Patents by Inventor Scott Choi
Scott Choi 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).
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Publication number: 20220101902Abstract: A memory includes virtual ground circuitry configured to generate a virtual ground voltage (greater than zero volts) at a virtual ground node, a memory array of resistive memory cells in which each resistive memory cell includes a select transistor and a resistive storage element and is coupled to a first column line of a plurality of first column lines, and a first decoder configured to select a set of first column lines for a memory read operation from a selected set of the resistive memory cells. The memory includes read circuitry, and a first column line multiplexer configured to couple each selected first column line of the set of first column lines to the read circuitry during the memory read operation, and configured to couple each unselected first column line of the plurality of first column lines to the virtual ground node during the memory read operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Karthik Ramanan, Jon Scott Choy
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Publication number: 20220101934Abstract: A memory includes memory cells having two select transistors per cell. Each of the two select transistors are coupled to two different word lines with each word line being controlled by a separate addressable word line driver circuit. In some embodiments, providing two different word lines from two different word line drivers may provide for a memory where the word lines can apply different voltages based on the memory operation being performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Padmaraj Sanjeevarao, Jon Scott Choy
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Publication number: 20220101903Abstract: A non-volatile memory includes virtual ground circuitry configured to generate a virtual ground voltage at a virtual ground node, a memory array of memory cells in which each memory cell includes a select transistor and a storage element and is coupled to a first column line of a plurality of first column lines; and a first decoder configured to select a set of first column lines for a memory write operation to a selected set of the memory cells. The non-volatile memory also includes write circuitry configured to receive a write value for storage into the selected set of memory cells, and a first column line multiplexer configured to, during the memory write operation, couple each selected first column line of the set of first column lines to the write circuitry, and couple each unselected first column line of the plurality of first column lines to the virtual ground node.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Jon Scott Choy, Karthik Ramanan, Padmaraj Sanjeevarao, Jacob T. Williams
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Patent number: 11289144Abstract: A non-volatile memory includes virtual ground circuitry configured to generate a virtual ground voltage at a virtual ground node, a memory array of memory cells in which each memory cell includes a select transistor and a storage element and is coupled to a first column line of a plurality of first column lines; and a first decoder configured to select a set of first column lines for a memory write operation to a selected set of the memory cells. The non-volatile memory also includes write circuitry configured to receive a write value for storage into the selected set of memory cells, and a first column line multiplexer configured to, during the memory write operation, couple each selected first column line of the set of first column lines to the write circuitry, and couple each unselected first column line of the plurality of first column lines to the virtual ground node.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventors: Jon Scott Choy, Karthik Ramanan, Padmaraj Sanjeevarao, Jacob T. Williams
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Patent number: 11250898Abstract: As disclosed herein, a memory includes an array of resistive memory cells and a voltage regulator circuit that provides a regulated voltage based on a circuit with a replica resistive storage element. The regulated voltage is applied to a mux transistor of a multiplexer of a column decoder that is used to select a particular column line of a memory array from a set of column lines to provide the proper voltage to the memory cell during a write operation to the memory cell.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: NXP USA, INC.Inventors: Padmaraj Sanjeevarao, Jacob T. Williams, Karthik Ramanan, Jon Scott Choy
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Patent number: 11170849Abstract: A memory includes a plurality of word line drivers with each driver controlling the voltage of a word line and the voltage of a select line during a memory operation. The driver operates to couple the select line to a first voltage setting terminal when the word line is asserted and couple the select line to a second voltage setting terminal when the word line is not asserted.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: NXP USA, INC.Inventors: Jon Scott Choy, Padmaraj Sanjeevarao, Jacob T. Williams
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Publication number: 20210319819Abstract: As disclosed herein, a memory includes an array of resistive memory cells and a voltage regulator circuit that provides a regulated voltage based on a circuit with a replica resistive storage element. The regulated voltage is applied to a mux transistor of a multiplexer of a column decoder that is used to select a particular column line of a memory array from a set of column lines to provide the proper voltage to the memory cell during a write operation to the memory cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2020Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Padmaraj Sanjeevarao, Jacob T. Williams, Karthik Ramanan, Jon Scott Choy
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Patent number: 11145382Abstract: A leakage measuring circuit includes a bias input node control circuit and provides a signal indicative of a leakage current through the bias input node. The bias input node control circuit includes a first input to receive an indication of a reference voltage, a second input to receive an indication of a voltage of the bias input node, and an output to bias the bias input node at the reference voltage based on a relationship between the first and second input. A well voltage bias circuit provides a well bias voltage and includes a well bias control circuit including a first input to receive the signal indicative of the leakage current, a second input to receive a signal indicative of a reference leakage current value, and an output for controlling the well bias voltage based on a relationship between the first and second input of the well bias control circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventors: Karthik Ramanan, Jon Scott Choy, Jacob T. Williams
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Publication number: 20210287674Abstract: Various methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed with improved imposter rejection for keyword recognition systems in a wearable device. Speech signals are measured by a microphone and a vibration sensor, the vibration sensor configured to measure vibrations in the body of a wearer of the device. An audio signal from the microphone and a vibration signal from the vibration sensor are input into a classifier to determine whether the wearer of the device spoke the keyword. In some embodiments, high-frequency components of a signal from the microphone may be combined with low-frequency components of a signal from the vibration sensor to generate a combined speech signal. The classifier may use a classification model trained with positive training data of the wearer speaking the keyword and negative training data of a non-wearer speaking the keyword.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Applicant: Knowles Electronics, LLCInventors: Andy Unruh, Wenjing Yang, Bin Jiang, Stephen Cradock, Alexei Ivanov, Fuliang Weng, Scott Choi
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Patent number: 11056160Abstract: As disclosed herein, a non-volatile memory circuit includes an array of memory cells. The non-volatile memory circuit also includes circuitry for performing a hard write to selective bits of addressed cells simultaneously with a normal write to the other bits of the addressed cells during a write operation to the addressed cells.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: NXP USA, INC.Inventors: Richard Eguchi, Jon Scott Choy, Anirban Roy, Jacob Williams, Kerry Ilgenstein
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Patent number: 11049539Abstract: A magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) array has a corresponding MRAM cell, including a Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ), at an intersection of each row and column. A first row of the array is configured as a single one-time-programmable (OTP) row, wherein a first MRAM cell in a first column is connected to a second MRAM cell in a second column. A first MTJ of the first MRAM cell is connected to a first bit line of the first column, and a second MTJ of the second MRAM cell is not connected to a second bit line of the second column. During a write to the first MRAM cell, write circuitry is configured to connect the first and second bit lines and the corresponding source lines such that the select transistors in the first and second MRAM cells are connected in parallel to drive a write current through the first MTJ.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventors: Padmaraj Sanjeevarao, Jon Scott Choy, Anirban Roy
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Publication number: 20210118475Abstract: As disclosed herein, a non-volatile memory circuit includes an array of memory cells. The non-volatile memory circuit also includes circuitry for performing a hard write to selective bits of addressed cells simultaneously with a normal write to the other bits of the addressed cells during a write operation to the addressed cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2019Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Richard Eguchi, Jon Scott Choy, Anirban Roy, Jacob Williams, Kerry Ilgenstein
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Patent number: 10984846Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit includes a reference path, a cell path, and a comparator circuit. The reference path includes a first current load device and a reference comparison node in which the reference path is coupled to a cell reference circuit during a read, wherein the first current load device includes a control input for controlling a current of the reference path. The cell path includes a second current load device and a cell comparison node in which the cell path is coupled to a memory cell during a read, wherein the second current load device includes a control input for controlling a current of the cell path. The comparator circuit indicates a data value being stored in the memory cell based on a comparison of voltages at the reference and cell comparison nodes. Different signals are provided to the control inputs of the first and second current load devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventors: Karthik Ramanan, Jon Scott Choy, Jacob Williams
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Publication number: 20210012821Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit includes a reference path, a cell path, and a comparator circuit. The reference path includes a first current load device and a reference comparison node in which the reference path is coupled to a cell reference circuit during a read, wherein the first current load device includes a control input for controlling a current of the reference path. The cell path includes a second current load device and a cell comparison node in which the cell path is coupled to a memory cell during a read, wherein the second current load device includes a control input for controlling a current of the cell path. The comparator circuit indicates a data value being stored in the memory cell based on a comparison of voltages at the reference and cell comparison nodes. Different signals are provided to the control inputs of the first and second current load devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2019Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Karthik Ramanan, Jon Scott Choy, Jacob Williams
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Patent number: 10861524Abstract: A magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) array including MRAM cells arranged in rows and columns, wherein each MRAM cell has a select transistor and a Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ). A plurality of rows of the MRAM array is configured as a single one-time-programmable (OTP) row having OTP cells, wherein the corresponding word lines of each row of the plurality of rows are electrically connected. In each column of the single OTP row, source electrodes of the select transistors in the corresponding MRAM cells in the column of the single OTP row are coupled to the corresponding source line, drain electrodes of the select transistors in the corresponding MRAM cells in the column of the single OTP row are electrically connected, and only a first MTJ of a first MRAM cell in the corresponding MRAM cells in the column of the single OTP row is connected to the corresponding bit line.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventors: Anirban Roy, Jon Scott Choy
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Patent number: 10796741Abstract: A word line regulator provides a write word line voltage for an asserted word line and includes a write replica circuit, a reference current path, and a regulator circuit. The write replica circuit is a replica of a write path for writing from a low to high resistance value of a resistive memory element of a memory cell. The word line regulator regulates the word line voltage at a value during the write operation of a low to high resistance value such that a select transistor of the memory cell is used as a source follower to regulate a first node of a resistive element of the memory cell being written. The first node is at a higher write voltage than a second node of the resistive element during the write operation, and the first node is located in a write path between the select transistor and the second node.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventors: Jacob T. Williams, Jon Scott Choy, Karthik Ramanan
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Patent number: 10295572Abstract: A voltage sampling circuit and method are provided. The voltage sampling circuit includes a capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal. A first pre-charge circuit is coupled to a first voltage supply terminal and to the first terminal of the capacitor. The first pre-charge circuit is configured to receive a first control signal and pre-charge the capacitor to a first voltage. A switch circuit includes a first transistor having a first current electrode coupled to an input terminal of the voltage sampling circuit, a control electrode coupled to the first terminal of the capacitor, and a body electrode coupled to the second terminal of the capacitor. A second transistor having a first current electrode coupled to a second current electrode of the first transistor, a body electrode coupled to the second terminal of the capacitor, and a second current electrode coupled to an output terminal of the voltage sampling circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2018Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: NXP USA, INC.Inventors: Khoi Mai, Michael Todd Berens, Jon Scott Choy
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Patent number: 10224088Abstract: A memory includes a global reference circuit for generating a signal that controls the resistance of a plurality of reference devices used to read data in memory cells by sense amplifiers of the memory. The signal is generated by an output of an operational amplifier of the global reference circuit. The operational amplifier includes a first input whose voltage is set by flowing current through a reference circuit and a second input whose voltage is set by flowing current through a master reference device. The signal controls the resistance of the master reference device such that the voltages of the inputs of the operational amplifier match.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2018Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: NXP USA, INC.Inventors: Jon Scott Choy, Michael Garrett Neaves, Michael A. Sadd
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Patent number: 9741417Abstract: In one embodiment, a sense amplifier circuit includes two current paths. Each path includes a transistor configured as a current source during a memory read operation and a second transistor. During the first phase of a memory read operation, the first current path is coupled to one cell and the second current path is coupled to a second cell. The sense amplifier circuit includes a capacitor that during a first phase of a memory read operation, is coupled between two corresponding nodes of the two paths to store a voltage difference between the two nodes. During the second phase, the cell/current path couplings are swapped and the capacitor is coupled to the control terminal of one of the second transistors to control the conductivity of the transistor for adjusting a voltage of an output node to indicate the value of the data being read.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: NXP USA, INC.Inventors: Michael A. Sadd, Jon Scott Choy, Michael Garrett Neaves
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Patent number: 9741435Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit includes a sampling capacitor coupled to the input of an inverting amplifier. The output of the inverting amplifier is coupled to a transistor that includes a current terminal. The memory read operation includes two phases. During a first phase, a terminal of the capacitor is coupled to a first cell. During a second phase, the terminal of the capacitor is coupled a second cell.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: NXP USA, INC.Inventors: Jon Scott Choy, Michael A. Sadd, Michael Garrett Neaves