Patents by Inventor Robert M. Walker

Robert M. Walker 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: 20180210847
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to a memory protocol with command priority. An example apparatus can execute a command that includes a read identification (RID) number based on a priority assigned to the RID number in a register. The apparatus can be a non-volatile dual in-line memory module (NVDIMM) device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventor: Robert M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20180157439
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to a memory protocol. An example apparatus can execute a read command that includes a first chunk of data and a second chunk of data by assigning a first read identification (RID) number to the first chunk of data and a second RID number to the second chunk of data, sending the first chunk of data and the first RID number to a host, and sending the second chunk of data and the second RID number to the host. The apparatus can be a non-volatile dual in-line memory module (NVDIMM) device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Robert M. Walker, Frank F. Ross
  • Publication number: 20170364444
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for a cache architecture. An example apparatus that includes a cache architecture according to the present disclosure can include an array of memory cells configured to store multiple cache entries per page of memory cells; and sense circuitry configured to determine whether cache data corresponding to a request from a cache controller is located at a location in the array corresponding to the request, and return a response to the cache controller indicating whether cache data is located at the location in the array corresponding to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Robert M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20170351433
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to a memory protocol. An example apparatus can perform operations on a number of block buffers of the memory device based on commands received from a host using a block configuration register, wherein the operations can read data from the number of block buffers and write data to the number of block buffers on the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Robert M. Walker, James A. Hall, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170322726
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to a non-deterministic memory protocol. An example apparatus can perform operations on the memory device based on commands received from a host according to a protocol, wherein the protocol includes non-deterministic timing of the operations. The memory device can be a non-volatile dual in-line memory module (NVDIMM) device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Robert M. Walker, James A. Hall, JR., Frank F. Ross
  • Patent number: 9779025
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for a cache architecture. An example apparatus that includes a cache architecture according to the present disclosure can include an array of memory cells configured to store multiple cache entries per page of memory cells; and sense circuitry configured to determine whether cache data corresponding to a request from a cache controller is located at a location in the array corresponding to the request, and return a response to the cache controller indicating whether cache data is located at the location in the array corresponding to the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Walker
  • Patent number: 9575907
    Abstract: Memory apparatuses that may be used for receiving commands and ordering memory responses are provided. One such memory apparatus includes response logic that is coupled to a plurality of memory units by a plurality of channels and may be configured to receiving a plurality of memory responses from the plurality of memory units. Ordering logic may be coupled to the response logic and be configured to cause the plurality of memory responses in the response logic to be provided in an order based, at least in part, on a system protocol. For example, the ordering logic may enforce bus protocol rules on the plurality of memory responses stored in the response logic to ensure that responses are provided from the memory apparatus in a correct order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20170024337
    Abstract: Memory having internal processors, and methods of data communication within such a memory are provided. In one embodiment, an internal processor may concurrently access one or more banks on a memory array on a memory device via one or more buffers. The internal processor may be coupled to a buffer capable of accessing more than one bank, or coupled to more than one buffer that may each access a bank, such that data may be retrieved from and stored in different banks concurrently. Further, the memory device may be configured for communication between one or more internal processors through couplings between memory components, such as buffers coupled to each of the internal processors. Therefore, a multi-operation instruction may be performed by different internal processors, and data (such as intermediate results) from one internal processor may be transferred to another internal processor of the memory, enabling parallel execution of an instruction(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Robert M. Walker, Dan Skinner, Todd A. Merritt, J. Thomas Pawlowski
  • Patent number: 9477636
    Abstract: Memory having internal processors, and methods of data communication within such a memory are provided. In one embodiment, an internal processor may concurrently access one or more banks on a memory array on a memory device via one or more buffers. The internal processor may be coupled to a buffer capable of accessing more than one bank, or coupled to more than one buffer that may each access a bank, such that data may be retrieved from and stored in different banks concurrently. Further, the memory device may be configured for communication between one or more internal processors through couplings between memory components, such as buffers coupled to each of the internal processors. Therefore, a multi-operation instruction may be performed by different internal processors, and data (such as intermediate results) from one internal processor may be transferred to another internal processor of the memory, enabling parallel execution of an instruction(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Walker, Dan Skinner, Todd A. Merritt, J. Thomas Pawlowski
  • Patent number: 9275692
    Abstract: Examples are described herein of dynamic switching of data masking and data bus inversion functionality of a memory input. Both dynamic switching and a static setting for the memory input may be supported in some examples described herein. Use of a command indicating a functionality of the memory input is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20150347307
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for a cache architecture. An example apparatus that includes a cache architecture according to the present disclosure can include an array of memory cells configured to store multiple cache entries per page of memory cells; and sense circuitry configured to determine whether cache data corresponding to a request from a cache controller is located at a location in the array corresponding to the request, and return a response to the cache controller indicating whether cache data is located at the location in the array corresponding to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Walker
  • Patent number: 9164698
    Abstract: Memories having internal processors and methods of data communication within such memories are provided. One such memory may include a fetch unit configured to substantially control performing commands on a memory array based on the availability of banks to be accessed. The fetch unit may receive instructions including commands indicating whether data is to be read from or written to a bank, and the address of the data to be read from or written to the bank. The fetch unit may perform the commands based on the availability of the bank. In one embodiment, control logic communicates with the fetch unit when an activated bank is available. In another implementation, the fetch unit may wait for a bank to become available based on timers set to when a previous command in the activated bank has been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Walker, Dan Skinner, J. Thomas Pawlowski
  • Publication number: 20150052318
    Abstract: Memory apparatuses that may be used for receiving commands and ordering memory responses are provided. One such memory apparatus includes response logic that is coupled to a plurality of memory units by a plurality of channels and may be configured to receiving a plurality of memory responses from the plurality of memory units. Ordering logic may be coupled to the response logic and be configured to cause the plurality of memory responses in the response logic to be provided in an order based, at least in part, on a system protocol. For example, the ordering logic may enforce bus protocol rules on the plurality of memory responses stored in the response logic to ensure that responses are provided from the memory apparatus in a correct order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: ROBERT M. WALKER
  • Patent number: 8880819
    Abstract: Memory apparatuses that may be used for receiving commands and ordering memory responses are provided. One such memory apparatus includes response logic that is coupled to a plurality of memory units by a plurality of channels and may be configured to receiving a plurality of memory responses from the plurality of memory units. Ordering logic may be coupled to the response logic and be configured to cause the plurality of memory responses in the response logic to be provided in an order based, at least in part, on a system protocol. For example, the ordering logic may enforce bus protocol rules on the plurality of memory responses stored in the response logic to ensure that responses are provided from the memory apparatus in a correct order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20140254300
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for reducing the quantity of external interconnections of a memory device are disclosed. Implementation of one such method, device and system includes inputting over an address bus a first portion of an address of a next row of memory cells to be activated. The first portion of the address of the next row of memory cells to be activated is embedded in a command related to the previously activated row of memory cells. The next row of memory cells is subsequently activated according to a concurrently received second portion of the address of the next row of memory cells also received over the address bus. The portioning of the address signals can reduce the width of the address bus and, therefore, the number of required respective external interconnections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20140244948
    Abstract: Memories having internal processors and methods of data communication within such memories are provided. One such memory may include a fetch unit configured to substantially control performing commands on a memory array based on the availability of banks to be accessed. The fetch unit may receive instructions including commands indicating whether data is to be read from or written to a bank, and the address of the data to be read from or written to the bank. The fetch unit may perform the commands based on the availability of the bank. In one embodiment, control logic communicates with the fetch unit when an activated bank is available. In another implementation, the fetch unit may wait for a bank to become available based on timers set to when a previous command in the activated bank has been performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Walker, Dan Skinner, J. Thomas Pawlowski
  • Patent number: 8730759
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for reducing the quantity of external interconnections of a memory device are disclosed. Implementation of one such method, device and system includes inputting over an address bus a first portion of an address of a next row of memory cells to be activated. The first portion of the address of the next row of memory cells to be activated is embedded in a command related to the previously activated row of memory cells. The next row of memory cells is subsequently activated according to a concurrently received second portion of the address of the next row of memory cells also received over the address bus. The portioning of the address signals can reduce the width of the address bus and, therefore, the number of required respective external interconnections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Walker
  • Patent number: 8719516
    Abstract: Memories having internal processors and methods of data communication within such memories are provided. One such memory may include a fetch unit configured to substantially control performing commands on a memory array based on the availability of banks to be accessed. The fetch unit may receive instructions including commands indicating whether data is to be read from or written to a bank, and the address of the data to be read from or written to the bank. The fetch unit may perform the commands based on the availability of the bank. In one embodiment, control logic communicates with the fetch unit when an activated bank is available. In another implementation, the fetch unit may wait for a bank to become available based on timers set to when a previous command in the activated bank has been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Walker, Dan Skinner, J. Thomas Pawlowski
  • Publication number: 20130227210
    Abstract: Examples are described herein of dynamic switching of data masking and data bus inversion functionality of a memory input. Both dynamic switching and a static setting for the memory input may be supported in some examples described herein. Use of a command indicating a functionality of the memory input is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20130151741
    Abstract: Memory apparatuses that may be used for receiving commands and ordering memory responses are provided. One such memory apparatus includes response logic that is coupled to a plurality of memory units by a plurality of channels and may be configured to receiving a plurality of memory responses from the plurality of memory units. Ordering logic may be coupled to the response logic and be configured to cause the plurality of memory responses in the response logic to be provided in an order based, at least in part, on a system protocol. For example, the ordering logic may enforce bus protocol rules on the plurality of memory responses stored in the response logic to ensure that responses are provided from the memory apparatus in a correct order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Walker