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: 20180204620
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device performs a method which includes: causing a ready/busy signal pin of the nonvolatile memory device to indicate that the nonvolatile memory device is in a precharge busy state wherein the nonvolatile memory device is not available to perform memory access operations for its nonvolatile memory cells; applying one or more word line precharge voltages to one or more selected word lines among a plurality of word lines of the nonvolatile memory device to precharge the selected word lines; and, after at least a portion of the precharge operation, causing the ready/busy signal pin to transition from indicating the precharge busy state, to indicating that the nonvolatile memory device is in a ready state wherein the nonvolatile memory device is available to perform memory access operations for its nonvolatile memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: WANDONG KIM, SANG-SOO PARK, SE HWAN PARK, SANG-WAN NAM
  • Publication number: 20180150261
    Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a memory controller includes, in a read operation of a non-volatile memory device, the memory controller counting a selected read count of a selected string in a selected memory block and/or counting a non-selected read count of a non-selected string in the selected memory block. The memory controller performs a reclaim operation of the selected memory block when the selected read count and/or the non-selected read count exceeds a read threshold. To move data of the selected memory block to another memory block by the reclaim operation, the memory controller may copy the data of the selected memory block to another block by using a changed page address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, DAE-SEOK BYEON, CHI-WEON YOON, HAE-SUK SHIN
  • Patent number: 9984753
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Kitae Park
  • Publication number: 20180137925
    Abstract: Provided are a nonvolatile memory device and a method of performing a sensing operation on the nonvolatile memory device. The nonvolatile memory device includes a control logic coupled to a memory cell array including strings. The control logic is configured to control a first weak-on voltage applied to an unselected string selection line and a second weak-on voltage applied to an unselected ground selection line during a setup interval of the sensing operation for sensing data from a selected string. The unselected string selection line and ground selection line are connected to a string selection transistor and a ground selection transistor, respectively, of a same unselected string. The selected string and the unselected string are connected to a same bit line. The first weak-on voltage and second weak-on voltage are respectively less than a threshold voltage of the string selection transistor and the ground selection transistor in the unselected string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Sang-wan NAM, Dae-seok BYEON, Chi-weon YOON
  • Patent number: 9947416
    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: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi Weon Yoon, Donghyuk Chae, Jae-Woo Park, Sang-Wan Nam
  • Publication number: 20180053554
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array and a row decoder circuit. The row decoder circuit turns on memory cells of a plurality of cell strings of a selected memory block after applying a first prepulse to a first dummy word line connected to first dummy memory cells after applying a second prepulse to a second dummy word line connected to second dummy memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, DAESEOK BYEON, CHIWEON YOON
  • Publication number: 20180047449
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array, a row decoder circuit, a page buffer circuit, and a control logic circuit. The control logic circuit controls the row decoder circuit and the page buffer circuit to perform: (1) a pre-program of sequentially selecting a plurality of memory blocks and increasing threshold voltages of string selection transistors or ground selection transistors of the selected memory block and (2) after the pre-program is completed, a main program of sequentially selecting the plurality of memory blocks, programming string selection transistors or ground selection transistors of the selected memory block, and performing a verification by using a verification voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, SANG-IN PARK
  • Publication number: 20180047448
    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: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, WON-TAECK JUNG
  • Publication number: 20180046574
    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: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi Weon YOON, Dong Hyuk CHAE, Sang-Wan NAM, Jung-Yun YUN
  • Patent number: 9881685
    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 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi Weon Yoon, Donghyuk Chae, Jae-Woo Park, Sang-Wan Nam
  • Patent number: 9870825
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array, an address decoder, a read & write circuit and control logic. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory blocks including a plurality of cell strings, each cell string including a plurality of memory cells stacked in a direction perpendicular to a substrate. The control logic controls operations so that in a program operation, when the selected word line satisfies a precharge condition, a program voltage to be applied to the selected word line is applied before a pass voltage to be applied to an unselected word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Wandong Kim
  • Patent number: 9851912
    Abstract: A memory device is provided as follows. A memory cell region includes a plurality of blocks, each block including a plurality of NAND strings. A control logic divides the plurality of blocks into a plurality of block regions based on a smaller distance of a first distance with respect to a first edge of the memory cell region and a second distance with respect to a second edge of the memory cell region and controls an operation performed on the memory cell region using a plurality of bias sets of operation parameters for the operation. Each bias set is associated with one of the block regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Doo-Hyun Kim, Dae-Seok Byeon, Chi-Weon Yoon
  • Patent number: 9842659
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-wan Nam, Byung-gil Jeon, Dae-seok Byeon
  • Patent number: 9812206
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Kitae Park
  • Patent number: 9798659
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi Weon Yoon, Dong Hyuk Chae, Sang-Wan Nam, Jung-Yun Yun
  • Patent number: 9799404
    Abstract: A memory device is provided as follows. A memory cell region includes a plurality of blocks, each block including a plurality of NAND strings. A control logic divides the plurality of blocks into a plurality of block regions based on a smaller distance of a first distance with respect to a first edge of the memory cell region and a second distance with respect to a second edge of the memory cell region and controls an operation performed on the memory cell region using a plurality of bias sets of operation parameters for the operation. Each bias set is associated with one of the block regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Doo-Hyun Kim, Dae-Seok Byeon, Chi-Weon Yoon
  • Patent number: 9799400
    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: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Won-Taeck Jung
  • Patent number: 9786372
    Abstract: According to example embodiments of inventive concepts, a nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array, an address decoder, an input/output circuit, a voltage generation circuit, and control logic. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory blocks on a substrate. Each of the memory blocks includes a plurality of strings connected between bit lines and a common source line. The address decoder is configured to measure impedance information of word lines of a selected memory block. The voltage generation circuit is configured to generate word line voltages to be applied to word lines, and at least one of the word line voltages includes an offset voltage and a target voltage. The control logic is configured to adjust a level of the offset voltage and the offset time depending on the measured impedance information of the word lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Wan Nam, Sun-Min Yun, Bongsoon Lim, Yoon-Hee Choi
  • Publication number: 20170271013
    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: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: SANG-WAN NAM, KITAE PARK
  • Patent number: RE46887
    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: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: ChiWeon Yoon, Donghyuk Chae, Sang-Wan Nam, Sung-Won Yun