Patents by Inventor MICRON TECHNOLOGY

MICRON TECHNOLOGY 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: 20130339580
    Abstract: Stripe-based non-volatile multilevel memory operation can include writing a number of lower stripes including programming a number of lower pages of information in each of the number of lower stripes. An upper stripe can be written including programming a number of upper pages of the information in the upper stripe. Each of the number of upper pages can correspond to a respective one of the number of lower pages. Each of the respective ones of the number of lower pages corresponding to the number of upper pages can be programmed in a different lower stripe of the number of lower stripes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130308388
    Abstract: System and method for executing a global memory command in a multi-chip non-volatile memory device having a plurality of non-volatile memories. The global memory command is received at each non-volatile memory concurrently. The memory command is initiated at different times relative to receiving the global memory command for at least two of the plurality of non-volatile memory to mitigate peak power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130223145
    Abstract: Memory devices and bulk storage devices configured to program a memory cell to a target threshold voltage representing a data pattern of more than one bit and read the data pattern of more than one bit of the memory cell in a single read operation by generating a signal that is representative of an actual threshold voltage of the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130224916
    Abstract: Embodiments of a dielectric layer containing a hafnium tantalum titanium oxide film structured as one or more monolayers include the dielectric layer disposed in a transistor. An embodiment may include forming a hafnium tantalum titanium oxide film using a monolayer or partial monolayer sequencing process such as reaction sequence atomic layer deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130221318
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory cells. The memory cells may have a first electrode, and a trench-shaped programmable material structure over the first electrode. The trench-shape defines an opening. The programmable material may be configured to reversibly retain a conductive bridge. The memory cell may have an ion source material directly against the programmable material, and may have a second electrode within the opening defined by the trench-shaped programmable material. Some embodiments include arrays of memory cells. The arrays may have first electrically conductive lines, and trench-shaped programmable material structures over the first lines. The trench-shaped structures may define openings within them. Ion source material may be directly against the programmable material, and second electrically conductive lines may be over the ion source material and within the openings defined by the trench-shaped structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130227206
    Abstract: A method includes responding to a wear-level operation request by copying data from a first portion of a first memory array to a second portion of the first memory array, and copying metadata associated with the data from a third portion of a second memory array to a fourth portion of the second memory array. The first memory array includes a NAND or NAND-based memory array, and the second memory array includes non-volatile memory including at least one of the group consisting of: phase-change memory, EEPROM, and NOR flash memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130224923
    Abstract: A stacked non-volatile memory device uses amorphous silicon based thin film transistors stacked vertically. Each layer of transistors or cells is formed from a deposited a-Si channel region layer having a predetermined concentration of carbon to form a carbon rich silicon film or silicon carbide film, depending on the carbon content. The dielectric stack is formed over the channel region layer. In one embodiment, the dielectric stack is an ONO structure. The control gate is formed over the dielectric stack. This structure is repeated vertically to form the stacked structure. In one embodiment, the carbon content of the channel region layer is reduced for each subsequently formed layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130220549
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for plasma etching substrates are provided that achieve dissipation of charge build-up on a substrate being plasma etched to avoid notching or twisting in high aspect ratio contents and similar features. Charge build-up on a substrate being etched by plasma etching can be dissipated by a method for etching a substrate, the method comprising: providing a plasma processing chamber comprising a chamber enclosure and a substrate support adapted to support a substrate within the chamber enclosure; supporting a substrate on the substrate support; forming a plasma within the chamber enclosure such that a surface of the substrate is in contact with the plasma; etching the substrate by generating a negative bias on the substrate surface relative to the plasma; and intermittently changing the bias on the substrate surface to positive relative to the plasma. The present method can be integrated into known plasma processing systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130227247
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes devices, systems, and methods for memory address translation. One or more embodiments include a memory array and a controller coupled to the array. The array includes a first table having a number of records, wherein each record includes a number of entries, wherein each entry includes a physical address corresponding to a data segment stored in the array and a logical address. The controller includes a second table having a number of records, wherein each record includes a number of entries, wherein each entry includes a physical address corresponding to a record in the first table and a logical address. The controller also includes a third table having a number of records, wherein each record includes a number of entries, wherein each entry includes a physical address corresponding to a record in the second table and a logical address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130221446
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are described that have a metal interconnect extending vertically through a portion of the device to the back side of a semiconductor substrate. A top region of the metal interconnect is located vertically below a horizontal plane containing a metal routing layer. Method of fabricating the semiconductor device can include etching a via into a semiconductor substrate, filling the via with a metal material, forming a metal routing layer subsequent to filling the via, and removing a portion of a bottom of the semiconductor substrate to expose a bottom region of the metal filled via.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130221312
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures include PrCaMnO (PCMO) material formed by atomic layer deposition. The PCMO material is formed by exposing a surface of a substrate to a manganese-containing precursor, an oxygen-containing precursor, a praseodymium-containing precursor and a calcium-containing precursor. The resulting PCMO material is crystalline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130221419
    Abstract: A memcapacitor device includes a pair of opposing conductive electrodes. A semiconductive material including mobile dopants within a dielectric and a mobile dopant barrier dielectric material are received between the pair of opposing conductive electrodes. The semiconductive material and the barrier dielectric material are of different composition relative one another which is at least characterized by at least one different atomic element. One of the semiconductive material and the barrier dielectric material is closer to one of the pair of electrodes than is the other of the semiconductive material and the barrier dielectric material. The other of the semiconductive material and the barrier dielectric material is closer to the other of the pair of electrodes than is the one of the semiconductive material and the barrier dielectric material. Other implementations are disclosed, including field effect transistors, memory arrays, and methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130227203
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those that provide dynamic block allocations in NAND flash memory between single-level cells (SLC) and multi-level cells (MLC) based on characteristics. In one embodiment, a memory controller dynamically switches between programming and/or reprogramming blocks between SLC mode and MLC mode based on the amount of memory available for use. When memory usage is low, SLC mode is used. When memory usage is high, MLC mode is used. Dynamic block allocation allows a memory controller to obtain the performance and reliability benefits of SLC mode while retaining the space saving benefits of MLC mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130215668
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems associated with multilevel phase change memory cells are described herein. One or more embodiments of the present disclosure include operating a phase change memory device by placing a phase change memory cell in a reset state and applying a selected programming pulse to the phase change memory cell in order to program the cell to one of a number of intermediate states between the reset state and a set state associated with the cell. The selected programming pulse includes an uppermost magnitude applied for a particular duration, the particular duration depending on to which one of the number of intermediate states the memory cell is to be programmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130215688
    Abstract: Voltage switches, memory devices, memory systems, and methods for switching are disclosed. One such voltage switch uses a pair of switch circuits coupled in series, each switch circuit being driven by a level shift circuit. Each switch circuit uses a group of series coupled transistors with a parallel control transistor where the number of transistors in each group may be determined by an expected switch input voltage and a maximum allowable voltage drop for each transistor. A voltage of a particular state of an enable signal is shifted up to the switch input voltage by the level shift circuits. The particular state of the enable signal turns on the voltage switch such that the switch output voltage is substantially equal to the switch input voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130214847
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for using and forming vertically base-connected bipolar transistors have been shown. The vertically base-connected bipolar transistors in the embodiments of the present disclosure are formed with a CMOS fabrication technique that decreases the transistor size while maintaining the high performance characteristics of a bipolar transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130217183
    Abstract: Stacked microfeature devices and associated methods of manufacture are disclosed. A package in accordance with one embodiment includes first and second microfeature devices having corresponding first and second bond pad surfaces that face toward each other. First bond pads can be positioned at least proximate to the first bond pad surface and second bond pads can be positioned at least proximate to the second bond pad surface. A package connection site can provide electrical communication between the first microfeature device and components external to the package. A wirebond can be coupled between at least one of the first bond pads and the package connection site, and an electrically conductive link can be coupled between the first microfeature device and at least one of the second bond pads of the second microfeature device. Accordingly, the first microfeature device can form a portion of an electrical link to the second microfeature device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130215680
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed, including those to improve program voltage distribution width using automatic selective slow program convergence (ASSPC). One such method may include determining whether a threshold voltage (Vt) associated with a memory cell has reached a particular pre-program verify voltage. In response to the determination, a voltage applied to a bit-line coupled to the memory cell may be automatically incremented at least twice as the program voltage is increased, until the cell is properly programmed. Additional embodiments are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130215681
    Abstract: Sense amplifiers and memory devices include a current source coupled to a bit line connection, a sensing transistor having a control gate coupled to the bit line connection, and a data latch coupled to a source/drain region of the sensing transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130219113
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and devices for a memory system controller. In one or more embodiments, a memory system controller includes a host interface communicatively coupled to a system controller. The system controller has a number of memory interfaces, and is configured for controlling a plurality of intelligent storage nodes communicatively coupled to the number of memory interfaces. The system controller includes logic configured to map between physical and logical memory addresses, and logic configured to manage wear level across the plurality of intelligent storage nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Micron Technology, Inc.