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: 20220350538
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to performing varying frequency memory sub-system background scans using either or both a timer and an I/O event limit. This can be accomplished by identifying a background scan trigger event from one of multiple possible types of background scan trigger events, such as a timer expiration or reaching an event count limit. In response to the background scan trigger event, a background scan can be initiated on a memory portion. The background scan can produce results, such as CDF-based data. When a metric based on the results exceeds a background scan limit, a refresh relocation can be performed and logged. A metric can be generated based on the CDF-based data, obtained error recovery depth data, or refresh relocation event data. When the metric is above or below corresponding background scan thresholds, a background scan frequency can be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Gerald L. Cadloni, Michael Sheperek, Francis Chew, Bruce A. Liikanen, Larry J. Koudele
  • Publication number: 20220350488
    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 comprising a first set of blocks, wherein the first block family comprises a plurality of blocks that have been programmed within at least one of a specified time window or a specified temperature window; identify a second block family comprising a second set of blocks; and responsive to a determining that a threshold criterion is satisfied, combine the first block family and the second block family by appending, to first block family metadata of the first block family, a record referencing the second set of blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Shane Nowell
  • Publication number: 20220343981
    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: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Bruce A. Liikanen, Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele
  • Publication number: 20220334721
    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 perform operations comprising assigning a plurality of data streams to a block family comprising a plurality of blocks of a memory device; responsive to programming a first block associated with a first data stream of the plurality of data streams, associating the first block with the block family; and responsive to programming a second block associated with a second data stream of the plurality of data streams, associating the second block with the block family.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Peter Feeley, Larry J. Koudele, Shane Nowell, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Publication number: 20220336021
    Abstract: A first bin boundary for a first voltage bin associated with a die of a memory device is identified. The first bin boundary corresponds to a first block family associated with the first voltage bin. A first bin boundary offset between the first block family and a second block family is determined. The first bin boundary is updated based on the first bin boundary offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steve Kientz
  • Publication number: 20220319630
    Abstract: A method can include receiving a request to read data from a block of a memory device coupled with a processing device, determining, using a first data structure mapping block identifiers to corresponding block family identifiers, a block family associated with the block of the memory device, determining, using a second data structure mapping block family identifiers to corresponding voltage distribution parameter values, a voltage distribution parameter value associated with the block family, determining a set of read levels associated with the voltage distribution parameter value, wherein each read level in the set of read levels corresponds to a respective voltage distribution of at least one memory cell comprised by the block of the memory device, and reading, using the determined set of read levels, data from the block of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Shane Nowell, Mustafa N. Kaynak, Larry J. Koudele
  • Publication number: 20220319589
    Abstract: A method can include receiving a request to read data from a block of a memory device coupled with a processing device, determining, using a data structure mapping block identifiers to corresponding voltage distribution parameter values, a voltage distribution parameter value associated with the block of the memory device, determining a set of read levels associated with the voltage distribution parameter value, wherein each read level in the set of read levels corresponds to a respective voltage distribution of at least one memory cell comprised by the block, and reading, using the determined set of read levels, data from the block of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Shane Nowell, Steven Michael Kientz, Michael Sheperek, Mustafa N Kaynak, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Larry J Koudele, Bruce A Liikanen
  • Publication number: 20220300166
    Abstract: A system including a memory device and a processing device, the processing device to identify a first temperature level of a first set of memory blocks associated with the memory device, and a second temperature level of a second set of memory blocks associated with the memory device, and determine that a condition is satisfied based on a comparison of the first temperature level, the second temperature level, and an adjustable threshold level. In response to the condition being satisfied, the processing device is to combine the first set of memory blocks and the second set of memory blocks to generate a combined set of memory blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Steven Michael Kientz, Larry J. Koudele, Shane Nowell, Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen
  • Patent number: 11442641
    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 create a first block family comprising a first set of blocks that have been programmed within at least one of a first specified time window or a first specified temperature window, wherein each block associated with the first block family is associated with a first set of read level offsets; create, a second block family comprising a second set of blocks that have been programmed within at least one of a second specified time window following the first specified time window or a second specified temperature window, wherein each block associated with the second block family is associated with a second set of read level offsets; and responsive to a determining that a threshold criterion is satisfied, combine the first and second block family.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Shane Nowell
  • Patent number: 11443830
    Abstract: A method can include receiving a request to read data from a block of a memory device coupled with a processing device, determining, using a first data structure mapping block identifiers to corresponding block family identifiers, a block family associated with the block of the memory device, determining, using a second data structure mapping block family identifiers to corresponding voltage distribution parameter values, a voltage distribution parameter value associated with the block family, determining a set of read levels associated with the voltage distribution parameter value, wherein each read level in the set of read levels corresponds to a respective voltage distribution of at least one memory cell comprised by the block of the memory device, and reading, using the determined set of read levels, data from the block of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Shane Nowell, Mustafa N Kaynak, Larry J Koudele
  • Publication number: 20220284967
    Abstract: A system includes a memory array with memory cells and a processing device coupled thereto. The processing device performs program targeting operations that include to: determine a set of difference error counts corresponding to programming distributions of the memory array; identify, based on a comparison of the set of difference error counts, valley margins corresponding to the programming distributions; select, based on values of the valley margins, a program targeting rule from a set of rules; perform, based on the program targeting rule, a program targeting operation to adjust a voltage level associated with an erase distribution of the memory array; determine a bit error rate (BER) of the memory array; in response to the BER satisfying a BER control value, reduce the voltage level by a voltage step; and in response to the BER not satisfying the BER control value, increase the voltage level by the voltage step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Bruce A. Liikanen, Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele
  • Patent number: 11435919
    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 perform operations comprising opening a block family associated with the memory device; initialize a timer associated with the block family; assigning a plurality of cursors to the block family; responsive to programming a first block associated with a first cursor of the memory device, associating the first block with the block family; responsive to programming a second block associated with a second cursor of the memory device, associating the second block with the block family; and responsive to detecting expiration of the timer, closing the block family.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Peter Feeley, Larry J. Koudele, Shane Nowell, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Publication number: 20220276784
    Abstract: A system can include a memory device and a processing device to perform operations that include performing, at a first frequency, a calibration scan, where the calibration scan includes calibrating block family-to-bin associations for one or more younger voltage bins based on first measurement data determined by the calibration scan, and calibrating block family-to-bin associations for one or more older voltage bins based on second measurement data provided by a media management scan, where the media management scan is performed at a second frequency, such that the second frequency is lower than the first frequency, each of the younger voltage bins satisfies a first age threshold criterion, and each of the older voltage bins satisfies a second age threshold criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Shane Nowell, Michael Sheperek
  • Patent number: 11429504
    Abstract: A system includes a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device is to perform operations, including initializing a block family associated with the memory device and initializing a timer associated with the block family. Responsive to beginning to program a block residing on the memory device, the processing device associates the block 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; continues to program data to the block; and performs a hard closure of the block family in response to one of the timer reaching a hard closure value or the block family satisfying a hard closure criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Steven S. Williams
  • Patent number: 11423989
    Abstract: A processing device establishes a first data group of memory cells of a memory sub-system and a second data group of memory cells of the memory sub-system. A first portion of the first data group is programmed at a threshold voltage level to set a first embedded data value. A second portion of the second data group of memory cells is programmed at the threshold voltage level offset by an offset voltage level to set a second embedded data value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Liikanen, Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele
  • Patent number: 11416173
    Abstract: A memory device includes a processing device configured to iteratively update a center read level according to a first step size after reading a subset of memory cells according to a set of read levels including the center read level; track an update direction for the processing device to use when iteratively updating the center read level, wherein the update direction corresponds to an increase or a decrease in the center read level; detect a change condition based on updating the center read level according to the first step size; and iteratively update the center read level according to a second step size based on detection of the change condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Steve Kientz
  • Publication number: 20220246207
    Abstract: A method can include receiving a request to read data from a memory cell of a memory device coupled with the processing device, determining a voltage distribution parameter value associated with the memory cell, determining a set of read levels associated with the voltage distribution parameter value, wherein each read level in the determined set of read levels corresponds to a respective voltage distribution of the memory cell, and reading, using the determined set of read levels, data from the memory cell. The voltage distribution parameter value can be determined by identifying a particular voltage distribution of the memory cell by sampling the memory cell at a plurality of voltage levels, and determining the voltage distribution parameter value based on the particular voltage distribution. The voltage distribution parameter value can be a voltage value that is included in the particular voltage distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Shane Nowell, Steven Michael Kientz, Michael Sheperek, Mustafa N Kaynak, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Larry J Koudele, Bruce A Liikanen
  • Patent number: 11404124
    Abstract: A first current bin boundary for a first voltage bin on a first target die of a set of dies at a memory device is identified by accessing a block family metadata table including an entry for each block family of a memory device. The first current bin boundary corresponds to a first block family associated with the first voltage bin. A first bin boundary offset between the first block family and a second block family corresponding to a first new bin boundary for the first voltage bin is determined. The first bin boundary is determined based on a calibration scan performed for the first voltage bin. A first new bin boundary for the first voltage bin is determined on each die of the set of dies based on the first bin boundary offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steve Kientz
  • Patent number: 11404139
    Abstract: A system can include a memory device and a processing device to perform operations that include performing a block family calibration scan of the memory device, wherein the calibration scan comprises a plurality of scan iterations, wherein each scan iteration is initiated in accordance with at least one threshold scan criterion, and wherein each scan iteration comprises identifying at least one first voltage bin, wherein each first voltage bin is associated with a plurality of read level offsets, identifying, according to a block family creation order, an oldest block family from a plurality of block families associated with the first voltage bin, and updating at least one bin pointer of the oldest block family based on a data state metric of at least one block of the oldest block family.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Shane Nowell, Michael Sheperek, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Publication number: 20220237094
    Abstract: A memory system includes a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device performs operations comprising: identifying an operating temperature of the memory device; determining that the operating temperature satisfies a temperature condition; modifying a scan frequency parameter for performing a scan operation on representative blocks of a set of blocks in the memory device; and performing the scan operation at a frequency identified by the scan frequency parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Steven Michael Kientz, Shane Nowell, Mustafa N. Kaynak, Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Larry J. Koudele