Patents by Inventor Norio Aoyama
Norio Aoyama 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).
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Patent number: 12175077Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a volatile memory, nonvolatile memory chips, channels, nonvolatile memory interfaces, and a bus arbiter. Each of the channels is connected to at least one nonvolatile memory chip of the nonvolatile memory chips. Each of the nonvolatile memory interfaces is connected to at least one channel of the channels and controls the at least one nonvolatile memory chip via the connected channel. The bus arbiter controls use of a bus in data transfer between the volatile memory and each of the nonvolatile memory chips in accordance with a bandwidth of the bus.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2022Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: Kioxia CorporationInventors: Ryuji Nishikubo, Norio Aoyama
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Publication number: 20230315292Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a volatile memory, nonvolatile memory chips, channels, nonvolatile memory interfaces, and a bus arbiter. Each of the channels is connected to at least one nonvolatile memory chip of the nonvolatile memory chips. Each of the nonvolatile memory interfaces is connected to at least one channel of the channels and controls the at least one nonvolatile memory chip via the connected channel. The bus arbiter controls use of a bus in data transfer between the volatile memory and each of the nonvolatile memory chips in accordance with a bandwidth of the bus.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2022Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: Kioxia CorporationInventors: Ryuji NISHIKUBO, Norio AOYAMA
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Patent number: 11694750Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes: a memory device to store data; and a controller to control an operation for the memory device. The memory device executes a program operation by a first program voltage on memory cells belonging to a first address of the memory device; detect at least one first memory cell among the memory cells by using a first determination level and a second determination level different from the first determination level, the at least one first memory cell having a threshold voltage of a value different from a value between the first determination level and the second determination level; and generate unique information of the memory device, based on a position of the first memory cell in the first address.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Kioxia CorporationInventors: Yasunori Arai, Norio Aoyama
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Patent number: 11347479Abstract: A memory system includes a nonvolatile memory and a controller that performs first, second, and third processes on memory cells of the nonvolatile memory. The first process is performed on first memory cells to store a first value therein, such that a highest threshold voltage among the threshold voltages of the first memory cells is set as a first threshold voltage. The second process is performed on second memory cells to store a second value therein, such that a lowest threshold voltage among the threshold voltages of the second memory cells is set as a second threshold voltage higher than the first threshold voltage. The third process performed on third memory cells such that a lowest threshold voltage in the third memory cells is lower than the first threshold voltage, and a highest threshold voltage in the third memory cells is higher than the second threshold voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATIONInventors: Mel Stychen Sanchez Tan, Aurelien Nam Phong Tran, Ryuji Nishikubo, Norio Aoyama
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Publication number: 20210304819Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes: a memory device to store data; and a controller to control an operation for the memory device. The memory device executes a program operation by a first program voltage on memory cells belonging to a first address of the memory device; detect at least one first memory cell among the memory cells by using a first determination level and a second determination level different from the first determination level, the at least one first memory cell having a threshold voltage of a value different from a value between the first determination level and the second determination level; and generate unique information of the memory device, based on a position of the first memory cell in the first address.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Applicant: Kioxia CorporationInventors: Yasunori ARAI, Norio AOYAMA
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Patent number: 11081183Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a semiconductor memory device including a first and second string each including cells coupled in series, and a memory controller configured to instruct the device to execute a write operation for writing data on any one of the cells in the first or second string. The first and second string are coupled in parallel between a bit line and a source line, and coupled to different word lines. The write operation includes a first write operation and a second write operation executed after the first write operation. The controller is configured to instruct the device to execute a first write operation on a second cell in the second string between a first write operation on a first cell in the first string and a second write operation on the first cell.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2020Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Kioxia CorporationInventors: Masahiro Ogawa, Norio Aoyama
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Publication number: 20210089234Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile memory device to store data; and a memory controller configured to: manage first information allocated to each user and including first management data; perform first processing for an access to the nonvolatile memory device when an access request to the nonvolatile memory device has been received from the user and the first management data is equal to or larger than a first value; and perform second processing for an access to the nonvolatile memory device when the first management data is equal to or larger than a second value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicants: Kioxia Corporation, TOSHIBA INFORMATION SYSTEMS (JAPAN) CORPORATIONInventors: Keisuke YASUI, Ryuji NISHIKUBO, Norio AOYAMA
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Publication number: 20210082513Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a semiconductor memory device including a first and second string each including cells coupled in series, and a memory controller configured to instruct the device to execute a write operation for writing data on any one of the cells in the first or second string. The first and second string are coupled in parallel between a bit line and a source line, and coupled to different word lines. The write operation includes a first write operation and a second write operation executed after the first write operation. The controller is configured to instruct the device to execute a first write operation on a second cell in the second string between a first write operation on a first cell in the first string and a second write operation on the first cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Applicant: Kioxia CorporationInventors: Masahiro OGAWA, Norio AOYAMA
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Publication number: 20210064345Abstract: A memory system includes a nonvolatile memory and a controller that performs first, second, and third processes on memory cells of the nonvolatile memory. The first process is performed on first memory cells to store a first value therein, such that a highest threshold voltage among the threshold voltages of the first memory cells is set as a first threshold voltage. The second process is performed on second memory cells to store a second value therein, such that a lowest threshold voltage among the threshold voltages of the second memory cells is set as a second threshold voltage higher than the first threshold voltage. The third process performed on third memory cells such that a lowest threshold voltage in the third memory cells is lower than the first threshold voltage, and a highest threshold voltage in the third memory cells is higher than the second threshold voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Mel Stychen Sanchez TAN, Aurelien Nam Phong TRAN, Ryuji NISHIKUBO, Norio AOYAMA
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Patent number: 10599561Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system writes data to a first block, and executes a garbage collection when the number of free blocks is not greater than a first threshold value. The memory system calculates a first number which is a ratio of the number of copy destination blocks needed for the garbage collection to the number of blocks to which data designated by a write command is written. The memory system determines whether the first number is greater than a second threshold value when a first command is received from the host, and performs fill-up processing for the first block when the first number is not greater than the second threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2018Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATIONInventors: Ryuji Nishikubo, Hiroki Matsudaira, Norio Aoyama
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Patent number: 10579267Abstract: A memory controller according to the embodiment includes a front-end unit that issues an invalidation command in response to a command from outside of the memory controller, the command including a logical address, an address translation unit that stores a correspondence relationship between the logical and a physical address, an invalidation command processing unit that, when the invalidation command is received, registers the logical address associated with the invalidation command as an invalidation registration region in an invalidation registration unit and issues a notification to the front-end unit, and an internal processing unit that dissolves a correspondence relationship between the logical address registered in the invalidation registration unit and the physical address in the address translation unit in a predetermined order by referencing the logical address registered in the invalidation registration unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2016Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Toshiba Memory CorporationInventors: Kazuaki Takeuchi, Yoshihisa Kojima, Norio Aoyama, Mitsunori Tadokoro
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Publication number: 20180267715Abstract: According to one embodiment, the memory system includes a nonvolatile memory including a plurality of blocks, and a controller circuit that controls execution of a data writing process and a garbage collection process. Each of the blocks is an unit of erasure. The data writing process includes a process of writing user data into the nonvolatile memory in accordance with a request from an external member. The garbage collection process includes a process of moving valid data in at least a first block into a second block among the blocks and invalidating the valid data in the first block to be erasable. Upon receiving a data write request from the external member, the controller circuit controls a length of a waiting time to be provided before or after the data writing process within a period from receiving the write request to returning a response to the external member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Applicant: Toshiba Memory CorporationInventors: Hiroki Matsudaira, Norio Aoyama, Ryoichi Kato, Taku Ooneda, Takashi Hirao, Aurelien Nam Phong Tran, Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Takuya Suzuki, Hajime Yamazaki
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Publication number: 20180253376Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system writes data to a first block, and executes a garbage collection when the number of free blocks is not greater than a first threshold value. The memory system calculates a first number which is a ratio of the number of copy destination blocks needed for the garbage collection to the number of blocks to which data designated by a write command is written. The memory system determines whether the first number is greater than a second threshold value when a first command is received from the host, and performs fill-up processing for the first block when the first number is not greater than the second threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Applicant: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATIONInventors: Ryuji NISHIKUBO, Hiroki Matsudaira, Norio Aoyama
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Patent number: 9996268Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system writes data to a first block, and executes a garbage collection when the number of free blocks is not greater than a first threshold value. The memory system calculates a first number which is a ratio of the number of copy destination blocks needed for the garbage collection to the number of blocks to which data designated by a write command is written. The memory system determines whether the first number is greater than a second threshold value when a first command is received from the host, and performs fill-up processing for the first block when the first number is not greater than the second threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATIONInventors: Ryuji Nishikubo, Hiroki Matsudaira, Norio Aoyama
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Publication number: 20170177235Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system writes data to a first block, and executes a garbage collection when the number of free blocks is not greater than a first threshold value. The memory system calculates a first number which is a ratio of the number of copy destination blocks needed for the garbage collection to the number of blocks to which data designated by a write command is written. The memory system determines whether the first number is greater than a second threshold value when a first command is received from the host, and performs fill-up processing for the first block when the first number is not greater than the second threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: June 22, 2017Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Ryuji NISHIKUBO, Hiroki MATSUDAIRA, Norio AOYAMA
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Publication number: 20170038971Abstract: A memory controller according to the embodiment includes a front-end unit that issues an invalidation command in response to a command from outside of the memory controller, the command including a logical address, an address translation unit that stores a correspondence relationship between the logical and a physical address, an invalidation command processing unit that, when the invalidation command is received, registers the logical address associated with the invalidation command as an invalidation registration region in an invalidation registration unit and issues a notification to the front-end unit, and an internal processing unit that dissolves a correspondence relationship between the logical address registered in the invalidation registration unit and the physical address in the address translation unit in a predetermined order by referencing the logical address registered in the invalidation registration unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Kazuaki TAKEUCHI, Yoshihisa KOJIMA, Norio AOYAMA, Mitsunori TADOKORO
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Patent number: 9514041Abstract: A memory controller according to the embodiment includes a front-end unit that issues an invalidation command in response to a command from outside of the memory controller, the command including a logical address, an address translation unit that stores a correspondence relationship between the logical and a physical address, an invalidation command processing unit that, when the invalidation command is received, registers the logical address associated with the invalidation command as an invalidation registration region in an invalidation registration unit and issues a notification to the front-end unit, and an internal processing unit that dissolves a correspondence relationship between the logical address registered in the invalidation registration unit and the physical address in the address translation unit in a predetermined order by referencing the logical address registered in the invalidation registration unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kazuaki Takeuchi, Yoshihisa Kojima, Norio Aoyama, Mitsunori Tadokoro
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Patent number: 9465537Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile memory including a plurality of blocks, and a controller controlling the nonvolatile memory. The controller cyclically executes patrol read, the patrol read including reading data and testing the read data, the read data being data of pages connected to some of word lines in each of the blocks of the nonvolatile memory.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Ryuji Nishikubo, Hiroki Matsudaira, Norio Aoyama
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Patent number: 9305665Abstract: According to one embodiment, when loading of reverse lookup information from a nonvolatile first memory to a randomly accessible second memory has failed, a controller determines whether data at a first physical address is valid or invalid by using lookup information loaded from the first memory to the second memory.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2014Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Shinji Yonezawa, Norio Aoyama
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Patent number: 9208863Abstract: A controller performs a coding process based on a first frame including data of a plurality of pages connected to first word lines being a predetermined number of consecutive word lines in a block, and performs, when padding data is written to a plurality of pages connected to second word lines being the predetermined number of word lines subsequent to the first word lines, the coding process based on a second frame obtained by excluding the padding data from a frame including data of the pages connected to the second word lines.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Eiji Yoshihashi, Hiroki Matsudaira, Ryuji Nishikubo, Norio Aoyama