Patents by Inventor Peter Feeley

Peter Feeley 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).

  • Identifying asynchronous power loss
    Patent number: 9921898
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of operating such apparatus include iteratively programming a group of memory cells to respective desired data states, wherein a particular memory cell is configured to store overhead data and a different memory cell is configured to store user data; determining whether a power loss to the apparatus is indicated while iteratively programming the group of memory cells; and if a power loss to the apparatus is indicated, changing the desired data state of the particular memory cell before continuing with the programming. Apparatus and methods of operating such apparatus further include reading a data state of a particular memory cell of a last written page of memory cells, and marking the page as affected by power loss during a programming operation if the particular memory cell has any data state other than a particular data state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Miller, Ashutosh Malshe, Violante Moschiano, Peter Feeley, Gary F. Besinga, Sampath K. Ratnam, Walter Di-Francesco, Renato C. Padilla, Jr., Yun Li, Kishore Kumar Muchherla
  • METHODS FOR BACKUP SEQUENCE USING THREE TRANSISTOR MEMORY CELL DEVICES
    Publication number: 20170345501
    Abstract: Methods for a backup sequence includes reading first data from a first data memory to a page buffer, copying the first data from the page buffer to a backup page comprising three transistor memory cell devices, erasing the first data memory, programming the first data from the page buffer to a second data memory, and erasing the backup page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Koji Sakui, Peter Feeley
  • Methods for controlling host memory access with memory devices and systems
    Patent number: 9811258
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods for controlling host memory access with a memory device, systems, host controllers and memory devices. One embodiment for controlling host memory access with a memory device includes receiving at least one command from a host and controlling execution of the at least one command with the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal A. Galbo, Peter Feeley, William H. Radke, Victor Y. Tsai, Robert N. Leibowitz
  • Memory with three transistor memory cell device
    Patent number: 9767904
    Abstract: Memory, memory devices, and a method for a backup sequence are disclosed. In one such memory device, sense circuitry and page buffers are coupled between a three transistor memory cell device and a non-volatile memory device. Enable/disable gates enable selective access to the sense circuitry and page buffers by either the three transistor memory cell device or the non-volatile memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Sakui, Peter Feeley
  • REDUNDANT ARRAY OF INDEPENDENT NAND FOR A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEMORY ARRAY
    Publication number: 20170249211
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a redundant array of independent NAND for a three dimensional memory array. A number of embodiments include a three-dimensional array of memory cells, wherein the array includes a plurality of pages of memory cells, a number of the plurality of pages include a parity portion of a redundant array of independent NAND (RAIN) stripe, and the parity portion of the RAIN stripe in each respective page comprises only a portion of that respective page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Jung Sheng Hoei, Sampath K. Ratnam, Renato C. Padilla, Kishore K. Muchherla, Sivagnanam Parthasarathy, Peter Feeley
  • Host controller
    Patent number: 9588697
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for controlling a memory device. One method for controlling a memory device embodiment includes storing device class dependent information and a command in one or more of host system memory and host controller memory, setting a pointer to the command in a register in a host controller, directing access to the one or more of host system memory and host controller memory with the memory device via the host controller; and executing the command with the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Feeley, Robert N. Leibowitz, William H. Radke, Neal A. Galbo, Victor Y. Tsai
  • Memory cell coupling compensation
    Patent number: 9552257
    Abstract: Methods for memory cell coupling compensation and apparatuses configured to perform the same are described. One or more methods for memory cell coupling compensation includes determining a state of a memory cell using a voltage that is changed in accordance with a first memory cell coupling compensation voltage, performing an error check on the state of the memory cell, and determining the state of the memory cell using a voltage that is changed in accordance with a second memory cell coupling compensation voltage in response to the error check failing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenlei Shen, William H. Radke, Peter Feeley
  • MEMORY CELL COUPLING COMPENSATION
    Publication number: 20160203048
    Abstract: Methods for memory cell coupling compensation and apparatuses configured to perform the same are described. One or more methods for memory cell coupling compensation includes determining a state of a memory cell using a voltage that is changed in accordance with a first memory cell coupling compensation voltage, performing an error check on the state of the memory cell, and determining the state of the memory cell using a voltage that is changed in accordance with a second memory cell coupling compensation voltage in response to the error check failing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Zhenlei Shen, William H. Radke, Peter Feeley
  • Memory arrays with a memory cell adjacent to a smaller size of a pillar having a greater channel length than a memory cell adjacent to a larger size of the pillar and methods
    Patent number: 9391082
    Abstract: The disclosure is related to memory arrays and methods. One such memory array has a substantially vertical pillar. A memory cell adjacent to the pillar where the pillar has a first size has a greater channel length than a memory cell adjacent to the pillar where the pillar has a second size larger than the first size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Sakui, Peter Feeley
  • STATE CHANGE IN SYSTEMS HAVING DEVICES COUPLED IN A CHAINED CONFIGURATION
    Publication number: 20160154747
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for state change in systems having devices coupled in a chained configuration. A number of embodiments include a host and a number of devices coupled to the host in a chained configuration. The chained configuration includes at least one device that is not directly coupled to the host. The at least one device that is not directly coupled to the host is configured to change from a first communication state to a second communication state responsive to receipt of a command from the host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: William H. Radke, Victor Y. Tsai, James Cooke, Neal A. Galbo, Peter Feeley
  • Memory cell coupling compensation
    Patent number: 9318220
    Abstract: Methods for memory cell coupling compensation and apparatuses configured to perform the same are described. One or more methods for memory cell coupling compensation includes determining a state of a memory cell using a voltage that is changed in accordance with a first memory cell coupling compensation voltage, performing an error check on the state of the memory cell, and determining the state of the memory cell using a voltage that is changed in accordance with a second memory cell coupling compensation voltage in response to the error check failing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenlei Shen, William H. Radke, Peter Feeley
  • Devices and methods of programming memory cells
    Patent number: 9312023
    Abstract: Devices and methods of programming memory cells, both SLC and MLC, such as to reduce charge-storage structure to charge-storage structure coupling, are shown and described. Programming of memory cells can include comparing a first page of data to a second page of data, and further programming cells corresponding to the first page of data that will not likely be affected by coupling from programming the second page of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Koichi Kawai, Koji Sakui, Peter Feeley
  • Determining and using soft data in memory devices and systems
    Patent number: 9293214
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for determining and using soft data in memory devices and systems. One or more embodiments include an array of memory cells and control circuitry coupled to the array. The control circuitry is configured to perform a number of sense operations on the memory cells using a number of sensing voltages to determine soft data associated with a target state of the memory cells, and adjust a sensing voltage used to determine the target state based, at least partially, on the determined soft data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Radke, Zhenlei Shen, Peter Feeley
  • Sensing data stored in memory
    Patent number: 9293213
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for sensing data stored in memory. A number of embodiments include an array of memory cells, and a controller coupled to the array and configured to sense a page of memory cells coupled to an activated access line by pre-charging only a single subset of a number of data lines coupled to the page, wherein more than two subsets of data lines are coupled to the page and the single subset is coupled to those memory cells storing at least a portion of a single sector of data of the page, and sensing the single subset of the number of data lines to determine the at least a portion of the single sector of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Sakui, Peter Feeley
  • Methods, devices, and systems for adjusting sensing voltages in devices
    Patent number: 9269450
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for adjusting sensing voltages in devices. One or more embodiments include memory cells, and a controller configured to perform a sense operation on the memory cells using a sensing voltage to determine a quantity of the memory cells having a threshold voltage (Vt) greater than the sensing voltage and adjust a sensing voltage used to determine a state of the memory cells based, at least partially, on the determined quantity of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Radke, Zhenlei Shen, Peter Feeley
  • State change in systems having devices coupled in a chained configuration
    Patent number: 9235343
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for state change in systems having devices coupled in a chained configuration. A number of embodiments include a host and a number of devices coupled to the host in a chained configuration. The chained configuration includes at least one device that is not directly coupled to the host. The at least one device that is not directly coupled to the host is configured to change from a first communication state to a second communication state responsive to receipt of a command from the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Radke, Victor Y. Tsai, James Cooke, Neal A. Galbo, Peter Feeley
  • HOST CONTROLLER
    Publication number: 20160004436
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for controlling a memory device. One method for controlling a memory device embodiment includes storing device class dependent information and a command in one or more of host system memory and host controller memory, setting a pointer to the command in a register in a host controller, directing access to the one or more of host system memory and host controller memory with the memory device via the host controller; and executing the command with the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Feeley, Robert N. Leibowitz, William H. Radke, Neal A. Galbo, Victor Y. Tsai
  • REMAPPING IN A MEMORY DEVICE
    Publication number: 20150355844
    Abstract: Methods for remapping and/or compacting data in memory devices, memory devices, and systems are disclosed. One such method of remapping and/or compacting data includes reducing a first quantity of write operations that are received from a host to a second quantity of write operations for programming to a page of a memory device that are within the specifications of partial page write operations for the memory device. The second quantity of write operations can also remap data that were originally intended to be programmed to memory address ranges that conflict with a memory map of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Lance Dover, Jim Cooke, Peter Feeley
  • Determining and using soft data in memory devices and systems
    Patent number: 9177659
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for determining and using soft data in memory devices and systems. One or more embodiments include an array of memory cells and control circuitry coupled to the array. The control circuitry is configured to perform a number of sense operations on the memory cells using a number of sensing voltages to determine soft data associated with a target state of the memory cells, and adjust a sensing voltage used to determine the target state based, at least partially, on the determined soft data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Radke, Zhenlei Shen, Peter Feeley
  • STATE CHANGE IN SYSTEMS HAVING DEVICES COUPLED IN A CHAINED CONFIGURATION
    Publication number: 20150301746
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for state change in systems having devices coupled in a chained configuration. A number of embodiments include a host and a number of devices coupled to the host in a chained configuration. The chained configuration includes at least one device that is not directly coupled to the host. The at least one device that is not directly coupled to the host is configured to change from a first communication state to a second communication state responsive to receipt of a command from the host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: William H. Radke, Victor Y. Tsai, James Cooke, Neal A. Galbo, Peter Feeley