Patents by Inventor Miles S. Wiscombe

Miles S. Wiscombe 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).

  • Patent number: 11967353
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with programmable refresh order and stagger times are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a first memory bank group and a second memory bank group. The memory device is configured, in response to a refresh command, to perform a first refresh operation on the first memory bank group at a first time and a second refresh operation on the second memory bank group at a second time after the first time. The memory device is further configured to perform, in response to a read or write command, a read or write operation on the first memory bank group, the second memory bank group, or both the first and second memory bank groups after beginning the first refresh operation and before completing the second refresh operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventors: Vaughn N. Johnson, Debra M. Bell, Miles S. Wiscombe, Brian T. Pecha, Kyle Alexander
  • Patent number: 11934326
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with improved command/address bus utilization are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a plurality of external command/address terminals and a command decoder. The plurality of external command/address terminals are configured to receive a command as a corresponding plurality of command/address bits. A first set of the command/address bits indicate a read or write operation. A second set of the command/address bits indicate whether to execute a refresh operation. The memory device is configured to, in response to the first set of command/address bits, execute the read or write operation on a portion of a memory array. The memory device is further configured to, in response to the second set of command/address bits, execute the refresh operation to refresh at least one memory bank of the memory array when the second set of command/address bits indicate that the refresh operation should be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Vaughn N. Johnson, Kyle Alexander, Gary L. Howe, Brian T. Pecha, Miles S. Wiscombe
  • Patent number: 11881245
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to voltage management of memory apparatuses/systems are described. The memory device can include circuitry configured to determine an operating frequency of a clock signal for an ongoing or an upcoming memory operation. The memory device may generate a control indicator for increasing a system voltage for higher operating frequencies, for decreasing the system voltage for lower operating frequencies, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventors: Gary L. Howe, Miles S. Wiscombe, James S. Rehmeyer, Eric J. Stave
  • Patent number: 11881251
    Abstract: Memory devices, systems including memory devices, and methods of operating memory devices are described, in which memory devices are configured to provide row clear features. In some embodiments, the memory device may receive a command from a host device directed to a row of a memory array included in the memory device. The memory device may determine that the command is directed to two or more columns associated with the row, where each column is coupled with a group of memory cells. The memory device may activate the row to write the two or more columns using a set of predetermined data stored in a register of the memory device. Subsequently, the memory device may deactivate the word line based on writing the set of predetermined data to the two or more columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventors: Miles S. Wiscombe, Scott E. Smith, Gary L. Howe, Brian W. Huber, Tony M. Brewer
  • Publication number: 20230120654
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for voltage adjustment based on, for example, pending refresh operations are described. A memory device may periodically perform refresh operations to refresh volatile memory cells and may at times postpone performing one or more refresh operations. A memory device may determine a quantity of pending (e.g., postponed) refresh operations, such as by determining a quantity of refresh intervals that have elapsed without receiving or executing a refresh command, among other methods. A memory device may pre-emptively adjust (or cause to be adjusted) a supply voltage associated with the memory device or memory device component based on the quantity of pending refresh operations to prepare for the current demand associated with the performing the one or more pending refresh operations. For example, the memory device may increase a supply voltage associated with one or more components to prepare for performing multiple pending refresh operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy M. Hollis, James S. Rehmeyer, Baekkyu Choi, Yogesh Sharma, Eric J. Stave, Brian W. Huber, Miles S. Wiscombe
  • Patent number: 11568913
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for voltage adjustment based on, for example, pending refresh operations are described. A memory device may periodically perform refresh operations to refresh volatile memory cells and may at times postpone performing one or more refresh operations. A memory device may determine a quantity of pending (e.g., postponed) refresh operations, such as by determining a quantity of refresh intervals that have elapsed without receiving or executing a refresh command, among other methods. A memory device may pre-emptively adjust (or cause to be adjusted) a supply voltage associated with the memory device or memory device component based on the quantity of pending refresh operations to prepare for the current demand associated with the performing the one or more pending refresh operations. For example, the memory device may increase a supply voltage associated with one or more components to prepare for performing multiple pending refresh operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Hollis, James S. Rehmeyer, Baekkyu Choi, Yogesh Sharma, Eric J. Stave, Brian W. Huber, Miles S. Wiscombe
  • Publication number: 20230029003
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with programmable refresh order and stagger times are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a first memory bank group and a second memory bank group. The memory device is configured, in response to a refresh command, to perform a first refresh operation on the first memory bank group at a first time and a second refresh operation on the second memory bank group at a second time after the first time. The memory device is further configured to perform, in response to a read or write command, a read or write operation on the first memory bank group, the second memory bank group, or both the first and second memory bank groups after beginning the first refresh operation and before completing the second refresh operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Vaughn N. Johnson, Debra M. Bell, Miles S. Wiscombe, Brian T. Pecha, Kyle Alexander
  • Publication number: 20230021201
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to voltage management of memory apparatuses/systems are described. The memory device can include circuitry configured to determine an operating frequency of a clock signal for an ongoing or an upcoming memory operation. The memory device may generate a control indicator for increasing a system voltage for higher operating frequencies, for decreasing the system voltage for lower operating frequencies, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Gary L. Howe, Miles S. Wiscombe, James S. Rehmeyer, Eric J. Stave
  • Publication number: 20220391334
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with improved command/address bus utilization are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a plurality of external command/address terminals and a command decoder. The plurality of external command/address terminals are configured to receive a command as a corresponding plurality of command/address bits. A first set of the command/address bits indicate a read or write operation. A second set of the command/address bits indicate whether to execute a refresh operation. The memory device is configured to, in response to the first set of command/address bits, execute the read or write operation on a portion of a memory array. The memory device is further configured to, in response to the second set of command/address bits, execute the refresh operation to refresh at least one memory bank of the memory array when the second set of command/address bits indicate that the refresh operation should be executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Vaughn N. Johnson, Kyle Alexander, Gary L. Howe, Brian T. Pecha, Miles S. Wiscombe
  • Publication number: 20220375507
    Abstract: Memory devices, systems including memory devices, and methods of operating memory devices are described, in which memory devices are configured to provide row clear features. In some embodiments, the memory device may receive a command from a host device directed to a row of a memory array included in the memory device. The memory device may determine that the command is directed to two or more columns associated with the row, where each column is coupled with a group of memory cells. The memory device may activate the row to write the two or more columns using a set of predetermined data stored in a register of the memory device. Subsequently, the memory device may deactivate the word line based on writing the set of predetermined data to the two or more columns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Miles S. Wiscombe, Scott E. Smith, Gary L. Howe, Brian W. Huber, Tony M. Brewer
  • Patent number: 11468939
    Abstract: Memory devices, systems including memory devices, and methods of operating memory devices are described, in which memory devices are configured to conditionally activate certain rows during refresh operations such that the memory devices can execute operations directed to the activated rows concurrently with the refresh operations. In some embodiments, the memory device receives an activate (ACT) command directed to a section of a memory bank while performing refresh operations for the memory bank. The memory device may carry out the ACT command if certain conditions are satisfied not to corrupt the data being refreshed. Subsequently, the memory device generates a signal to indicate the ACT command has been accepted to activate a row identified by the ACT command. Further, the memory device can perform subsequent access commands directed to the row, in parallel with the refresh operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Miles S. Wiscombe, Debra M. Bell, Brian T. Pecha, Vaughn N. Johnson, Kyle Alexander
  • Patent number: 11468938
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with programmable refresh order and stagger times are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a first memory bank group and a second memory bank group. The memory device is configured, in response to a refresh command, to perform a first refresh operation on the first memory bank group at a first time and a second refresh operation on the second memory bank group at a second time after the first time. The memory device is further configured to perform, in response to a read or write command, a read or write operation on the first memory bank group, the second memory bank group, or both the first and second memory bank groups after beginning the first refresh operation and before completing the second refresh operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vaughn N. Johnson, Debra M. Bell, Miles S. Wiscombe, Brian T. Pecha, Kyle Alexander
  • Patent number: 11462254
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to voltage management of memory apparatuses/systems are described. The memory device can include circuitry configured to determine an operating frequency of a clock signal for an ongoing or an upcoming memory operation. The memory device may generate a control indicator for increasing a system voltage for higher operating frequencies, for decreasing the system voltage for lower operating frequencies, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Howe, Miles S. Wiscombe, James S. Rehmeyer, Eric J. Stave
  • Patent number: 11430504
    Abstract: Memory devices, systems including memory devices, and methods of operating memory devices are described, in which memory devices are configured to provide row clear features. In some embodiments, the memory device may receive a command from a host device directed to a row of a memory array included in the memory device. The memory device may determine that the command is directed to two or more columns associated with the row, where each column is coupled with a group of memory cells. The memory device may activate the row to write the two or more columns using a set of predetermined data stored in a register of the memory device. Subsequently, the memory device may deactivate the word line based on writing the set of predetermined data to the two or more columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Miles S. Wiscombe, Scott E. Smith, Gary L. Howe, Brian W. Huber, Tony M. Brewer
  • Patent number: 11409674
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with improved command/address bus utilization are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a plurality of external command/address terminals and a command decoder. The plurality of external command/address terminals are configured to receive a command as a corresponding plurality of command/address bits. A first set of the command/address bits indicate a read or write operation. A second set of the command/address bits indicate whether to execute a refresh operation. The memory device is configured to, in response to the first set of command/address bits, execute the read or write operation on a portion of a memory array. The memory device is further configured to, in response to the second set of command/address bits, execute the refresh operation to refresh at least one memory bank of the memory array when the second set of command/address bits indicate that the refresh operation should be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Vaughn N. Johnson, Kyle Alexander, Gary L. Howe, Brian T. Pecha, Miles S. Wiscombe
  • Publication number: 20220172771
    Abstract: Memory devices, systems including memory devices, and methods of operating memory devices are described, in which memory devices are configured to conditionally activate certain rows during refresh operations such that the memory devices can execute operations directed to the activated rows concurrently with the refresh operations. In some embodiments, the memory device receives an activate (ACT) command directed to a section of a memory bank while performing refresh operations for the memory bank. The memory device may carry out the ACT command if certain conditions are satisfied not to corrupt the data being refreshed. Subsequently, the memory device generates a signal to indicate the ACT command has been accepted to activate a row identified by the ACT command. Further, the memory device can perform subsequent access commands directed to the row, in parallel with the refresh operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Miles S. Wiscombe, Debra M. Bell, Brian T. Pecha, Vaughn N. Johnson, Kyle Alexander
  • Publication number: 20220147131
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for power management for a memory device are described. For example, a memory device may include one or more memory dies and may be configured to operate using a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage. The first supply voltage may be associated with a first defined voltage range, and the second supply voltage may be associated with a second defined voltage range. The memory device may include a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) that is coupled with the one or more memory dies and provides the supply voltages to the one or more memory dies. The PMIC may be configured to provide, to the one or more memory dies, a first voltage that is within the first defined voltage range as the first supply voltage and a second voltage that is outside the second defined voltage range as the second supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: James S. Rehmeyer, Gary L. Howe, Miles S. Wiscombe, Eric J. Stave
  • Publication number: 20220148638
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to voltage management of memory apparatuses/systems are described. The memory device can include circuitry configured to determine an operating frequency of a clock signal for an ongoing or an upcoming memory operation. The memory device may generate a control indicator for increasing a system voltage for higher operating frequencies, for decreasing the system voltage for lower operating frequencies, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Gary L. Howe, Miles S. Wiscombe, James S. Rehmeyer, Eric J. Stave
  • Publication number: 20220148647
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with programmable refresh order and stagger times are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a first memory bank group and a second memory bank group. The memory device is configured, in response to a refresh command, to perform a first refresh operation on the first memory bank group at a first time and a second refresh operation on the second memory bank group at a second time after the first time. The memory device is further configured to perform, in response to a read or write command, a read or write operation on the first memory bank group, the second memory bank group, or both the first and second memory bank groups after beginning the first refresh operation and before completing the second refresh operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Vaughn N. Johnson, Debra M. Bell, Miles S. Wiscombe, Brian T. Pecha, Kyle Alexander
  • Publication number: 20220107905
    Abstract: Memory devices and systems with improved command/address bus utilization are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a plurality of external command/address terminals and a command decoder. The plurality of external command/address terminals are configured to receive a command as a corresponding plurality of command/address bits. A first set of the command/address bits indicate a read or write operation. A second set of the command/address bits indicate whether to execute a refresh operation. The memory device is configured to, in response to the first set of command/address bits, execute the read or write operation on a portion of a memory array. The memory device is further configured to, in response to the second set of command/address bits, execute the refresh operation to refresh at least one memory bank of the memory array when the second set of command/address bits indicate that the refresh operation should be executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Debra M. Bell, Vaughn N. Johnson, Kyle Alexander, Gary L. Howe, Brian T. Pecha, Miles S. Wiscombe