Patents by Inventor Richard E. Fackenthal

Richard E. Fackenthal 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: 20200409785
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating memory cell(s) using an enhanced bit flipping scheme are described. An enhanced bit flipping scheme may include methods, systems, and devices for performing error correction of data bits in a codeword concurrently with the generation of a flip bit that indicates whether data bits in a corresponding codeword are to be flipped; for refraining from performing error correction of inversion bit(s) in the codeword; and for generating a high-reliability flip bit using multiple inversion bits. For instance, a flip bit that is even more reliable may be generated by determining whether a number of, a majority of, or all of the inversion bits indicate that the data bits are in an inverted state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventor: Richard E. Fackenthal
  • Publication number: 20200401490
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for efficient power scheme for redundancy are described. A memory device may include circuitry that stores memory address information related to one or more defective or unreliable memory components and that compares memory address information to memory addresses targeted for memory access operations. The memory device may selectively distribute a targeted memory address to one or more circuits within the circuitry based on whether those circuits store memory address information. Additionally or alternatively, the memory device may selectively power one or more circuits within the circuitry based on whether those circuits store memory address information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Richard E. Fackenthal, Duane R. Mills
  • Publication number: 20200402606
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for speculative memory section selection are described. Defective memory components in one memory section may be repaired using repair components in another memory section. Speculative selection of memory sections may be enabled, whereby access lines in multiple memory sections may be selected when a memory command indicating an address in one memory section is received. While the access lines in the multiple memory sections are selected, a determination of whether repair components in another memory section are to be accessed is performed. Based on the determination, the access line in one of the memory sections may be maintained and the access lines in the other memory sections may be deselected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Richard E. Fackenthal, Jahanshir Javanifard, Duane R. Mills
  • Patent number: 10872678
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for speculative memory section selection are described. Defective memory components in one memory section may be repaired using repair components in another memory section. Speculative selection of memory sections may be enabled, whereby access lines in multiple memory sections may be selected when a memory command indicating an address in one memory section is received. While the access lines in the multiple memory sections are selected, a determination of whether repair components in another memory section are to be accessed is performed. Based on the determination, the access line in one of the memory sections may be maintained and the access lines in the other memory sections may be deselected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Fackenthal, Jahanshir Javanifard, Duane R. Mills
  • Patent number: 10872666
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for source line configurations for a memory device are described. In some cases, a memory cell of the memory device may include a first transistor having a floating gate for storing a logic state of the memory cell and a second transistor coupled with the floating gate of the first transistor. The memory cell may be coupled with a word line, a digit line, and a source line. During a write operation, the source line may be clamped to the digit line using one or more memory cells in the memory device. During a read operation, the source line may be grounded using one or more memory cells in the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Fackenthal
  • Patent number: 10861579
    Abstract: Methods, systems, techniques, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. Groups of cells may be operated in different ways depending, for example, on a relationship between cell plates of the group of cells, pages of cells, and/or sections of cells. Cells may be selected in pairs or in larger multiples in order to accommodate an electric current relationship (such as a short) between two or more cells within a group, a page, and/or a section. When performing an access based on a smaller page size, a larger page size of cells may be selected to accommodate a short between plates within the smaller page, the larger page, and/or a section of memory that includes the smaller page or the larger page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon J. Lovett, Richard E. Fackenthal
  • Patent number: 10855295
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for section-based data protection in a memory device are described. In one example, a memory device may include a set memory sections each having memory cells configured to be selectively coupled with access lines of the respective memory section. A method of operating the memory device may include selecting at least one of the sections for a voltage adjustment operation based on a determined value of a timer, and performing the voltage adjustment operation on the selected section by activating each of a plurality of word lines of the selected section. The voltage adjustment operation may include applying an equal voltage to opposite terminals of the memory cells, which may allow built-up charge, such as leakage charge accumulating from access operations of the selected memory section, to dissipate from the memory cells of the selected section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Fackenthal, Daniele Vimercati, Jahanshir Javanifard
  • Publication number: 20200372944
    Abstract: A memory device having a plurality sections of memory cells, such as ferroelectric memory cells (hybrid RAM (HRAM) cells) may provide for concurrent access to memory cells within independent sections of the memory device. A first memory cell may be activated, and it may be determined that a second memory cell is independent of the first memory cell. If the second memory cell is independent of the first memory cell, the second memory cell may be activated prior to the conclusion of operations at the first memory cell. Latching hardware at memory sections may latch addresses at the memory sections in order to allow a new address to be provided to a different section to access the second memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventor: Richard E. Fackenthal
  • Patent number: 10802909
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating memory cell(s) using an enhanced bit flipping scheme are described. An enhanced bit flipping scheme may include methods, systems, and devices for performing error correction of data bits in a codeword concurrently with the generation of a flip bit that indicates whether data bits in a corresponding codeword are to be flipped; for refraining from performing error correction of inversion bit(s) in the codeword; and for generating a high-reliability flip bit using multiple inversion bits. For instance, a flip bit that is even more reliable may be generated by determining whether a number of, a majority of, or all of the inversion bits indicate that the data bits are in an inverted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Fackenthal
  • Patent number: 10770126
    Abstract: A memory device having a plurality sections of memory cells, such as ferroelectric memory cells (hybrid RAM (HRAM) cells) may provide for concurrent access to memory cells within independent sections of the memory device. A first memory cell may be activated, and it may be determined that a second memory cell is independent of the first memory cell. If the second memory cell is independent of the first memory cell, the second memory cell may be activated prior to the conclusion of operations at the first memory cell. Latching hardware at memory sections may latch addresses at the memory sections in order to allow a new address to be provided to a different section to access the second memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Fackenthal
  • Publication number: 20200273521
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for source line configurations for a memory device are described. In some cases, a memory cell of the memory device may include a first transistor having a floating gate for storing a logic state of the memory cell and a second transistor coupled with the floating gate of the first transistor. The memory cell may be coupled with a word line, a digit line, and a source line. During a write operation, the source line may be clamped to the digit line using one or more memory cells in the memory device. During a read operation, the source line may be grounded using one or more memory cells in the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventor: Richard E. Fackenthal
  • Publication number: 20200259497
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for section-based data protection in a memory device are described. In one example, a memory device may include a set memory sections each having memory cells configured to be selectively coupled with access lines of the respective memory section. A method of operating the memory device may include selecting at least one of the sections for a voltage adjustment operation based on a determined value of a timer, and performing the voltage adjustment operation on the selected section by activating each of a plurality of word lines of the selected section. The voltage adjustment operation may include applying an equal voltage to opposite terminals of the memory cells, which may allow built-up charge, such as leakage charge accumulating from access operations of the selected memory section, to dissipate from the memory cells of the selected section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Richard E. Fackenthal, Daniele Vimercati, Jahanshir Javanifard
  • Publication number: 20200174536
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells and, more particularly, a temperature update for a memory device are described. A memory array may be operated according to a timing cycle that includes a first interval for performing a first type of operation and a second interval for performing a second type of operation, where a duration of the first interval is greater than a duration of the second type of interval. A temperature related to a temperature of at least a portion of the memory array may be sampled during an interval of the second type, and the memory array may be reconfigured based at least in part on a sampled temperature. The first type of operation may then be performed on a reconfigured memory array during an interval of the first type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventor: Richard E. Fackenthal
  • Patent number: 10665285
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for section-based data protection in a memory device are described. In one example, a memory device may include a set memory sections each having memory cells configured to be selectively coupled with access lines of the respective memory section. A method of operating the memory device may include selecting at least one of the sections for a voltage adjustment operation based on a determined value of a timer, and performing the voltage adjustment operation on the selected section by activating each of a plurality of word lines of the selected section. The voltage adjustment operation may include applying an equal voltage to opposite terminals of the memory cells, which may allow built-up charge, such as leakage charge accumulating from access operations of the selected memory section, to dissipate from the memory cells of the selected section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Fackenthal, Daniele Vimercati, Jahanshir Javanifard
  • Publication number: 20200159420
    Abstract: In an example, a portion of a memory array may be selected to be wear leveled based on how often the portion is or is to be accessed. The portion may be wear leveled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Richard E. Fackenthal, Duane R. Mills
  • Patent number: 10585597
    Abstract: In an example, a portion of a memory array may be selected to be wear leveled based on how often the portion is or is to be accessed. The portion may be wear leveled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Fackenthal, Duane R. Mills
  • Publication number: 20200059252
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating memory cell(s) using an enhanced bit flipping scheme are described. An enhanced bit flipping scheme may include methods, systems, and devices for performing error correction of data bits in a codeword concurrently with the generation of a flip bit that indicates whether data bits in a corresponding codeword are to be flipped; for refraining from performing error correction of inversion bit(s) in the codeword; and for generating a high-reliability flip bit using multiple inversion bits. For instance, a flip bit that is even more reliable may be generated by determining whether a number of, a majority of, or all of the inversion bits indicate that the data bits are in an inverted state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: Richard E. Fackenthal
  • Publication number: 20200058342
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for section-based data protection in a memory device are described. In one example, a memory device may include a set memory sections each having memory cells configured to be selectively coupled with access lines of the respective memory section. A method of operating the memory device may include selecting at least one of the sections for a voltage adjustment operation based on a determined value of a timer, and performing the voltage adjustment operation on the selected section by activating each of a plurality of word lines of the selected section. The voltage adjustment operation may include applying an equal voltage to opposite terminals of the memory cells, which may allow built-up charge, such as leakage charge accumulating from access operations of the selected memory section, to dissipate from the memory cells of the selected section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Richard E. Fackenthal, Daniele Vimercati, Jahanshir Javanifard
  • Publication number: 20200013478
    Abstract: Methods, systems, techniques, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. Groups of cells may be operated in different ways depending, for example, on a relationship between cell plates of the group of cells, pages of cells, and/or sections of cells. Cells may be selected in pairs or in larger multiples in order to accommodate an electric current relationship (such as a short) between two or more cells within a group, a page, and/or a section. When performing an access based on a smaller page size, a larger page size of cells may be selected to accommodate a short between plates within the smaller page, the larger page, and/or a section of memory that includes the smaller page or the larger page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Simon J. Lovett, Richard E. Fackenthal
  • Patent number: 10528099
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells and, more particularly, a temperature update for a memory device are described. A memory array may be operated according to a timing cycle that includes a first interval for performing a first type of operation and a second interval for performing a second type of operation, where a duration of the first interval is greater than a duration of the second type of interval. A temperature related to a temperature of at least a portion of the memory array may be sampled during an interval of the second type, and the memory array may be reconfigured based at least in part on a sampled temperature. The first type of operation may then be performed on a reconfigured memory array during an interval of the first type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Fackenthal