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: 20130235667
    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: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, JUNGHOON PARK
  • Publication number: 20130188423
    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: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventor: Sang-Wan NAM
  • Patent number: 8493789
    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 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: ChiWeon Yoon, Donghyuk Chae, Sang-Wan Nam, Sung-won Yun
  • Publication number: 20130170297
    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: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Sang-Wan NAM, Kyung-Hwa KANG, Junghoon PARK
  • Patent number: 8472247
    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 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Weon Yoon, Dong-Hyuk Chae, Sang-Wan Nam, Sung-Won Yun
  • Publication number: 20130088921
    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: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, KANG-BIN LEE, JUNGHOON PARK
  • Publication number: 20130083599
    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: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, WON-TAECK JUNG, JUNGHOON PARK
  • Publication number: 20130028027
    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: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Jung-soo Kim, Sang-wan Nam
  • Publication number: 20130016561
    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 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventor: Sang-Wan NAM
  • Publication number: 20130007353
    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: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Sunil SHIM, Jinman HAN, Sang-Wan NAM, Won-Taeck JUNG
  • Publication number: 20120224426
    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: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, ChiWeon Yoon, Jung-Soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20120201080
    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: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung-Hwa KANG, Sang-Wan NAM, Donghyuk CHAE, ChiWeon YOON
  • Publication number: 20120063235
    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: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi Weon Yoon, Sang-Wan Nam, Dong Hyuk Chae
  • Publication number: 20120051143
    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: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Chi Weon Yoon, Donghyuk Chae, Jae-Woo Park, Sang-Wan Nam
  • Publication number: 20120047321
    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 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi Weon Yoon, Dong Hyuk Chae, Sang-Wan Nam, Jung-Yun Yun
  • Publication number: 20120039120
    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 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Weon YOON, Dong-Hyuk CHAE, Sang-Wan NAM, Sung-Won YUN
  • Publication number: 20120039130
    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 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: ChiWeon Yoon, Donghyuk Chae, Sang-Wan Nam, Sung-Won Yun
  • Publication number: 20120033501
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nonvolatile memory device which 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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-hoon Park, Kyung-Hwa Kang, Chi-Weon Yoon, Sang-Wan Nam, Sung-Won Yun
  • Patent number: 7885118
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flash memory device which includes a memory core, a high voltage generating circuit and a reference voltage generating circuit. The high voltage generating circuit is configured to generate a high voltage to be supplied to the memory core. The reference voltage generating circuit is configured to generate at least one reference voltage to be supplied to the high voltage generating circuit. The reference voltage generating circuit includes a first reference voltage generator configured to generate a first reference voltage in response to a supply voltage, and a second reference voltage generator configured to generate a second reference voltage in response to the first reference voltage. The at least one reference voltage supplied to the high voltage generating circuit includes the second reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Dae-Han Kim
  • Patent number: 7773419
    Abstract: In a NOR flash memory device with a serial sensing operation, and method of sensing data bits in a NOR flash memory device, the device includes a multilevel cell, a sense amplifying circuit, a data buffer, a data latch circuit, and a control logic circuit. The sense amplifying circuit serially detects plural data bits stored in the multilevel cell. The data buffer is provided to buffer the data bit detected by the sense amplifier. The data latch circuit stores an output value of the data buffer for a time. The control logic circuit regulates the sense amplifying circuit to detect a lower data bit stored in the multilevel cell in response to a higher data bit held in the data latch. Here, the control logic circuit initializes an output terminal of the data buffer before or while sensing each of the plural data bits by the sense amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Young-Ho Lim, Dae-Han Kim