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).

  • Publication number: 20150221375
    Abstract: In a method of programming a three-dimensional nonvolatile memory device, a program loop is executed at least one time, wherein the program loop includes a programming step for programming selected memory cells among the memory cells and a verifying step for verifying whether the selected memory cells are program-passed or not. In the programming the selected memory cells, a level of a voltage being applied to a common source line connected to the strings in common may be changed. Thus, in a program operation, power consumption which is needed to charge-discharge the common source line can be decreased while increasing boosting efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: YOON-HEE CHOI, SANG-WAN NAM, KANG-BIN LEE
  • Publication number: 20150221387
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, an operation method of a nonvolatile memory device includes determining a location of a selected word line among word lines connected to the nonvolatile memory device, selecting one of a plurality of different read disturbance reducing modes according to the location of the selected word line, and performing a read or verification operation according to the selected read disturbance reducing modes. The nonvolatile memory device includes cell strings. Each one of the cell strings includes memory cells stacked on top of each other in a direction perpendicular to the substrate and between a ground select transistor and a string select transistor. The ground select transistor is between the substrate and the number of the memory cells. The string select transistor is connected to a bit line and is between the bit line and the number of the memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventor: Sang-Wan NAM
  • Publication number: 20150221373
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, an operation method of a nonvolatile memory device includes determining a location of a selected word line among word lines connected to the nonvolatile memory device, selecting one of a plurality of different read disturbance reducing modes according to the location of the selected word line, and performing a read or verification operation according to the selected read disturbance reducing modes. The nonvolatile memory device includes cell strings. Each one of the cell strings includes memory cells stacked on top of each other in a direction perpendicular to the substrate and between a ground select transistor and a string select transistor. The ground select transistor is between the substrate and the number of the memory cells. The string select transistor is connected to a bit line and is between the bit line and the number of the memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventor: Sang-Wan NAM
  • Publication number: 20150221381
    Abstract: An erase method of a three-dimensional nonvolatile memory device may include receiving an erase command, applying an erase voltage to perform an erase operation to a selected memory region in response to the erase command, suspending the erase operation by cutting off the erase voltage after a specific time has elapsed from when the erase voltage is applied, receiving a resume command after a reference time has elapsed from when the erase operation is suspended, and applying the erase voltage to the memory region for the specific time according to the resume command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventor: SANG-WAN NAM
  • Patent number: 9076516
    Abstract: Provided is a method for programming a nonvolatile memory device, which includes memory cells arranged in a plurality of rows. The programming method includes alternately selecting word lines to program data at a first page portion and a second page portion associated with the memory cells. After the first and second page portions are programmed, the method includes programming data at a third page portion associated with the memory cells according to an order in which word lines are arranged. The word lines may be sequentially selected one by one from a word line adjacent to a ground selection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Junghoon Park
  • Patent number: 9076683
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Kang-Bin Lee, Junghoon Park
  • Publication number: 20150187425
    Abstract: An erase method of a nonvolatile memory includes supplying an erase voltage to a substrate, supplying a selection word line voltage to word lines connected with a selected sub-block within a memory block of the nonvolatile memory, supplying a non-selection word line voltage to word lines connected with an unselected sub-block within the memory block during a first delay time from a point of time when the erase voltage is supplied, and thereafter floating the word lines connected with the unselected sub-block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, WON-TAECK JUNG, JUNGHOON PARK
  • Publication number: 20150179235
    Abstract: A method of erasing a nonvolatile memory device which includes a plurality of memory blocks includes receiving an erase command; erasing a selected memory block among the plurality of memory blocks in response to the erase command; and performing an operation of checking whether a threshold voltage of a selection transistor connected to at least one selection line for selecting strings included in the selected memory block is changed while performing an erase verification operation for checking whether the selected memory block is normally erased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: SANG-WAN NAM
  • Publication number: 20150179271
    Abstract: A method is provided for erasing a nonvolatile memory device, including multiple memory blocks formed in a direction perpendicular to a substrate, each memory block having multiple strings connected to a bit line. The method includes selecting a memory block to be erased using a power supply voltage; unselecting a remaining memory block, other than the selected memory block, using a negative voltage; setting a bias condition to reduce leakage currents of the unselected memory block; and performing an erase operation on the selected memory block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, KANG-BIN LEE, KIHWAN CHOI
  • Patent number: 9053978
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Wan Nam
  • Publication number: 20150138890
    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: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung-Hwa KANG, Sang-Wan NAM, Donghyuk CHAE, ChiWeon YOON
  • Patent number: 9036425
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) non-volatile memory includes a memory cell array and a merge driver configured to apply a merge voltage at the same level to a common source line and a bulk in the memory cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi Weon Yoon, Sang-Wan Nam, Dong Hyuk Chae
  • Patent number: 9025383
    Abstract: A method is provided for programming a nonvolatile memory device, which includes multiple memory cells connected in series in a direction substantially perpendicular to a substrate. The method includes programming a first memory cell of the multiple memory cells, and programming a second memory cell of the multiple memory cells after the first memory cell is programmed, the second memory cell being closer to the substrate than the first memory cell. A diameter of a channel hole of the first memory cell is larger than a diameter of a channel hole of the second memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Junghoon Park
  • Publication number: 20150078087
    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: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Sunil SHIM, Jin-Man HAN, Sang-Wan NAM, Won-Taeck JUNG
  • Patent number: 8982642
    Abstract: An erase method of a nonvolatile memory includes supplying an erase voltage to a substrate, supplying a selection word line voltage to word lines connected with a selected sub-block within a memory block of the nonvolatile memory, supplying a non-selection word line voltage to word lines connected with an unselected sub-block within the memory block during a first delay time from a point of time when the erase voltage is supplied, and thereafter floating the word lines connected with the unselected sub-block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Won-Teack Jung, Junghoon Park
  • Patent number: 8976591
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, a nonvolatile memory device includes a first and a second NAND string. The first NAND string includes a first string selection transistor, a first local ground and a first global ground selection transistor, and first memory cells stacked in a direction perpendicular to a substrate. The second NAND string includes a second string selection transistor, a second local ground and a second global ground selection transistor, and second memory cells stacked in the direction perpendicular to the substrate. The device includes a selection line driver including path transistors configured to select and provide at least one operation voltage to the first and second string selection transistors, the first and second local and global ground selection transistors. The first and second string selection transistors are electrically isolated from each other, and the first and second global ground selection transistors are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Kyung-Hwa Kang, Junghoon Park
  • Patent number: 8971114
    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: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-Hwa Kang, Sang-Wan Nam, Donghyuk Chae, ChiWeon Yoon
  • Patent number: 8953376
    Abstract: According to example embodiments, a read method of a nonvolatile memory device includes Disclosed is a read method of a nonvolatile memory device which includes selecting one of a plurality of vertical strings in a nonvolatile memory device, judging a channel length between a common source line and a selected one of the plurality of vertical strings, selecting a sensing manner corresponding to the judged channel length, and performing a sensing operation according to the selected sensing manner. The plurality of vertical strings may extend in a direction perpendicular to a substrate of the nonvolatile memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Chiweon Yoon, Jung-Soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20150029790
    Abstract: An erase method of a nonvolatile memory includes supplying an erase voltage to a substrate, supplying a selection word line voltage to word lines connected with a selected sub-block within a memory block of the nonvolatile memory, supplying a non-selection word line voltage to word lines connected with an unselected sub-block within the memory block during a first delay time from a point of time when the erase voltage is supplied, and thereafter floating the word lines connected with the unselected sub-block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, WON-TEACK JUNG, JUNGHOON PARK
  • Publication number: 20150009760
    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: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, WON-TAECK JUNG