Patents by Inventor Scott E. Schaefer

Scott E. Schaefer 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: 20260244531
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for determination of errors as link-driven or die-driven errors are described. Generation of redundancy information and parity information for data protection may be split across an interface between a memory system and a host system to improve error detection. The memory system may receive, from the host system via an interface, data and redundancy information associated with the data. The memory system may use the redundancy information to check for errors caused by transfer of the data via the interface. The memory system may request a retransmission or perform an error correction if an error is detected. After the errors in the data due to the interface transmission are corrected, the memory system may generate parity information associated with the data and write the data, the parity information, and the redundancy information to one or more memory devices of the memory system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2026
    Publication date: August 20, 2026
    Inventors: Navid Lashkarian, Frank F. Ross, Scott E. Schaefer, Anthony D. Veches, Randall J. Rooney
  • Publication number: 20260244532
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for adjustment of error correction algorithms are described. A memory system may modify an error correction algorithm for different portions of memory within a memory array. For example, the memory system may receive commands to read data from a portion of the memory array, and the memory system may perform error correction of the data using parity information. The memory system may identify that the portion of memory includes a threshold quantity of errors exceeding the error correction capabilities associated with the parity information. In response, the memory system may determine to switch an error correction algorithm for the portion of the data from a first error correction algorithm to a second error correction algorithm. For example, the memory system may store an additional quantity of error correction bits to be used for error correction of the portion of memory during subsequent data accesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2026
    Publication date: August 20, 2026
    Inventors: Anthony D. Veches, Sujeet V. Ayyapureddi, Frank F. Ross, Scott E. Schaefer, Randall J. Rooney, Navid Lashkarian, Matthew A. Prather, Matthew D. Jenkinson
  • Publication number: 20260244533
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for data buffer error correction functionality are described. A data buffer of a memory system may support system-level error correction capabilities. For example, the data buffer may be configured to perform error correction for data stored within multiple memory dies in the memory system using parity bits aggregated from one or more of the memory dies. In some examples, on-die error correction at one or more of the memory dies may be disabled. Extra parity bits previously used for on-die error correction may be transferred from the memory dies to the data buffer for use in the system-level error correction. The aggregation of the extra bits for error correction within the data buffer may improve a performance and reliability of the system-level error correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2026
    Publication date: August 20, 2026
    Inventors: Anthony D. Veches, Sujeet V. Ayyapureddi, Frank F. Ross, Scott E. Schaefer, Randall J. Rooney, Navid Lashkarian, Matthew A. Prather, Lance W. Dover
  • Publication number: 20260245650
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for differential strobe fault indication are described. A memory device may be configured to indicate a fault using a read strobe signal. The read strobe signal may be a read data strobe (RDQS) signal, such as a true RDQS (RDQS_t) signal or a complement RDQS (RDQS_c) signal. In some examples, the memory device may indicate the fault based on a characteristic of the read strobe signal, such as a pattern of the read strobe signal, a voltage level of the read strobe signal, a difference between a first read strobe signal and a second read strobe signal, or any combination thereof. In some examples, a host device may identify a fault type (e.g., recoverable or unrecoverable) based on a fault signature associated with a given characteristic of the read strobe signal. The host device may perform recovery operations based on the fault type identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2026
    Publication date: August 20, 2026
    Inventors: Scott E. Schaefer, Paul A. Laberge
  • Publication number: 20260211773
    Abstract: In some implementations, a memory apparatus may obtain, from a host system, a first message comprising data and link parity information associated with the data. The memory apparatus may determine that the data includes one or more errors based on the link parity information. The memory apparatus may store a first value indicating that the data includes the one or more errors. The memory apparatus may provide, as part of a read request for the data, a second message comprising the data and a second value, the second value indicating that the data includes the one or more errors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2025
    Publication date: July 23, 2026
    Inventor: Scott E. SCHAEFER
  • Publication number: 20260212946
    Abstract: In some implementations, a memory apparatus may obtain, from a host system, a command indicating that the memory apparatus is to provide data to the host system. The memory apparatus may identify a status of one or more fault mode registers based on the command. The memory apparatus may provide, to the host system, a message comprising the data and comprising the status of the one or more fault mode registers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2025
    Publication date: July 23, 2026
    Inventor: Scott E. SCHAEFER
  • Publication number: 20260203165
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for sub-channel switching using redundant pins are described. The described techniques may enable a host system to switch from communicating with a memory system via a first set of pins associated with a first sub-channel to communicating with the memory system via a second set of pins associated with a second sub-channel based on detecting a fault associated with the first set of pins. In some examples, the host system may communicate via both the first set of pins and the second set of pins. The memory system may perform a comparison between data received via the first set of pins and the second set of pins, and may indicate to the host system if a difference is detected. The host system may switch to communicating via one of the first set of pins or the second set of pins based on detecting the difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2025
    Publication date: July 16, 2026
    Inventor: Scott E. Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20260205143
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for managing error control information using a register are described. A memory device may store, at a register, an indication of whether the memory device has detected an error included in or otherwise associated with data requested from a host device. The memory device may determine to store the indication based on whether a communication protocol is enabled or disabled, and whether an error control configuration is enabled or disabled. The host device may request information from the register of the memory device, and the memory device may output the indication of whether the error was detected in response to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2026
    Publication date: July 16, 2026
    Inventors: Aaron P. Boehm, Scott E. Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20260186982
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for metadata for indication of access authorization in a memory system are described. Some memory systems may not permit access to data stored within the memory system by a host system until the host system and corresponding access request are verified. If a host system attempts to access the memory system and is not verified, the memory system described herein may send invalid data or poisoned data back to the host system in addition to metadata that indicates that the host system was not verified to access the memory system. The metadata may include multiple bits associated with multiple candidate values. At least one value of the multiple candidate values may be reserved for indicating that an access request was denied due to a failed verification of the host system. The host system may use the metadata to improve subsequent access requests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2025
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Inventors: Lance W. Dover, Frank F. Ross, Scott E. Schaefer, Sujeet V. Ayyapureddi, Randall J. Rooney, Navid Lashkarian, Matthew A. Prather
  • Publication number: 20260186684
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for increased memory reliability via redundancy are described. The memory system may receive a write command associated with data to be written to the memory system and write the data to a first portion of the memory system and a copy of the data to a second portion of the memory system based on the write command. After writing the data and the copy of the data, the memory system may receive a read command for the data and read the data from the first portion and the copy of the data from the second portion based on the read command. After reading the data and the copy of the data, the memory system may perform an error control operation on the data and the copy of the data and transmit the data or the copy of the data based on performing the error control operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2025
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Inventors: Anthony D. Veches, Scott E. Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20260186900
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for component level error correction code (ECC) for data protection are described. An ECC component may be added to a memory system that may be configured to perform error correction for data stored within multiple memory dies in the memory system using parity bits from one or more of the memory dies. For example, on-die ECC may disabled at one or more of the memory dies and one or more parity bits previously used for on-die error correction by the one or more memory dies may be transferred from the memory dies to the ECC component for use in the component-level error correction. That is, instead of correcting data at each memory die, the data and one or more parity bits may be transferred to the ECC component and combined for error correction within the ECC component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2025
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Inventors: Anthony D. Veches, Frank F. Ross, Scott E. Schaefer, Sujeet V. Ayyapureddi, Randall J. Rooney, Navid Lashkarian, Matthew A. Prather
  • Publication number: 20260186919
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for dedicated channels for data transmission are described. A receiving device may receive, from a transmitting device, first data via a first channel and second data via a second channel (e.g., a redundant channel). The receiving device may perform one or more error control operations on the first data and the second data, and may select a channel for additional communications if one or more errors are detected in the data. The receiving device may also select a channel if the channel is indicated by a stored parameter. In some examples, the receiving device may transmit feedback in third data via the first channel, via the redundant channel, or both, which may be used by a transmitting device to detect or correct one or more errors, or for training operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2025
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Inventors: Scott E. Schaefer, Frank F. Ross, Randall J. Rooney, Navid Lashkarian, Matthew A. Prather
  • Publication number: 20260186891
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for dynamic error correction schemes for memory systems are described. A memory system may include an error control component and one or more memory devices coupled with the error control component. The memory system may be configured to detect one or more trigger conditions for adjusting an error control operation of a memory system. The memory system may select an error control scheme from a plurality of error control schemes that are implemented by the error control component based on detecting the one or more trigger conditions. The error control component of the memory system may use the selected error control scheme to perform one or more error control operations to protect data stored at the one or more memory devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2025
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Inventors: Anthony D. Veches, Frank F. Ross, Scott E. Schaefer, Sujeet V. Ayyapureddi, Randall J. Rooney, Navid Lashkarian, Matthew A. Prather
  • Patent number: 12664040
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for error log indication via error control information are described. For instance, a memory device may transmit, to a host device, a first signal including a set of error control bits indicating that an error log of the memory device includes information for use by the host device. The memory device may receive, from the host device in response to the first signal, a second signal including a request to retrieve the information of the error log. The memory device may transmit, to the host device in response to the second signal, a third signal including the information of the error log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott E. Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20260169640
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for address verification at a memory device are described. The memory device may receive a read command for a read address. Based on the read command, the memory device may read data from the read address and a first set of error detection bits that is based on a write address associated with the data. The memory device may generate, based on the first set of error detection bits and a second set of error detection bits that is based on the read address, an address match signal that indicates whether the read address matches the write address. And the memory device may provide the data and an indication of the address match signal to a host device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2026
    Publication date: June 18, 2026
    Inventor: Scott E. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 12645519
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for error detection and classification are described. A memory device may read a codeword from a memory and generate a first set of syndrome bits for the codeword. The memory device may use the first set of syndrome bits to generate a first error detection bit. The memory device may generate a second set of syndrome bits for the codeword and use the second set of syndrome bits to generate a second error detection bit. The memory device may provide the first error detection bit and the second error detection bit to a host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron P. Boehm, Scott E. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 12640222
    Abstract: Implementations described herein relate to enabling or disabling on-die error-correcting code for a memory built-in self-test. A memory device may read one or more bits, associated with a memory built-in self-test, that are stored in a mode register of the memory device. The memory device may identify, based on the one or more bits, whether the memory built-in self-test is to be performed with on-die error-correcting code (ECC) disabled or with on-die ECC enabled. The memory device may perform the memory built-in self-test, and selectively test for one or more single-bit errors, based on identifying whether the memory built-in self-test is to be performed with the on-die ECC disabled or with the on-die ECC enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott E. Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20260141971
    Abstract: Implementations described herein relate to test mode monitoring and feedback. In some implementations, a memory apparatus may detect, by a test mode monitor component of the memory apparatus, that the memory apparatus has entered a test mode based on one or more test mode signals. The memory apparatus may provide, to a host system, a message indicating that the memory apparatus has entered the test mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2025
    Publication date: May 21, 2026
    Inventors: Aaron P. BOEHM, Scott E. SCHAEFER, Toru ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20260133708
    Abstract: Implementations described herein relate to single-bit error indication for a memory built-in self-test. A memory device may read one or more bits, associated with a memory built-in self-test, that are stored in a mode register of the memory device. The memory device may perform the memory built-in self-test for one or more memory sections of the memory device based on reading the one or more bits that are stored in the mode register of the memory device. The memory device may identify a number of single-bit errors associated with the one or more memory sections of the memory device based on performing the memory built-in self-test. The memory device may transmit an indication of the number of single-bit errors based on repairing one or more of the single-bit errors associated with the one or more memory sections of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2026
    Publication date: May 14, 2026
    Inventor: Scott E. SCHAEFER
  • Patent number: 12620452
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for differential strobe fault indication are described. A memory device may be configured to indicate a fault using a read strobe signal. The read strobe signal may be a read data strobe (RDQS) signal, such as a true RDQS (RDQS_t) signal or a complement RDQS (RDQS_c) signal. In some examples, the memory device may indicate the fault based on a characteristic of the read strobe signal, such as a pattern of the read strobe signal, a voltage level of the read strobe signal, a difference between a first read strobe signal and a second read strobe signal, or any combination thereof. In some examples, a host device may identify a fault type (e.g., recoverable or unrecoverable) based on a fault signature associated with a given characteristic of the read strobe signal. The host device may perform recovery operations based on the fault type identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Schaefer, Paul A. Laberge