Patents by Inventor Sang-Wan Nam

Sang-Wan Nam 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: 9240239
    Abstract: Nonvolatile memory devices including memory cell arrays with a plurality of cell strings connected between a substrate and a plurality of bit lines and selected by selection lines, and a gating circuit configured to drive the selection lines in at least two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-Hwa Kang, Sang-Wan Nam, Donghyuk Chae, ChiWeon Yoon
  • Publication number: 20160012898
    Abstract: A program method of a nonvolatile memory device is provided, which includes programming a memory cell in one string selected from a plurality of vertical strings; determining whether a mode of operation of the nonvolatile memory device is a pre-pulse mode; when the mode of operation is determined to be the pre-pulse mode, applying a pre-pulse having a predetermined level to a string selection line connected with a gate of a string selection transistor of at least one unselected vertical string of the plurality of vertical strings for a particular time period; and performing a verification operation on the programmed memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Sang-Won SHIM, Sang-Wan NAM, KITAE PARK
  • Publication number: 20160005478
    Abstract: A method is provided for driving a nonvolatile memory device, including multiple strings, where each string is formed by penetrating plate-shaped word lines stacked on a substrate. The method includes configuring the word lines of a string in multiple zones based on zone configuration information, and applying zone voltages to the zones, respectively. The zone configuration information is varied according to a mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, MINSU KIM, KANG-BIN LEE, KITAE PARK
  • Patent number: 9230659
    Abstract: A method of programming a memory cell of a nonvolatile memory device by executing a plurality of program loops comprises detecting whether a loop count or a level of a program pulse to be applied to the memory cell is within a specific range, wherein the specific range is an operation section in which a level of a current peak flowing into the bitline increases up to a reference value or more, charging a bitline of the memory cell at a first charging speed or a second charging speed slower than the first charging speed according to a result of the detection, and applying the program pulse to a wordline of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoon-Hee Choi, Sang-Wan Nam
  • Publication number: 20150370705
    Abstract: At least one address scheduling method includes selecting a first bit line, selecting a first string connected to the first bit line, performing address scheduling on N pages of each of multi-level cells in the first string sequentially from a bottom word line to a top word line, and after completing the address scheduling on all word lines in the first string, performing address scheduling on second to k-th strings sequentially in the same manner as performed with respect to the first string, where “k” is 2 or a natural number greater than 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Chi Weon YOON, Dong Hyuk CHAE, Sang-Wan NAM, Jung-Yun YUN
  • Patent number: 9208886
    Abstract: A driving method of a nonvolatile memory device includes receiving a program command and an address. The method includes changing a number of adjacent zones of a plurality of zones formed of unselected word lines according to a location of a selected word line corresponding to the received address. The method further includes applying different zone voltages to the number of adjacent zones and remaining zones. The nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of strings formed to penetrate word lines stacked on a substrate in a plate shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Kuihan Ko, Yang-Lo Ahn, Kitae Park
  • Publication number: 20150340097
    Abstract: A voltage generator includes a first trim unit and a second trim unit. The first trim unit generates a first voltage variable depending on temperature variation and a second voltage invariable irrespective of the temperature variation based on a power supply voltage, and performs a first trim operation by changing a level of the second voltage. The level of the second voltage at a first temperature becomes substantially the same as a level of the first voltage at the first temperature based on the first trim operation. The second trim unit generates an output voltage based on the power supply voltage, the first and second voltages, a reference voltage and a feedback voltage, and performs a second trim operation by adjusting variation of the output voltage depending on the temperature variation based on a result of the first trim operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: TAE-HYUN KIM, YOUNG-SUN MIN, SUNG-WHAN SEO, WON-TAE KIM, SANG-WAN NAM
  • Patent number: 9190151
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device performs a read operation comprising first and second intervals. In the first interval the device applies a turn-on voltage to string selection lines and ground selection lines connected to the string selection transistors and the ground selection transistors, respectively. In the second interval, the device applies a turn-off voltage to unselected string selection lines and unselected ground selection lines while continuing to apply the turn-on voltage to a selected string selection line and a selected ground selection line. In both the first and second intervals, the device applies a first read voltage to a selected wordline connected to memory cells to be read by the read operation and applying a second read voltage to unselected wordlines among connected to memory cells not to be read by the read operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Won-Taeck Jung
  • Publication number: 20150325301
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, a nonvolatile memory device includes a lower filling insulating layer covering a peripheral logic structure on a substrate, a horizontal semiconductor layer on the lower filling insulating layer, and a three-dimensional memory cell array including a plurality of memory blocks on the horizontal semiconductor layer. The horizontal semiconductor layer includes a plurality of doped regions spaced apart from each other in a first direction and a plurality of well regions between the doped regions. Each of the memory blocks includes sub-blocks on corresponding ones of the well regions. The non-volatile memory device is configured to perform an erase operation in units of the sub-blocks. The non-volatile memory device is configured to independently apply an erase voltage to a selected one of the well regions during the erase operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventor: Sang-Wan NAM
  • Patent number: 9183943
    Abstract: A vertical nonvolatile memory device which includes a plurality of cell strings formed in a direction intersecting with a substrate is provided. The vertical nonvolatile memory device is configured to apply a non-selection read voltage to at least one selection line connected to a cell string from among the plurality of cell strings. The vertical nonvolatile memory device is configured to apply the non-selection read voltage to at least one unselected word line of the cell string a desired time period after the applying of the non-selection read voltage to the at least one selection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yang-Lo Ahn, Sang-Wan Nam, Sang-Won Shim
  • Patent number: 9183939
    Abstract: A method of reading a nonvolatile memory device including: applying a read voltage to a selected wordline of the nonvolatile memory device; applying a read pass voltage to unselected wordlines of the nonvolatile memory device; sensing a state of a memory cell connected to the selected wordline; and applying the read pass voltage to the selected wordline after the sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Kitae Park, Hyun-Wook Park, Jae-Kyun Rhee
  • Publication number: 20150310923
    Abstract: An operating method of a nonvolatile memory, which includes a plurality of cell strings, each cell string having a plurality of memory cells and a string selection transistor stacked on a substrate, includes detecting threshold voltages of the string selection transistors of the plurality of cell strings; adjusting voltages to be supplied to the string selection transistors according to the detected threshold voltages; and applying the adjusted voltages to the string selection transistors to select or unselect the plurality of cell strings during a programming operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, KANG-BIN LEE, JUNGHOON PARK
  • Patent number: 9165669
    Abstract: A method is provided for driving a nonvolatile memory device, including multiple strings, where each string is formed by penetrating plate-shaped word lines stacked on a substrate. The method includes configuring the word lines of a string in multiple zones based on zone configuration information, and applying zone voltages to the zones, respectively. The zone configuration information is varied according to a mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Minsu Kim, Kang-Bin Lee, Kitae Park
  • Publication number: 20150294724
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, a memory device includes a memory cell array, a controller including a normal program controller and a dummy program controller, and a driver. The memory cell array includes a first memory block on a substrate. The first memory block includes a plurality of cell strings on the substrate extending in a vertical direction. The normal program controller is configured to generate a first control signal for programming normal cells of a selected cell string that is selected based on an address received by the controller. The dummy program controller is configured to generate a second control signal for programming at least one dummy cell included in each of the plurality of cell strings before generation of the first control signal. The driver is configured to apply a first operation voltage set for programming the normal cells of the selected cell string to the first memory block in response to the first controller signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Sang-wan NAM, Kyung-min KANG
  • Patent number: 9159443
    Abstract: A method of operating a non-volatile memory device includes performing an erasing operation to memory cells associated with a plurality of string selection lines (SSLs), the memory cells associated with the plurality of SSLs constituting a memory block, and verifying the erasing operation to second memory cells associated with a second SSL after verifying the erasing operation to first memory cells associated with a first SSL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi Weon Yoon, Donghyuk Chae, Jae-Woo Park, Sang-Wan Nam
  • Publication number: 20150287479
    Abstract: Provided are a non-volatile memory device, a memory system, and a method of operating the non-volatile memory device. The method includes: performing a user operation according to at least one mode selected from among a writing mode, a reading mode, and an erasing mode with respect to a memory cell array; setting up voltages of a plurality of word lines; floating at least one word line from among the plurality of word lines, the voltages of which are set up, according to the at least one selected mode; and detecting whether the at least one word line has a progressive defect, according to a result of detecting a voltage level of the at least one floated word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Sang-wan NAM, Byung-gil JEON, Dae-seok BYEON
  • Patent number: 9147492
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, a control method of a nonvolatile memory device, which includes a plurality of memory blocks on a substrate, each memory block including a plurality of sub blocks stacked in a direction perpendicular to the substrate and being configured to be erased independently and each sub block including a plurality of memory cells stacked in the direction perpendicular to the substrate. The control method includes comparing a count value of a first memory block with a reference value, the count value determined according to the number of program, read, or erase operations executed at the first memory block after data is programmed in the first memory block; and if the count value is greater than or equal to the reference value, performing a reprogram operation in which data programmed in first the memory block is read and the read data is programmed in a second memory block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sunil Shim, Jin-Man Han, Sang-Wan Nam, Won-Taeck Jung
  • Patent number: 9142313
    Abstract: A program method of a nonvolatile memory device is provided, which includes programming a memory cell in one string selected from a plurality of vertical strings; determining whether a mode of operation of the nonvolatile memory device is a pre-pulse mode; when the mode of operation is determined to be the pre-pulse mode, applying a pre-pulse having a predetermined level to a string selection line connected with a gate of a string selection transistor of at least one unselected vertical string of the plurality of vertical strings for a particular time period; and performing a verification operation on the programmed memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Won Shim, Sang-Wan Nam, Kitae Park
  • Publication number: 20150262686
    Abstract: An erase system and method of a nonvolatile memory device includes supplying an erase voltage to a plurality of memory cells of a nonvolatile memory, performing a read operation with a read voltage to word lines of the plurality of memory cells, and performing an erase verification operation with an erase verification voltage to at least one of the word lines of the plurality of memory cells, the erase verification voltage lower than the read voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventor: Sang-Wan NAM
  • Publication number: 20150221376
    Abstract: A programming method is for programming a nonvolatile memory device including a plurality of strings disposed perpendicular to a substrate and connected between bitlines and a common source line. The programming method includes setting up the common source line to a predetermined voltage, floating the setup common source line, performing a program operation on memory cells connected to a selected wordline, and performing a verify operation on the memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: YOON-HEE CHOI, SANG-WAN NAM, KANG-BIN LEE