Patents by Inventor Steve Kientz

Steve Kientz 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: 20250390240
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems related to calibrating a processing level used for one or more memory operations are described. An apparatus may include a calibration mechanism that iteratively updates the processing level based on obtaining (1) base feedback from using the processing level for a memory operation and (2) at least one offset feedback from using an offset level for the memory operation. The apparatus can iteratively adjust the processing level until the base feedback, the at least one offset feedback, or a combination thereof are below a feedback threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2025
    Publication date: December 25, 2025
    Inventors: Yang Liu, Wenchi Hong, Xinyang Cao, Tingjun Xie, Steve Kientz, Aaron Lee, Jiangli Zhu
  • Publication number: 20250391481
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems related to calibrating a processing level used for one or more memory operations are described. An apparatus may include a calibration mechanism that iteratively updates the processing level based on obtaining feedbacks from using offset processing levels for the memory operations. The apparatus may apply a bias to one or more of the offset feedbacks in assessing the iteration stopping condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2025
    Publication date: December 25, 2025
    Inventors: Steve Kientz, Yang Liu
  • Publication number: 20250315180
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems related to tracking charge loss are described. An apparatus may include a tracking mechanism configured to make direct measurements for tracking charge loss in first-type cells. The apparatus may be configured to designate a set of the first-type cells as proxy for modeling charge loss at second-type cells having a different storage density than the first-type cells. The apparatus may use the tracking mechanism to make measurements on the proxy set of the first-type cells and translate the measurement to account for the charge loss at the second-type cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2025
    Publication date: October 9, 2025
    Inventors: Yee Yang Tay, Lei Zhang, Steve Kientz, Edric Goh
  • Patent number: 12346588
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems related to tracking charge loss are described. An apparatus may include a tracking mechanism configured to make direct measurements for tracking charge loss in first-type cells. The apparatus may be configured to designate a set of the first-type cells as proxy for modeling charge loss at second-type cells having a different storage density than the first-type cells. The apparatus may use the tracking mechanism to make measurements on the proxy set of the first-type cells and translate the measurement to account for the charge loss at the second-type cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yee Yang Tay, Lei Zhang, Steve Kientz, Edric Goh
  • Publication number: 20250044948
    Abstract: A dynamic temperature compensation trim for use in temperature compensating a memory operation on a memory call of a memory component. The dynamic temperature compensation trim is based on a temperature of the memory component and based on in-service data for the memory operation on the memory cell. A register for the memory operation is modified based on the dynamic temperature compensation trim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Larry J. Koudele, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steve Kientz
  • Patent number: 12141443
    Abstract: A dynamic temperature compensation trim for use in temperature compensating a memory operation on a memory call of a memory component. The dynamic temperature compensation trim is based on a temperature of the memory component and based on in-service data for the memory operation on the memory cell. A register for the memory operation is modified based on the dynamic temperature compensation trim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Inventors: Larry J. Koudele, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steve Kientz
  • Publication number: 20240329867
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems related to tracking charge loss are described. An apparatus may include a tracking mechanism configured to make direct measurements for tracking charge loss in first-type cells. The apparatus may be configured to designate a set of the first-type cells as proxy for modeling charge loss at second-type cells having a different storage density than the first-type cells. The apparatus may use the tracking mechanism to make measurements on the proxy set of the first-type cells and translate the measurement to account for the charge loss at the second-type cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Yee Yang Tay, Lei Zhang, Steve Kientz, Edric Goh
  • Patent number: 11842772
    Abstract: A first bin boundary for a first voltage bin associated with a die of a memory device is identified. The first bin boundary corresponds to a first block family associated with the first voltage bin. A first bin boundary offset between the first block family and a second block family is determined. The first bin boundary is updated based on the first bin boundary offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steve Kientz
  • Patent number: 11791004
    Abstract: A method includes associating, by a processing device, a set of dies of a block family with a die family, wherein the block family is associated with a first threshold voltage offset bin for voltage offsets to be applied in a read operation; and responsive to detecting a triggering event, associating each die of the set of dies with a second threshold voltage offset bin for voltage offsets to be applied in a read operation, wherein the second threshold voltage offset bin is selected based on a representative die of the set of dies associated with the die family.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steve Kientz, Anita Ekren, Gerald Cadloni
  • Patent number: 11733929
    Abstract: A memory device includes a processing device configured to iteratively update a center read level according to a first step size after reading a subset of memory cells according to a set of read levels including the center read level; track an update direction for the processing device to use when iteratively updating the center read level, wherein the update direction corresponds to an increase or a decrease in the center read level; detect a change condition based on updating the center read level according to the first step size; and iteratively update the center read level according to a second step size based on detection of the change condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Steve Kientz
  • Patent number: 11721399
    Abstract: A system comprises a memory device comprising a plurality of memory cells; and a processing device coupled to the memory device, the processing device configured to manage optimization target data that at least initially includes read levels in addition to a target trip, wherein the optimization data is managed based on iteratively calibrating the read levels and removing the calibrated levels from the optimization target data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Steve Kientz
  • Patent number: 11675509
    Abstract: An example memory sub-system includes a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device is configured to open a first block family associated with the memory device; assign a first cursor of a plurality of cursors of the memory device to the first block family; responsive to programming a first block associated with the first cursor, associate the first block with the first block family; open, while the first block family is open, a second block family associated with the memory device; assign a second cursor of the plurality of cursors of the memory device to the second block family; and responsive to programming a second block associated with the second cursor, associate the second block with the second block family.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shane Nowell, Michael Sheperek, Larry J Koudele, Bruce A Liikanen, Steve Kientz
  • Publication number: 20230115960
    Abstract: A method includes associating, by a processing device, a set of dies of a block family with a die family, wherein the block family is associated with a first threshold voltage offset bin for voltage offsets to be applied in a read operation; and responsive to detecting a triggering event, associating each die of the set of dies with a second threshold voltage offset bin for voltage offsets to be applied in a read operation, wherein the second threshold voltage offset bin is selected based on a representative die of the set of dies associated with the die family.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steve Kientz, Anita Ekren, Gerald Cadloni
  • Patent number: 11545227
    Abstract: A measure associated with a characteristic of a die of a memory device is obtained. It is determined whether the measure satisfies a first criterion to group one or more die into a first die family. If it is determined that the measure satisfies the first criterion, the die is associated with the first die family.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steve Kientz, Anita Ekren, Gerald Cadloni
  • Publication number: 20220391143
    Abstract: A memory device includes a processing device configured to iteratively update a center read level according to a first step size after reading a subset of memory cells according to a set of read levels including the center read level; track an update direction for the processing device to use when iteratively updating the center read level, wherein the update direction corresponds to an increase or a decrease in the center read level; detect a change condition based on updating the center read level according to the first step size; and iteratively update the center read level according to a second step size based on detection of the change condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Steve Kientz
  • Publication number: 20220336021
    Abstract: A first bin boundary for a first voltage bin associated with a die of a memory device is identified. The first bin boundary corresponds to a first block family associated with the first voltage bin. A first bin boundary offset between the first block family and a second block family is determined. The first bin boundary is updated based on the first bin boundary offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steve Kientz
  • Publication number: 20220269420
    Abstract: A dynamic temperature compensation trim for use in temperature compensating a memory operation on a memory call of a memory component. The dynamic temperature compensation trim is based on a temperature of the memory component and based on in-service data for the memory operation on the memory cell. A register for the memory operation is modified based on the dynamic temperature compensation trim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Larry J. Koudele, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steve Kientz
  • Patent number: 11416173
    Abstract: A memory device includes a processing device configured to iteratively update a center read level according to a first step size after reading a subset of memory cells according to a set of read levels including the center read level; track an update direction for the processing device to use when iteratively updating the center read level, wherein the update direction corresponds to an increase or a decrease in the center read level; detect a change condition based on updating the center read level according to the first step size; and iteratively update the center read level according to a second step size based on detection of the change condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Steve Kientz
  • Patent number: 11404124
    Abstract: A first current bin boundary for a first voltage bin on a first target die of a set of dies at a memory device is identified by accessing a block family metadata table including an entry for each block family of a memory device. The first current bin boundary corresponds to a first block family associated with the first voltage bin. A first bin boundary offset between the first block family and a second block family corresponding to a first new bin boundary for the first voltage bin is determined. The first bin boundary is determined based on a calibration scan performed for the first voltage bin. A first new bin boundary for the first voltage bin is determined on each die of the set of dies based on the first bin boundary offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steve Kientz
  • Patent number: 11360670
    Abstract: A dynamic temperature compensation trim for use in temperature compensating a memory operation on a memory call of a memory component. The dynamic temperature compensation trim is based on a temperature of the memory component and based on in-service data for the memory operation on the memory cell. A register for the memory operation is modified based on the dynamic temperature compensation trim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Koudele, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steve Kientz