Patents by Inventor Paolo Amato

Paolo Amato 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: 10585625
    Abstract: An apparatus can have an array of memory cells and a controller coupled to the array. The controller can be configured to read a group sentinel cells of the array and without reading a number of other groups of cells of the array to determine that data stored in the number of other groups of cells lacks integrity based on a determination that data stored in the group of sentinel cells lacks integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniele Balluchi, Paolo Amato
  • Patent number: 10585795
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for data relocation in memory having two portions of data. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of physical blocks of memory cells, and a first and second portion of data having a first and second, respectively, number of logical block addresses associated therewith. Two of the plurality of physical blocks of cells do not have data stored therein. Circuitry is configured to relocate the data of the first portion that is associated with one of the first number of logical block addresses to one of the two physical blocks of cells that don't have data stored therein, and relocate the data of the second portion that is associated with one of the second number of logical block addresses to the other one of the two physical blocks of cells that don't have data stored therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Amato, Daniele Balluchi
  • Patent number: 10573383
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, and methods for data state synchronization. An example apparatus includes performing a write operation to store a data pattern in a group of resistance variable memory cells corresponding to a selected managed unit having a first status, updating a status of the selected managed unit from the first status to a second status responsive to performing the write operation, and providing data state synchronization for a subsequent write operation performed on the group by placing all of the variable resistance memory cells of the group in a same state prior to performing the subsequent write operation to store another data pattern in the group of resistance variable memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Dallabora, Paolo Amato, Daniele Balluchi, Danilo Caraccio, Emanuele Confalonieri
  • Publication number: 20200035297
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to auto-referenced memory cell read techniques are described. The auto-referenced read may encode user data to include a predetermined number of bits having a first logic state prior to storing the user data in memory cells. The auto-referenced read may store a total number of bits of the user data having a first logic state in a separate set of memory cells. Subsequently, reading the user data may be carried out by applying a read voltage to the memory cells storing the user data while monitoring a series of switching events by activating a subset of the memory cells having the first logic state. During the read operation, the auto-referenced read may compare the number of activated memory cells to either the predetermined number or the total number to determine whether all the bits having the first logic state has been detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Graziano Mirichigni, Paolo Amato, Federico Pio, Alessandro Orlando, Marco Sforzin
  • Publication number: 20200019342
    Abstract: An apparatus can have an array of memory cells and a controller coupled to the array. The controller can be configured to read a group sentinel cells of the array and without reading a number of other groups of cells of the array to determine that data stored in the number of other groups of cells lacks integrity based on a determination that data stored in the group of sentinel cells lacks integrity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Daniele Balluchi, Paolo Amato
  • Publication number: 20200019347
    Abstract: An apparatus can have an array of memory cells and a controller coupled to the array. The controller can be configured to read a group sentinel cells of the array and without reading a number of other groups of cells of the array to determine that data stored in the number of other groups of cells lacks integrity based on a determination that data stored in the group of sentinel cells lacks integrity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Daniele Balluchi, Paolo Amato
  • Publication number: 20190369878
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to memory operations on data. An example method can include executing an operation by writing a first managed unit to a second managed unit, and placing the first managed unit in a free state, wherein the first managed unit is located at a particular distance from the second managed unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Paolo Amato, Daniele Balluchi, Danilo Caraccio, Emanuele Confalonieri, Marco Dallabora
  • Publication number: 20190370169
    Abstract: An example apparatus comprises a controller coupled to a non-volatile memory (NVM) device. The controller may be configured to cause a logical block address (LBA) to be stored in a first logical-to-physical (L2P) data structure in the NVM device and a physical block address (PBA) to be stored in a second L2P data structure in the NVM device The first L2P data structure and the second L2P data structure may have a same size associated therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventor: Paolo Amato
  • Publication number: 20190370166
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for data relocation in memory having two portions of data. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of physical blocks of memory cells, and a first and second portion of data having a first and second, respectively, number of logical block addresses associated therewith. Two of the plurality of physical blocks of cells do not have data stored therein. Circuitry is configured to relocate the data of the first portion that is associated with one of the first number of logical block addresses to one of the two physical blocks of cells that don't have data stored therein, and relocate the data of the second portion that is associated with one of the second number of logical block addresses to the other one of the two physical blocks of cells that don't have data stored therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Paolo Amato, Daniele Balluchi
  • Publication number: 20190355413
    Abstract: Permutation coding for improved memory cell operations are described. An example apparatus can include an array of memory cells each programmable to a plurality of states. A controller coupled to the array is configured to determine an encoded data pattern stored by a number of groups of memory cells. Each of the number of groups comprises a set of memory cells programmed to one of a plurality of different collective state permutations each corresponding to a permutation in which the cells of the set are each programmed to a different one of the plurality of states to which they are programmable. The controller is configured to determine the encoded data pattern by, for each of the number of groups, determining the one of the plurality of different collective state permutations to which the respective set is programmed by direct comparison of threshold voltages of the cells of the set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Paolo Amato, Marco Sforzin
  • Publication number: 20190333578
    Abstract: Sensing memory cells can include: applying a voltage ramp to a group of memory cells to sense their respective states; sensing when a first switching event occurs to one of the memory cells responsive to the applied voltage ramp; stopping application of the voltage ramp after a particular amount of time subsequent to when the first switching event occurs; and determining which additional memory cells of the group experience the switching event during the particular amount of time. Those cells determined to have experienced the switching event responsive to the applied voltage ramp are sensed as storing a first data value and those cells determined to not have experienced the switching event responsive to the applied voltage ramp are sensed as storing a second data value. The group stores data according to an encoding function constrained such that each code pattern includes at least one data unit having the first data value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Marco Sforzin, Paolo Amato
  • Publication number: 20190325953
    Abstract: Permutation coding for improved memory cell operations are described. An example apparatus can include an array of memory cells each programmable to a plurality of states. A controller coupled to the array is configured to determine an encoded data pattern stored by a number of groups of memory cells. Each of the number of groups comprises a set of memory cells programmed to one of a plurality of different collective state permutations each corresponding to a permutation in which the cells of the set are each programmed to a different one of the plurality of states to which they are programmable. The controller is configured to determine the encoded data pattern by, for each of the number of groups, determining the one of the plurality of different collective state permutations to which the respective set is programmed by direct comparison of threshold voltages of the cells of the set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Paolo Amato, Marco Sforzin
  • Publication number: 20190324848
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to correcting errors can include using FD decoders and AD decoders. Correcting errors can include receiving input data from the memory array, performing a plurality of operations associated with an error detection on the input data, and providing, based on processing the input data, output data, a validation flag, and a plurality of parity bits to a second decoder hosted by a controller coupled to the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Paolo Amato, Marco Sforzin
  • Publication number: 20190324843
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to providing transaction metadata. Providing transaction metadata includes providing an address of data stored in the memory device using an address bus coupled to the memory device and the controller. Providing transaction metadata also includes transferring the data, associated with the address, from the memory device using a data bus coupled to the memory device and the controller. Providing transaction metadata further includes transferring a sideband signal synchronously with the data bus and in conjunction with the address bus using a transaction metadata bus coupled to the memory device and the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Graziano Mirichigni, Marco Sforzin, Paolo Amato, Danilo Caraccio
  • Patent number: 10431301
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to auto-referenced memory cell read techniques are described. The auto-referenced read may encode user data to include a predetermined number of bits having a first logic state prior to storing the user data in memory cells. The auto-referenced read may store a total number of bits of the user data having a first logic state in a separate set of memory cells. Subsequently, reading the user data may be carried out by applying a read voltage to the memory cells storing the user data while monitoring a series of switching events by activating a subset of the memory cells having the first logic state. During the read operation, the auto-referenced read may compare the number of activated memory cells to either the predetermined number or the total number to determine whether all the bits having the first logic state has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Graziano Mirichigni, Paolo Amato, Federico Pio, Alessandro Orlando, Marco Sforzin
  • Patent number: 10430085
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to memory operations on data. An example method can include executing an operation by writing a first managed unit to a second managed unit, and placing the first managed unit in a free state, wherein the first managed unit is located at a particular distance from the second managed unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Amato, Daniele Balluchi, Danilo Caraccio, Emanuele Confalonieri, Marco Dallabora
  • Publication number: 20190295610
    Abstract: An apparatus has an array of memory cells and a controller coupled to the array. The controller is configured to track a sub-threshold leakage current through a number of memory cells of the array and determine a threshold voltage based on the sub-threshold leakage current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Paolo Fantini, Paolo Amato, Marco Sforzin
  • Publication number: 20190294547
    Abstract: An example apparatus comprises a hybrid memory system and a controller coupled to the hybrid memory system. The controller may be configured to cause data to be selectively stored in the hybrid memory system responsive to a determination that an exception involving the data has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Danilo Caraccio, Emanuele Confalonieri, Marco Dallabora, Roberto Izzi, Paolo Amato, Daniele Balluchi, Luca Porzio
  • Publication number: 20190294363
    Abstract: An example apparatus comprises a hybrid memory system to couple to a host and a controller coupled to the hybrid memory system. The controller may be configured to cause data associated with a virtual memory location of the host to be selectively transferred to the hybrid memory system responsive to a determination that a main memory of the host experiences threshold amount of resource utilization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Danilo Caraccio, Emanuele Confalonieri, Marco Dallabora, Roberto Izzi, Paolo Amato, Daniele Balluchi, Luca Porzio
  • Publication number: 20190294356
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a hybrid memory system to couple to a host and a controller coupled to the hybrid memory system. The controller may be configured to assign a sensitivity to a command and cause the command to be selectively diverted to the hybrid memory system based, at least in part, on the assigned sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Danilo Caraccio, Emanuele Confalonieri, Marco Dallabora, Roberto Izzi, Paolo Amato, Daniele Balluchi, Luca Porzio