Patents by Inventor Nai-Ping Kuo

Nai-Ping Kuo 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: 20240111453
    Abstract: A memory device and a management method thereof are provided. The memory device includes a controller and at least one memory channel. The memory channel includes at least one memory chip. The at least one memory chip is commonly coupled to the controller through an interrupt signal wire. The at least one memory chip generates at least one local interrupt signal and performs a logic operation on the at least one local interrupt signal to generate a common interrupt signal. The interrupt signal wire is configured to transmit the common interrupt signal to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jia-Xing Lin, Nai-Ping Kuo, Shih-Chou Juan, Chien-Hsin Liu, Shunli Cheng
  • Patent number: 11809746
    Abstract: A solid state disk, a data transmitting method and an intermediary controller thereof are provided. The solid state disk includes at least two flash memories, a SSD controller and an intermediary controller. The intermediary controller is connected between the flash memories and the SSD controller. The intermediary controller includes at least two flash interfaces, a customized interface and a data buffering unit. The flash interfaces are connected to the flash memories. The customized interface is connected to the SSD controller. The intermediary controller has a first clock domain and a second clock domain. The first clock domain is used for transmitting data from the flash memories to the data buffering unit. The second clock domain is used for transmitting data from the data buffering unit to the SSD controller. A frequency of the second clock domain is higher than a frequency of the first clock domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuan-Chieh Wang, Shih-Chou Juan, Nai-Ping Kuo
  • Patent number: 11742004
    Abstract: A method of operating a memory comprising a plurality of memory planes is disclosed. Each memory plane includes at least one corresponding memory array. The method includes, for each memory plane of the plurality of memory planes, generating (i) a corresponding plane ready (PRDY) signal indicating a busy or a ready state of the corresponding memory plane, and (ii) a corresponding plane array ready (PARDY) signal indicating a busy or a ready state of the corresponding memory array of the corresponding memory plane, such that a plurality of PRDY signals and a plurality of PARDY signals are generated corresponding to the plurality of memory planes. Execution of a memory command for a memory plane of the plurality of memory planes is selectively allowed or denied, based on status of one or more of the plurality of PRDY signals and the plurality of PARDY signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuo-Nan Hung, Nai-Ping Kuo, Chien-Hsin Liu
  • Publication number: 20230176779
    Abstract: A solid state disk, a data transmitting method and an intermediary controller thereof are provided. The solid state disk includes at least two flash memories, a SSD controller and an intermediary controller. The intermediary controller is connected between the flash memories and the SSD controller. The intermediary controller includes at least two flash interfaces, a customized interface and a data buffering unit. The flash interfaces are connected to the flash memories. The customized interface is connected to the SSD controller. The intermediary controller has a first clock domain and a second clock domain. The first clock domain is used for transmitting data from the flash memories to the data buffering unit. The second clock domain is used for transmitting data from the data buffering unit to the SSD controller. A frequency of the second clock domain is higher than a frequency of the first clock domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Kuan-Chieh WANG, Shih-Chou JUAN, Nai-Ping KUO
  • Patent number: 11630002
    Abstract: A method for sensing temperature in memory die, memory die and memory with temperature sensing function are provides. The memory die includes at least one temperature monitoring for outputting a temperature status in the memory die; a temperature sensor, arranged in the memory die for sensing an operation temperature in the memory die; and a control logic unit, coupled to the temperature sensor for receiving the operation temperature and coupled to the temperature monitoring pin. The control logic unit compares the operation temperature and a threshold value received from outside of the memory die to generate a comparison result, and outputs the temperature status through the temperature monitoring according to the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuchih Yeh, Jianshing Liu, Chin Chu Chung, Nai-Ping Kuo, Shihchou Juan
  • Publication number: 20220252460
    Abstract: A method for sensing temperature in memory die, memory die and memory with temperature sensing function are provides. The memory die includes at least one temperature monitoring for outputting a temperature status in the memory die; a temperature sensor, arranged in the memory die for sensing an operation temperature in the memory die; and a control logic unit, coupled to the temperature sensor for receiving the operation temperature and coupled to the temperature monitoring pin. The control logic unit compares the operation temperature and a threshold value received from outside of the memory die to generate a comparison result, and outputs the temperature status through the temperature monitoring according to the comparison result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuchih Yeh, Jianshing Liu, Chin Chu Chung, Nai-Ping Kuo, Shihchou Juan
  • Patent number: 11372587
    Abstract: A memory device and a method for reducing read disturb errors of the memory device are provided. The memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in series and organized into a plurality of blocks, a plurality of word lines respectively coupled to corresponding memory cells, and a controller coupled to the word lines for performing page read operations on the pages in respective blocks through corresponding word lines, in which each of the blocks comprises a plurality of pages of two or more types. The controller accumulates a page read count of the pages of each type in respective blocks, and arranges data to be stored according to the page read count and a latency factor corresponding to the pages of each type in each of the blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yen-Hsiang Chen, Nai-Ping Kuo
  • Publication number: 20210365213
    Abstract: A memory device and a method for reducing read disturb errors of the memory device are provided. The memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in series and organized into a plurality of blocks, a plurality of word lines respectively coupled to corresponding memory cells, and a controller coupled to the word lines for performing page read operations on the pages in respective blocks through corresponding word lines, in which each of the blocks comprises a plurality of pages of two or more types. The controller accumulates a page read count of the pages of each type in respective blocks, and arranges data to be stored according to the page read count and a latency factor corresponding to the pages of each type in each of the blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Hsiang Chen, Nai-Ping Kuo
  • Patent number: 10825529
    Abstract: A method for an erase operation on a nonvolatile memory array with low-latency erase suspend is described. The nonvolatile memory array includes a plurality of blocks of memory cells, each block including a plurality of sectors of memory cells. The method includes, in response to an erase command identifying a block in the plurality of blocks in the array, erasing the plurality of sectors in the identified block, and determining whether there are over-erased cells in each sector. The method includes recording the over-erased cells for the sector. The method also includes responsive to suspend before a soft program pulse for the sector, applying a correction pulse to the recorded cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Ming Hsu, Nai-Ping Kuo, Chun-Hsiung Hung
  • Patent number: 10261721
    Abstract: A memory system includes a first flash memory, a second flash memory and a controller. The first flash memory includes a memory array divided into a plurality of pages. The controller is coupled to the first flash memory and the second flash memory and configured to: control the second flash memory to record an address of a particular page in the first flash memory before programming the particular page; and control the second flash memory to record a program status of the particular page after the particular page has been programed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Chun Liu, Shih-Chou Juan, Nai-Ping Kuo
  • Publication number: 20180321873
    Abstract: A memory system includes a first flash memory, a second flash memory and a controller. The first flash memory includes a memory array divided into a plurality of pages. The controller is coupled to the first flash memory and the second flash memory and configured to: control the second flash memory to record an address of a particular page in the first flash memory before programming the particular page; and control the second flash memory to record a program status of the particular page after the particular page has been programed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Yi-Chun Liu, Shih-Chou Juan, Nai-Ping Kuo
  • Patent number: 10007446
    Abstract: A method for writing data into a persistent storage device includes grouping a plurality of data entries stored in a temporary storage device to form a data unit, such that the data unit has a size equal to an integer multiple of a size of an access unit of the persistent storage device. The method further includes writing the data unit into the persistent storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chieh Huang, Li-Chun Huang, Yu-Ming Chang, Hung-Sheng Chang, Hsiang-Pang Li, Ting-Yu Liu, Chien-Hsin Liu, Nai-Ping Kuo
  • Patent number: 9959044
    Abstract: A memory device includes a first storage unit storing an address mapping table, and a control unit coupled to the first storage unit and including a second storage unit storing a risky mapping table and a cached mapping table. The control unit is configured to: write data into the first storage unit; update mapping information associated with the data in the risky mapping table; and store mapping information in the cached mapping table into the address mapping table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ting-Yu Liu, Nai-Ping Kuo, Yi-Chun Liu, Jian-Shing Liu
  • Patent number: 9875811
    Abstract: A method for reading data from memory cells of a target word line in a semiconductor memory includes determining a disturbance status of the target word line. The disturbance status reflects a disturbance of a neighboring word line on the memory cells of the target word line. The method further includes determining a read voltage for the target word line according to the disturbance status of the target word line and applying the read voltage to the memory cells of the target word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung Hung, Shih Chou Juan, Nai-Ping Kuo, Yi Chun Liu
  • Patent number: 9817588
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory controller and a non-volatile memory communicatively coupled to the memory controller and storing a mapping table and a journal table. The memory controller is configured to write data and a logical address of the data into the non-volatile memory, load mapping information related to the logical address of the data from the mapping table of the non-volatile memory into a mapping cache of the memory controller, update the mapping cache with an updated mapping relationship between the logical address of the data and a physical address of the data, and perform a journaling operation to write the updated mapping relationship into the journal table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Ming Chang, Wei-Chieh Huang, Li-Chun Huang, Hung-Sheng Chang, Hsiang-Pang Li, Ting-Yu Liu, Chien-Hsin Liu, Nai-Ping Kuo
  • Publication number: 20170322735
    Abstract: A memory device includes a first storage unit storing an address mapping table, and a control unit coupled to the first storage unit and including a second storage unit storing a risky mapping table and a cached mapping table. The control unit is configured to: write data into the first storage unit; update mapping information associated with the data in the risky mapping table; and store mapping information in the cached mapping table into the address mapping table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Ting-Yu LIU, Nai-Ping KUO, Yi-Chun LIU, Jian-Shing LIU
  • Publication number: 20170200510
    Abstract: A method for reading data from memory cells of a target word line in a semiconductor memory includes determining a disturbance status of the target word line. The disturbance status reflects a disturbance of a neighboring word line on the memory cells of the target word line. The method further includes determining a read voltage for the target word line according to the disturbance status of the target word line and applying the read voltage to the memory cells of the target word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Chun Hsiung HUNG, Shih Chou JUAN, Nai-Ping KUO, Yi Chun LIU
  • Patent number: 9679656
    Abstract: A method, an electronic device and a controller for recovering an array of memory cells are provided. The method comprises the following steps. Whether a recovery control signal is received or not is determined. A retention checking procedure is executed for identifying whether a threshold voltage distribution of at least one bit of the memory cells in high threshold state is shifted or not, if the recovery control signal is received. A retention writing procedure is executed on the memory cells, if the memory cells in high threshold state do not pass the retention checking procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuen-Long Chang, Nai-Ping Kuo, Ken-Hui Chen, Chao-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 9535785
    Abstract: A method of operating a memory storing data sets, and ECCs for the data sets is provided. The method includes when writing new data in a data set, computing and storing an ECC, if a number of addressable segments storing the new data and data previously programmed in the data set includes at least a predetermined number of addressable segments. The method includes storing indications for whether to enable or disable use of the ECCs, using the ECC and a first additional ECC bit derived from the ECC. The method includes reading from a data set an extended ECC including an ECC and a first additional ECC bit derived from the ECC, and enabling or disabling use of the ECC according to the indications stored for the data set. The method includes enabling use of ECCs for blank data sets, using the indications and a second additional ECC bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nai-Ping Kuo, Shih-Chang Huang, Chin-Hung Chang, Ken-Hui Chen, Kuen-Long Chang, Chun-Hsiung Hung
  • Patent number: 9514834
    Abstract: An integrated circuit memory device includes an array of non-volatile, charge trapping memory cells, configured to store data values in memory cells in the array using threshold states, including a higher threshold state. Retention check logic executes to identify memory cells in the higher threshold state which fail a threshold retention check. Also, logic is provided to reprogram the identified memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiung Hung, Nai-Ping Kuo, Kuen-Long Chang, Ken-Hui Chen, Yu-Chen Wang