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: 20150003167
    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: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YOON-HEE CHOI, SANG-WAN NAM
  • Publication number: 20150003169
    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: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Kitae Park, Hyun-Wook Park, Jae-Kyun Rhee
  • Patent number: 8908431
    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: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sunil Shim, Jinman Han, Sang-Wan Nam, Won-Taeck Jung
  • Patent number: 8891307
    Abstract: According to example embodiments of inventive concepts, a nonvolatile memory device includes a first NAND string and a second NAND string. The first NAND string include a first string selection transistor, a first ground selection transistor having a threshold voltage higher than a threshold voltage of the first string selection transistor, and first memory cells stacked on a substrate. The a second NAND string includes a second string selection transistor, a second ground selection transistor having a threshold voltage higher than a threshold voltage of the second string selection transistor, and second memory cells stacked on the substrate. A first selection line may connect the first string selection line and the first ground selection line, and a second selection line may connect the second selection line and the second ground selection line. The first and second selection lines may be electrically isolated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Wan Nam
  • Publication number: 20140334232
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) flash memory includes a first dummy word line disposed between a ground select line and a lowermost main word line, and a second dummy word line of different word line configuration disposed between a string select line and an upper most main word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, KITAE PARK
  • Publication number: 20140310448
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes determining, at the memory controller, a status of a selected page of memory based on a program/erase cycle count for a block of the memory. The block of the memory includes the selected page. The program/erase cycle count indicates a number of times the block has been erased. The status is selected from a plurality of status states. The status states include a normal state, a weak state and a bad state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Sang-Wan NAM, Kitae PARK
  • Publication number: 20140293693
    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: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan NAM, Kuihan KO, Yang-Lo AHN, Kitae PARK
  • Patent number: 8848451
    Abstract: A 3D semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cell strings, includes a substrate and a channel that extends from the substrate. Memory cells may be disposed in layers in which the diameter of the channel varies. A programming verification operation may be carried out in a sequence whereby memory cells more likely to fail in programming are verified before attempting to verify memory cells that are less likely to fail programming. In an exemplary embodiment, the verification operation is performed on a memory cell disposed in a layer associated with a larger-diameter channel before performing the verification on a memory cell disposed in a layer associated with a smaller-diameter channel. In an exemplary embodiment, if a verification process detects a programming failure, the verification of subsequent memory cells is cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-soo Kim, Sang-wan Nam
  • Patent number: 8837228
    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: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Won-Teack Jung, Junghoon Park
  • Publication number: 20140233316
    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: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Sang-Won Shim, Sang-Wan Nam, Kitae Park
  • Publication number: 20140226403
    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: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, MINSU KIM, KANG-BIN LEE, KITAE PARK
  • Publication number: 20140226397
    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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Yang-Lo AHN, Sang-Wan NAM, Sang-Won SHIM
  • Patent number: 8693247
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device comprises a memory cell array comprising memory cells arranged in rows connected to corresponding word lines and columns connected to corresponding bit lines, a page buffer that stores a program data, a read-write circuit that programs and re-programs the program data into selected memory cells of the memory cell array and reads stored data from the programmed memory cells, and a control circuit that controls the page buffer and the read-write circuit to program the selected memory cells by loaded the program data from in page buffer and to re-program the selected memory cells by re-loaded the program data in the page buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Weon Yoon, Dong-Hyuk Chae, Sang-Wan Nam, Sung-Won Yun
  • Publication number: 20140092685
    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: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi Weon YOON, Donghyuk CHAE, Jae-Woo PARK, Sang-Wan NAM
  • Patent number: 8654587
    Abstract: Non-volatile memory device channel boosting methods in which at least two strings are connected to one bit line, the channel boosting methods including applying an initial channel voltage to channels of strings in a selected memory block, floating inhibit strings each having an un-programmed cell among the strings, and boosting channels of the floated inhibit strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: ChiWeon Yoon, Donghyuk Chae, Sang-Wan Nam, Sung-Won Yun
  • Patent number: 8570808
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a 3D memory cell array having words lines that extend from a lowest memory cell array layer closest to a substrate to a highest memory cell array layer farthest from the substrate, a voltage generator circuit generating first and second voltage signals, and a row selecting circuit that simultaneously applies the first voltage signal to a selected word line and the second voltage signal to an unselected word line. The selected word line and the unselected word line have different resistances, yet the first voltage signal is applied to the selected word line and the second voltage signal is applied to the unselected word line with a same rising slope over a defined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-hoon Park, Kyung-Hwa Kang, Chi-Weon Yoon, Sang-Wan Nam, Sung-Won Yun
  • Publication number: 20130279262
    Abstract: Non-volatile memory device channel boosting methods in which at least two strings are connected to one bit line, the channel boosting methods including applying an initial channel voltage to channels of strings in a selected memory block, floating inhibit strings each having an un-programmed cell among the strings, and boosting channels of the floated inhibit strings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: ChiWeon YOON, Donghyuk CHAE, Sang-Wan NAM, Sung-Won YUN
  • Publication number: 20130279260
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device comprises a memory cell array comprising memory cells arranged in rows connected to corresponding word lines and columns connected to corresponding bit lines, a page buffer that stores a program data, a read-write circuit that programs and re-programs the program data into selected memory cells of the memory cell array and reads stored data from the programmed memory cells, and a control circuit that controls the page buffer and the read-write circuit to program the selected memory cells by loaded the program data from in page buffer and to re-program the selected memory cells by re-loaded the program data in the page buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Chi-Weon YOON, Dong-Hyuk CHAE, Sang-Wan NAM, Sung-Won Yun
  • Patent number: 8559235
    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: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi Weon Yoon, Donghyuk Chae, Jae-Woo Park, Sang-Wan Nam
  • Publication number: 20130250677
    Abstract: Disclosed 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: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Sang-Wan NAM, Junghoon PARK