remainder of time left until the timer reaches a hard closure value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2025
    Publication date: November 20, 2025
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Steven S. Williams
  • Patent number: 12424288
    Abstract: A processing device determines a plurality of computing error metrics that are indicative of operational characteristics between programming distributions within the memory device. The processing device performs a program targeting operation on a memory cell of the memory device to calibrate one or more program verify (PV) targets associated with the programming distributions. Performing the program targeting operation comprises the processing device selecting a rule from a predefined set of rules based on the plurality of computing error metrics, wherein the predefined set of rules corresponds to an adjusting of a PV target of a last programming distribution. In addition, the processing device adjusts, based on the selected rule, the one or more PV targets of a plurality of PV targets associated with the programming distributions, wherein the one or more PV targets correspond to one or more respective voltage values for programming memory cells of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Liikanen, Larry J. Koudele, Michael Sheperek
  • Patent number: 12423013
    Abstract: A system includes a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory device. In some embodiments, the processing device accesses a matrix of threshold voltage offset bins, where a first dimension of the matrix is temperature and a second dimension of the matrix is a temporal voltage shift (TVS) amount. The processing device measures a temperature value based on a reference temperature value for a block family. The processing device measures a TVS value of a voltage level within one or more memory cell of the block family. The processing device retrieves, from the matrix, a threshold voltage offset bin based on the reference temperature value and the TVS value and reads data from any page of the block family via application of a threshold voltage offset, specified by the threshold voltage offset bin, to a base read level voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Patent number: 12417158
    Abstract: A system includes a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device initializes a block family associated with the memory device and a timer associated with the block family. In response to the timer reaching a soft closure value, the processing device performs a soft closure of the block family and a hard closure of the block family in response to a first of the timer reaching a hard closure value or the block family satisfying a hard closure criteria. The processing device detects a first write amplification of a previously closed block family that employed the hard closure value and increases the hard closure value by an amount of time calculated to reduce a second write amplification, of the block family, to below a threshold write amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Steven S. Williams
  • Publication number: 20250285698
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed including a memory device and a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device can perform operations including determining a value of a data state metric of a memory page, wherein the data state metric value is reflective of a number of bit errors associated with the memory page; upon determining that the data state metric value satisfies a first threshold criterion, determining at least two different voltage distribution metrics values currently associated with the memory page, wherein each voltage distribution metrics value reflects one of a voltage distribution margin, a voltage distribution floor, or a voltage distribution center; and responsive to one or more of the voltage distribution metrics values satisfying a second threshold criterion, performing a media management operation with respect to a block associated with the memory page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2025
    Publication date: September 11, 2025
    Inventors: Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Michael Sheperek, Christopher M. Smitchger
  • Publication number: 20250244898
    Abstract: A system comprising a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device initializes a timer at initialization of a block family and stores a value of the timer before powering down the system while the block family is open. Upon the system powering up, the system determines a value of a data state metric associated with memory cells of the block family and estimates a time after program value of the memory cells based on the value of the data state metric. The processing device increments the value of the timer based on the time after program value and closes the block family based on the incremented value of the timer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steven Michael Kientz, Kishore Kumar Muchherla
  • Publication number: 20250246252
    Abstract: A processing device determines a plurality of computing error metrics that are indicative of operational characteristics between programming distributions within the memory device. The processing device performs a program targeting operation on a memory cell of the memory device to calibrate one or more program verify (PV) targets associated with the programming distributions. Performing the program targeting operation comprises the processing device selecting a rule from a predefined set of rules based on the plurality of computing error metrics, wherein the predefined set of rules corresponds to an adjusting of a PV target of a last programming distribution. In addition, the processing device adjusts, based on the selected rule, the one or more PV targets of a plurality of PV targets associated with the programming distributions, wherein the one or more PV targets correspond to one or more respective voltage values for programming memory cells of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: Bruce A. Liikanen, Larry J. Koudele, Michael Sheperek
  • Patent number: 12334166
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed including a memory device and a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device can perform operations including determining a value of a data state metric of a memory page, wherein the data state metric value is reflective of a number of bit errors associated with the memory page; upon determining that the data state metric value satisfies a first threshold criterion, obtaining, from a neural network, a value of a voltage distribution metric associated with the page; and upon determining that the voltage distribution metric value satisfies a second threshold criterion, performing a media management operation with respect to a block associated with the page, wherein the media management operation comprises writing data stored at the block to a new block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Michael Sheperek, Christopher M. Smitchger
  • Publication number: 20250181259
    Abstract: An example memory sub-system includes a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device is configured to identify a first block family associated with a specified memory address; identify a first threshold voltage offset bin associated with the first block family; calibrate a second block family associated with the first threshold voltage offset bin; responsive to calibrating the second block family, associating the first block family with a second threshold voltage offset bin; and read, using the second threshold voltage offset bin, data from the specified memory address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2025
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Mustafa N. Kaynak, Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Bruce A. Liikanen, Peter Feeley, Larry J. Koudele, Shane Nowell, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Patent number: 12293099
    Abstract: A system includes a memory device and a processing device to initialize a block family associated with the memory device and a timer at initialization of the block family. The processing device further stores, in non-volatile memory of the memory device, a value of the timer before powering down the system while the block family is still open. The processing device further detects a power on of the system and measures a data state metric associated with one or more memory cell of a page of the memory device that is associated with the block family. The processing device further compares a level of the data state metric to a temporal voltage shift function to estimate a time after program value of the page and increments the value of the timer, restored from the non-volatile memory, based on the time after program value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steven Michael Kientz, Kishore Kumar Muchherla
  • Patent number: 12125539
    Abstract: A processing device determines a measured bit error count (BEC) value corresponding to a read sample offset operation executed on a first programming voltage distribution of memory cells of a plurality of programming voltage distributions of a memory sub-system. The measured BEC value of the portion of the programming voltage distribution is compared to a threshold BEC value to generate a comparison result. In view of the comparison result, an adjusted program start voltage level is determined by adjusting a default program voltage level of a programming process. The programming process including a series of programming pulses is executed, where the adjusted program start voltage level is set as a starting voltage level of a first programming pulse of the series of programming pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Liikanen, Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele
  • Publication number: 20240331780
    Abstract: A processing device determines a plurality of computing error metrics that are indicative of operational characteristics between programming distributions within the memory device. The processing device performs a program targeting operation on a memory cell of the memory device to calibrate one or more program verify (PV) targets associated with the programming distributions. Performing the program targeting operation comprises the processing device selecting a rule from a predefined set of rules based on the plurality of computing error metrics, wherein the predefined set of rules corresponds to an adjusting of a PV target of a last programming distribution. In addition, the processing device adjusts, based on the selected rule, the one or more PV targets of a plurality of PV targets associated with the programming distributions, wherein the one or more PV targets correspond to one or more respective voltage values for programming memory cells of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Bruce A. LIIKANEN, Larry J. KOUDELE, Michael SHEPEREK
  • Publication number: 20240265989
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system that comprises a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled with the memory device, to perform operations that include, responsive to detecting a triggering event, selecting a family of memory blocks of the memory device, the selected family being associated with a set of bins, each bin associated with a plurality of read voltage offsets to be applied to base read voltages during read operations. The operations performed by the processing device further include calibration operations to determine data state metric values characterizing application of read voltage offsets of various bins. The operations performed by the processing device further include identifying, based on the determined data state metrics, a target bin and associating the selected family with the target bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Patent number: 12040026
    Abstract: A processing device determines difference error counts that are indicative of relative widths of valleys. Each of the valleys is located between a respective pair of programming distributions of memory cells of the memory device. A program targeting operation is performed on a memory cell of the memory device to calibrate one or more program verify (PV) targets associated with the programming distributions. To perform the program targeting operation, a rule from a set of rules is selected based on the difference error counts. The set of rules corresponds to an adjusting of a PV target of a last programming distribution. One or more program verify (PV) targets associated with the programming distributions are adjusted based on the selected rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Liikanen, Larry J. Koudele, Michael Sheperek
  • Publication number: 20240168670
    Abstract: A system includes a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device initializes a block family associated with the memory device and a timer associated with the block family. In response to the timer reaching a soft closure value, the processing device performs a soft closure of the block family and a hard closure of the block family in response to a first of the timer reaching a hard closure value or the block family satisfying a hard closure criteria. The processing device detects a first write amplification of a previously closed block family that employed the hard closure value and increases the hard closure value by an amount of time calculated to reduce a second write amplification, of the block family, to below a threshold write amplification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Steven S. Williams
  • Patent number: 11983065
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to logic based read sample offset operations in a memory sub-system. A processing device performs a first read, a second read, and a third read of data from a memory devices using a first center value corresponding to a first read level threshold, a negative offset value, and a positive offset value, respectively. The processing device performs a XOR operation on results from the first and second reads to obtain a first value and a XOR operation on results from the second and third reads to obtain a second value. The processing device performs a first count operation on the first value to determine a first difference bit count and a second count operation on the second value to determine a second difference bit count. The processing device can store or output the first difference bit count and the second difference bit count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Liikanen, Michael Sheperek
  • Patent number: 11955194
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system that comprises a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled with the memory device, to perform operations that include, responsive to detecting a triggering event, selecting a family of memory blocks of the memory device, the selected family being associated with a set of bins, each bin associated with a plurality of read voltage offsets to be applied to base read voltages during read operations. The operations performed by the processing device further include calibration operations to determine data state metric values characterizing application of read voltage offsets of various bins. The operations performed by the processing device further include identifying, based on the determined data state metrics, a target bin and associating the selected family with the target bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Publication number: 20240111445
    Abstract: An example memory sub-system includes a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device is configured to initialize a block family associated with a memory device; initialize a timeout associated with the block family; initializing a low temperature and a high temperature using a reference temperature at the memory device; responsive to programming a block residing on the memory device, associate the block with the block family; and responsive to at least one of: detecting expiration of the timeout or determining that a difference between the high temperature and the low temperature is greater than or equal to a specified threshold temperature value, close the block family.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Mustafa N. Kaynak, Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Bruce A. Liikanen, Peter Feeley, Larry J. Koudele, Shane Nowell, Steven Michael Kientz