Patents by Inventor Robert D. Norman

Robert D. Norman 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: 20260029921
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first semiconductor die having first memory circuits and a second semiconductor die having second memory circuits, the second memory circuits having a write latency shorter than that of the first memory circuits. The first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die are interconnected by interconnections formed by wafer-level or chip-level bonding between the first and second semiconductor dies. The second semiconductor die includes an on-chip control circuit that controls operations of the first memory circuits and the second memory circuits to transfer data between the first memory circuits and the second memory circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2025
    Publication date: January 29, 2026
    Inventors: Youn Cheul Kim, Richard S. Chernicoff, Khandker Nazrul Quader, Robert D. Norman, Tianhong Yan, Sayeef Salahuddin, Eli Harari
  • Patent number: 12411606
    Abstract: A first circuit formed on a first semiconductor substrate is wafer-bonded to a second circuit formed on a second memory circuit, wherein the first circuit includes quasi-volatile or non-volatile memory circuits and wherein the second memory circuit includes fast memory circuits that have lower read latencies than the quasi-volatile or non-volatile memory circuits, as well as logic circuits. The volatile and non-volatile memory circuits may include static random-access memory (SRAM) circuits, dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) circuits, embedded DRAM (eDRAM) circuits, magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) circuits, embedded MRAM (eMRAM), or any suitable combination of these circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2025
    Assignee: SUNRISE MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youn Cheul Kim, Richard S. Chernicoff, Khandker Nazrul Quader, Robert D. Norman, Tianhong Yan, Sayeef Salahuddin, Eli Harari
  • Publication number: 20250251878
    Abstract: A quasi-volatile memory (QV memory) stack includes at least one semiconductor die, having formed thereon QV memory circuits, bonded to a second semiconductor on which a memory controller for the QV memory (“QV memory controller”) is formed. The circuits in the bonded semiconductor dies are electrically connected using numerous copper interconnect conductors and conductive through-silicon vias (TSVs). The QV memory controller may include one or more interfaces to additional devices (“back-channel devices”) to enable the QV memory controller to also serve as a controller for each back-channel device and to provide additional services. The QV memory controller performs data transfers between a back-channel device and the QV memory without intervention by the host CPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2025
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventors: Robert D. Norman, Eli Harari
  • Publication number: 20250094079
    Abstract: A memory structure including three-dimensional NOR memory strings and method of fabrication is disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory system includes a set of memory modules, each memory module including one or more quasi-volatile memory circuits interconnected to at least one memory controller where each memory module includes a set of memory ports; a DIMM controller and processor in communication with each of the memory modules; and multiple processor ports to be coupled to respective processing units external to the memory system. The memory ports of each memory module are coupled to the processor ports and to the DIMM controller and processor so that each memory module is accessible by respective processing units that are coupled to the processor ports and by the DIMM controller and process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventor: Robert D. Norman
  • Patent number: 12242759
    Abstract: A quasi-volatile memory (QV memory) stack includes at least one semiconductor die, having formed thereon QV memory circuits, bonded to a second semiconductor on which a memory controller for the QV memory (“QV memory controller”) is formed. The circuits in the bonded semiconductor dies are electrically connected using numerous copper interconnect conductors and conductive through-silicon vias (TSVs). The QV memory controller may include one or more interfaces to additional devices (“back-channel devices”) to enable the QV memory controller to also serve as a controller for each back-channel device and to provide additional services. The QV memory controller performs data transfers between a back-channel device and the QV memory without intervention by the host CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: SUNRISE MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert D. Norman, Eli Harari
  • Patent number: 12189982
    Abstract: A memory structure including three-dimensional NOR memory strings and method of fabrication is disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory system includes a set of memory modules of quasi-volatile memory circuits interconnected to a memory controller and having a set of memory ports. The memory system includes a first processor port, a second processor port, and one or more DIMM interface ports to be coupled to respective processors for providing access to the set of memory modules. In another embodiment, an artificial intelligence (AI) computing system includes a set of memory modules of quasi-volatile memory circuits interconnected to a memory controller and an arithmetic function block performing multiply and accumulate functionalities using data stored in the memory modules. The set of memory modules are accessed to perform read, write and erase memory operations in a rotating manner in each computing cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: SUNRISE MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert D. Norman
  • Publication number: 20240411711
    Abstract: A high-capacity system memory may be built from both quasi-volatile (QV) memory circuits, logic circuits, and static random-access memory (SRAM) circuits. Using the SRAM circuits as buffers or cache for the QV memory circuits, the system memory may achieve access latency performance of the SRAM circuits and may be used as code memory. The system memory is also capable of direct memory access (DMA) operations and includes an arithmetic logic unit for performing computational memory tasks. The system memory may include one or more embedded processors. In addition, the system memory may be configured for multi-channel memory accesses by multiple host processors over multiple host ports. The system memory may be provided in the dual-in-line memory module (DIMM) format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Robert D. Norman, Eli Harari, Khandker Nazrul Quader, Frank Sai-keung Lee, Richard S. Chernicoff, Youn Cheul Kim, Mehrdad Mofidi
  • Publication number: 20240345736
    Abstract: A first circuit formed on a first semiconductor substrate is wafer-bonded to a second circuit formed on a second memory circuit, wherein the first circuit includes quasi-volatile or non-volatile memory circuits and wherein the second memory circuit includes fast memory circuits that have lower read latencies than the quasi-volatile or non-volatile memory circuits, as well as logic circuits. The volatile and non-volatile memory circuits may include static random-access memory (SRAM) circuits, dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) circuits, embedded DRAM (eDRAM) circuits, magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) circuits, embedded MRAM (eMRAM), or any suitable combination of these circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: Youn Cheul Kim, Richard S. Chernicoff, Khandker Nazrul Quader, Robert D. Norman, Tianhong Yan, Sayeef Salahuddin, Eli Harari
  • Patent number: 12105650
    Abstract: A high-capacity system memory may be built from both quasi-volatile (QV) memory circuits, logic circuits, and static random-access memory (SRAM) circuits. Using the SRAM circuits as buffers or cache for the QV memory circuits, the system memory may achieve access latency performance of the SRAM circuits and may be used as code memory. The system memory is also capable of direct memory access (DMA) operations and includes an arithmetic logic unit for performing computational memory tasks. The system memory may include one or more embedded processor. In addition, the system memory may be configured for multi-channel memory accesses by multiple host processors over multiple host ports. The system memory may be provided in the dual-in-line memory module (DIMM) format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: SUNRISE MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert D. Norman, Eli Harari, Khandker Nazrul Quader, Frank Sai-keung Lee, Richard S. Chernicoff, Youn Cheul Kim, Mehrdad Mofidi
  • Patent number: 12073082
    Abstract: A first circuit formed on a first semiconductor substrate is wafer-bonded to a second circuit formed on a second memory circuit, wherein the first circuit includes quasi-volatile or non-volatile memory circuits and wherein the second memory circuit includes fast memory circuits that have lower read latencies than the quasi-volatile or non-volatile memory circuits, as well as logic circuits. The volatile and non-volatile memory circuits may include static random-access memory (SRAM) circuits, dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) circuits, embedded DRAM (eDRAM) circuits, magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) circuits, embedded MRAM (eMRAM), or any suitable combination of these circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: SUNRISE MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youn Cheul Kim, Richard S. Chernicoff, Khandker Nazrul Quader, Robert D. Norman, Tianhong Yan, Sayeef Salahuddin, Eli Harari
  • Publication number: 20240176546
    Abstract: A quasi-volatile memory (QV memory) stack includes at least one semiconductor die, having formed thereon QV memory circuits, bonded to a second semiconductor on which a memory controller for the QV memory (“QV memory controller”) is formed. The circuits in the bonded semiconductor dies are electrically connected using numerous copper interconnect conductors and conductive through-silicon vias (TSVs). The QV memory controller may include one or more interfaces to additional devices (“back-channel devices”) to enable the QV memory controller to also serve as a controller for each back-channel device and to provide additional services. The QV memory controller performs data transfers between a back-channel device and the QV memory without intervention by the host CPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2024
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Robert D. Norman, Eli Harari
  • Patent number: 11954363
    Abstract: A quasi-volatile memory (QV memory) stack includes at least one semiconductor die, having formed thereon QV memory circuits, bonded to a second semiconductor on which a memory controller for the QV memory (“QV memory controller”) is formed. The circuits in the bonded semiconductor dies are electrically connected using numerous copper interconnect conductors and conductive through-silicon vias (TSVs). The QV memory controller may include one or more interfaces to additional devices (“back-channel devices”) to enable the QV memory controller to also serve as a controller for each back-channel device and to provide additional services. The QV memory controller performs data transfers between a back-channel device and the QV memory without intervention by the host CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SUNRISE MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert D. Norman, Eli Harari
  • Publication number: 20230393781
    Abstract: A memory structure including three-dimensional NOR memory strings and method of fabrication is disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory system includes a set of memory modules of quasi-volatile memory circuits interconnected to a memory controller and having a set of memory ports. The memory system includes a first processor port, a second processor port, and one or more DIMM interface ports to be coupled to respective processors for providing access to the set of memory modules. In another embodiment, an artificial intelligence (AI) computing system includes a set of memory modules of quasi-volatile memory circuits interconnected to a memory controller and an arithmetic function block performing multiply and accumulate functionalities using data stored in the memory modules. The set of memory modules are accessed to perform read, write and erase memory operations in a rotating manner in each computing cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventor: Robert D. Norman
  • Patent number: 11789644
    Abstract: Semiconductor memory systems and architectures for shared memory access implements memory-centric structures using a quasi-volatile memory. In one embodiment, a memory processor array includes an array of memory cubes, each memory cube in communication with a processor mini core to form a computational memory. In another embodiment, a memory system includes processing units and one or more mini core-memory module both in communication with a memory management unit. Mini processor cores in each mini core-memory module execute tasks designated to the mini core-memory module by a given processing unit using data stored in the associated quasi-volatile memory circuits of the mini core-memory module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SUNRISE MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert D. Norman
  • Publication number: 20230259283
    Abstract: A first circuit formed on a first semiconductor substrate is wafer-bonded to a second circuit formed on a second memory circuit, wherein the first circuit includes quasi-volatile or non-volatile memory circuits and wherein the second memory circuit includes fast memory circuits that have lower read latencies than the quasi-volatile or non-volatile memory circuits, as well as logic circuits. The volatile and non-volatile memory circuits may include static random-access memory (SRAM) circuits, dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) circuits, embedded DRAM (eDRAM) circuits, magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) circuits, embedded MRAM (eMRAM), or any suitable combination of these circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Youn Cheul Kim, Richard S. Chernicoff, Khandker Nazrul Quader, Robert D. Norman, Tianhong Yan, Sayeef Salahuddin, Eli Harari
  • Patent number: 11675500
    Abstract: A first circuit formed on a first semiconductor substrate is wafer-bonded to a second circuit formed on a second memory circuit, wherein the first circuit includes quasi-volatile or non-volatile memory circuits and wherein the second memory circuit includes fast memory circuits that have lower read latencies than the quasi-volatile or non-volatile memory circuits, as well as logic circuits. The volatile and non-volatile memory circuits may include static random-access memory (SRAM) circuits, dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) circuits, embedded DRAM (eDRAM) circuits, magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) circuits, embedded MRAM (eMRAM), or any suitable combination of these circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SUNRISE MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youn Cheul Kim, Richard S. Chernicoff, Khandker Nazrul Quader, Robert D. Norman, Tianhong Yan, Sayeef Salahuddin, Eli Harari
  • Publication number: 20230131169
    Abstract: A high-capacity system memory may be built from both quasi-volatile (QV) memory circuits, logic circuits, and static random-access memory (SRAM) circuits. Using the SRAM circuits as buffers or cache for the QV memory circuits, the system memory may achieve access latency performance of the SRAM circuits and may be used as code memory. The system memory is also capable of direct memory access (DMA) operations and includes an arithmetic logic unit for performing computational memory tasks. The system memory may include one or more embedded processor. In addition, the system memory may be configured for multi-channel memory accesses by multiple host processors over multiple host ports. The system memory may be provided in the dual-in-line memory module (DIMM) format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Robert D. Norman, Eli Harari, Khandker Nazrul Quader, Frank Sai-keung Lee, Richard S. Chernicoff, Youn Cheul Kim, Mehrdad Mofidi
  • Patent number: 11580038
    Abstract: A high-capacity system memory may be built from both quasi-volatile (QV) memory circuits, logic circuits, and static random-access memory (SRAM) circuits. Using the SRAM circuits as buffers or cache for the QV memory circuits, the system memory may achieve access latency performance of the SRAM circuits and may be used as code memory. The system memory is also capable of direct memory access (DMA) operations and includes an arithmetic logic unit for performing computational memory tasks. The system memory may include one or more embedded processor. In addition, the system memory may be configured for multi-channel memory accesses by multiple host processors over multiple host ports. The system memory may be provided in the dual-in-line memory module (DIMM) format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SUNRISE MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert D. Norman, Eli Harari, Khandker Nazrul Quader, Frank Sai-keung Lee, Richard S. Chernicoff, Youn Cheul Kim, Mehrdad Mofidi
  • Publication number: 20230037047
    Abstract: Semiconductor memory systems and architectures for shared memory access implements memory-centric structures using a quasi-volatile memory. In one embodiment, a memory processor array includes an array of memory cubes, each memory cube in communication with a processor mini core to form a computational memory. In another embodiment, a memory system includes processing units and one or more mini core-memory module both in communication with a memory management unit. Mini processor cores in each mini core-memory module execute tasks designated to the mini core-memory module by a given processing unit using data stored in the associated quasi-volatile memory circuits of the mini core-memory module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventor: Robert D. Norman
  • Patent number: 11561911
    Abstract: A shared memory provides multi-channel access from multiple computing or host devices. A priority circuit prioritizes the multiple memory requests that are submitted as bids from the multiple host channels, such that those memory access requests that do not give rise to a conflict may proceed in parallel. The shared memory may be multi-ported and a routing circuit routes the prioritized memory access request to the appropriate memory ports where the allowed memory access requests may be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: SUNRISE MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert D. Norman, Richard S. Chernicoff, Eli Harari