Patents by Inventor Peter J. Kuhn

Peter J. Kuhn 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: 9444048
    Abstract: A method of forming a circuitry includes providing a substrate comprising a plurality of die. Each die includes a plurality of resistive random access memory (RRAM) storage cells. The method further includes concurrently initializing substantially all of the RRAM storage cells on the same wafer. Initializing can include applying a voltage potential across the RRAM storage cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc
    Inventors: Peter J. Kuhn, Feng Zhou
  • Publication number: 20150124519
    Abstract: A method of forming a circuitry includes providing a substrate comprising a plurality of die. Each die includes a plurality of resistive random access memory (RRAM) storage cells. The method further includes concurrently initializing substantially all of the RRAM storage cells on the same wafer. Initializing can include applying a voltage potential across the RRAM storage cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Peter J. Kuhn, Feng Zhou
  • Patent number: 8947958
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one embodiment, a non-volatile memory (NVM) and method is disclosed for detecting latent slow erase bits. At least a portion of an array of NVM cells is erased with a reduced erase bias. The reduced erase bias has a reduced level relative to a normal erase bias. A least erased bit (LEB) threshold voltage level of the least erased bit (LEB) is determined. An erase verify is performed at an adjusted erase verify read threshold voltage level. The adjusted erase verify read threshold voltage level is a predetermined amount lower than the LEB read threshold voltage level. A number of failing bits is determined. The failing bits are bits with a threshold voltage above the adjusted erase verify level. The NVM is rejected in response to the number of failing bits being less than a failing bits threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Fuchen Mu, Chen He, Peter J. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 8934282
    Abstract: A method of forming a circuitry includes providing a substrate comprising a plurality of die. Each die includes a plurality of resistive random access memory (RRAM) storage cells. The method further includes concurrently initializing substantially all of the RRAM storage cells on the same wafer. Initializing can include applying a voltage potential across the RRAM storage cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Kuhn, Feng Zhou
  • Publication number: 20140098615
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one embodiment, a non-volatile memory (NVM) and method is disclosed for detecting latent slow erase bits. At least a portion of an array of NVM cells is erased with a reduced erase bias. The reduced erase bias has a reduced level relative to a normal erase bias. A least erased bit (LEB) threshold voltage level of the least erased bit (LEB) is determined. An erase verify is performed at an adjusted erase verify read threshold voltage level. The adjusted erase verify read threshold voltage level is a predetermined amount lower than the LEB read threshold voltage level. A number of failing bits is determined. The failing bits are bits with a threshold voltage above the adjusted erase verify level. The NVM is rejected in response to the number of failing bits being less than a failing bits threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Fuchen Mu, Chen He, Peter J. Kuhn
  • Publication number: 20130322152
    Abstract: A method of forming a circuitry includes providing a substrate comprising a plurality of die. Each die includes a plurality of resistive random access memory (RRAM) storage cells. The method further includes concurrently initializing substantially all of the RRAM storage cells on the same wafer. Initializing can include applying a voltage potential across the RRAM storage cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Peter J. Kuhn, Feng Zhou
  • Patent number: 8504884
    Abstract: A technique for detecting an imminent read failure in a memory array includes determining whether a memory array, which does not exhibit an uncorrectable error correcting code (ECC) read during an initial array integrity check at a normal read verify voltage level, exhibits an uncorrectable ECC read during a subsequent array integrity check at a margin read verify voltage level. The technique also includes providing an indication of an imminent read failure for the memory array when the memory array exhibits an uncorrectable ECC read during the subsequent array integrity check. In this case, the margin read verify voltage level is different from the normal read verify voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard K. Eguchi, Thomas S. Harp, Thomas Jew, Peter J. Kuhn, Timothy J. Strauss
  • Patent number: 8289773
    Abstract: A method for erasing a non-volatile memory includes: performing a first pre-erase program step on the non-volatile memory; determining that the non-volatile memory failed to program correctly during the first pre-erase program step; performing a first soft program step on the non-volatile memory in response to determining that the non-volatile memory failed to program correctly; determining that the non-volatile memory soft programmed correctly; performing a second pre-erase program step on the non-volatile memory in response to determining that the non-volatile memory soft programmed correctly during the first soft program step; and performing an erase step on the non-volatile memory. The method may be performed using a non-volatile memory controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard K. Eguchi, Jon S. Choy, Richard K. Glaeser, Chen He, Peter J. Kuhn
  • Publication number: 20120117307
    Abstract: A method for erasing a non-volatile memory includes: performing a first pre-erase program step on the non-volatile memory; determining that the non-volatile memory failed to program correctly during the first pre-erase program step; performing a first soft program step on the non-volatile memory in response to determining that the non-volatile memory failed to program correctly; determining that the non-volatile memory soft programmed correctly; performing a second pre-erase program step on the non-volatile memory in response to determining that the non-volatile memory soft programmed correctly during the first soft program step; and performing an erase step on the non-volatile memory. The method may be performed using a non-volatile memory controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: RICHARD K. EGUCHI, JON S. CHOY, RICHARD K. GLAESER, CHEN HE, PETER J. KUHN
  • Patent number: 7955877
    Abstract: Testing a non volatile memory by exposing the non volatile memory to particle radiation (e.g. xenon ions) to emulate memory cell damage due to data state changing events of a non volatile memory cell. After the exposing, the memory cells are subjected to tests and the results of the tests are used to develop reliability indications of the non volatile memory. Integrated circuits with non volatile memories of the same design are provided. Reliability representations of the integrated circuits can be made with respect to a number of data state charging events based on the exposure and subsequent tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammed Suhail, Ko-Min Chang, Peter J. Kuhn, Erwin J. Prinz
  • Publication number: 20110107161
    Abstract: A technique for detecting an imminent read failure in a memory array includes determining whether a memory array, which does not exhibit an uncorrectable error correcting code (ECC) read during an initial array integrity check at a normal read verify voltage level, exhibits an uncorrectable ECC read during a subsequent array integrity check at a margin read verify voltage level. The technique also includes providing an indication of an imminent read failure for the memory array when the memory array exhibits an uncorrectable ECC read during the subsequent array integrity check. In this case, the margin read verify voltage level is different from the normal read verify voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Eguchi, Thomas S. Harp, Thomas Jew, Peter J. Kuhn, Timothy J. Strauss
  • Publication number: 20100240156
    Abstract: Testing a non volatile memory by exposing the non volatile memory to particle radiation (e.g. xenon ions) to emulate memory cell damage due to data state changing events of a non volatile memory cell. After the exposing, the memory cells are subjected to tests and the results of the tests are used to develop reliability indications of the non volatile memory. Integrated circuits with non volatile memories of the same design are provided. Reliability representations of the integrated circuits can be made with respect to a number of data state charging events based on the exposure and subsequent tests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Mohammed Suhail, Ko-Min Chang, Peter J. Kuhn, Erwin J. Prinz
  • Patent number: 7782664
    Abstract: An integrated circuit memory has a plurality of non-volatile memory cells and a reference cell. The reference cell provides a reference current for reading a selected memory cell of the plurality of non-volatile memory cells. A method comprises trimming the reference cell to a predetermined threshold voltage, wherein trimming the reference cell comprises biasing a control gate, a source terminal, a drain terminal, and a substrate terminal of the reference cell with a predetermined set of bias conditions, wherein in response to the predetermined set of bias conditions, the reference cell will gain or lose charge toward an asymptotic state of charge that no longer changes significantly after a predetermined operating time under the predetermined set of bias conditions. In addition, the integrated circuit memory is also configured to adjust the reference cell gate voltage to output a desired target current reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Horacio P. Gasquet, Richard K. Eguchi, Peter J. Kuhn, Ronald J. Syzdek
  • Publication number: 20090296464
    Abstract: An integrated circuit memory has a plurality of non-volatile memory cells and a reference cell. The reference cell provides a reference current for reading a selected memory cell of the plurality of non-volatile memory cells. A method comprises trimming the reference cell to a predetermined threshold voltage, wherein trimming the reference cell comprises biasing a control gate, a source terminal, a drain terminal, and a substrate terminal of the reference cell with a predetermined set of bias conditions, wherein in response to the predetermined set of bias conditions, the reference cell will gain or lose charge toward an asymptotic state of charge that no longer changes significantly after a predetermined operating time under the predetermined set of bias conditions. In addition, the integrated circuit memory is also configured to adjust the reference cell gate voltage to output a desired target current reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Horacio P. Gasquet, Richard K. Eguchi, Peter J. Kuhn, Ronald J. Syzdek
  • Patent number: 7259999
    Abstract: A method is provided which includes erasing a first plurality of non-volatile memory bit cells in a memory block comprising a third plurality of memory bit cells during an erase procedure, such that upon completion of the erase procedure, the first plurality of non-volatile memory bit cells are at an erased state. The method also includes programming a second plurality of non-volatile memory bit cells in the memory block during the erase procedure, such that the second plurality of non-volatile memory bit cells is a subset of the third plurality of non-volatile memory bit cells and upon completion of the erase procedure, the second plurality of non-volatile memory bit cells are at a programmed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc
    Inventors: Ronald J. Syzdek, Gowrishankar L. Chindalore, Paul A. Ingersoll, Peter J. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 4009289
    Abstract: A sucrose beverage or beverage concentrate and their method of preparation in which at most 0.25% by weight of gum arabic, calculated as a dry substance on the sucrose as dry substance, is incorporated therein. The gum arabic may be introduced into the beverage or beverage concentrate before, during or after their preparation as a solid or in the form of a 50 to 60% aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1977
    Assignee: Naarden International, N.V.
    Inventors: Robert Roos, Peter J. Kuhn