Patents by Inventor Steve V. Cole

Steve V. Cole 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: 20220131003
    Abstract: An apparatus, such as a memory array, can have a memory cell coupled to a first digit line (e.g., a local digit line) at a first level. A second digit line (e.g., hierarchical digit line) at a second level can be coupled to a main sense amplifier. A charge sharing device at a third level between the first and second levels can be coupled to the first digit line and to a connector. A vertical transistor at the third level can be coupled between the first digit line and the connector. A contact can be coupled between the connector and the second digit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege, Steve V. Cole, Scott J. Derner, Toby D. Robbs
  • Patent number: 11222975
    Abstract: An apparatus, such as a memory array, can have a memory cell coupled to a first digit line (e.g., a local digit line) at a first level. A second digit line (e.g., hierarchical digit line) at a second level can be coupled to a main sense amplifier. A charge sharing device at a third level between the first and second levels can be coupled to the first digit line and to a connector. A vertical transistor at the third level can be coupled between the first digit line and the connector. A contact can be coupled between the connector and the second digit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege, Steve V. Cole, Scott J. Derner, Toby D. Robbs
  • Patent number: 10930653
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus having memory cells which include capacitors. Bitline pairs couple with each of the memory cells. One of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a first comparative bitline and the other of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a second comparative bitline. The bitline pairs extend to sense amplifiers which compare electrical properties of the first and second comparative bitlines to one another. The memory cells are subdivided amongst a first memory cell set using a first set of bitline pairs and a first set of sense amplifiers, and a second memory cell set using a second set of bitline pairs and a second set of sense amplifiers. The second set of bitline pairs has the same bitlines as the first set of bitline pairs, but in a different pairing arrangement as compared to the first set of bitline pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Michael Amiel Shore, Charles L. Ingalls, Steve V. Cole
  • Publication number: 20210028308
    Abstract: An apparatus, such as a memory array, can have a memory cell coupled to a first digit line (e.g., a local digit line) at a first level. A second digit line (e.g., hierarchical digit line) at a second level can be coupled to a main sense amplifier. A charge sharing device at a third level between the first and second levels can be coupled to the first digit line and to a connector. A vertical transistor at the third level can be coupled between the first digit line and the connector. A contact can be coupled between the connector and the second digit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege, Steve V. Cole, Scott J. Derner, Toby D. Robbs
  • Patent number: 10607690
    Abstract: A memory device may include a memory array with multiple memory cells and one or more sense amplifiers connected to the memory array. Each sense amplifier may include a matched pair of transistors. An active matching fill feature may also be included proximate to at least one transistor of the matched pair of transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve V. Cole, Benjamin A. Millemon, Toby D. Robbs, J. W. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20200075083
    Abstract: A memory device may include a memory array with multiple memory cells and one or more sense amplifiers connected to the memory array. Each sense amplifier may include a matched pair of transistors. An active matching fill feature may also be included proximate to at least one transistor of the matched pair of transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Steve V. Cole, Benjamin A. Millemon, Toby D. Robbs, J. W. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10418093
    Abstract: A memory device may include a memory array with multiple memory cells and one or more sense amplifiers connected to the memory array. Each sense amplifier may include a matched pair of transistors. An active matching fill feature may also be included proximate to at least one transistor of the matched pair of transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve V. Cole, Benjamin A. Millemon, Toby D. Robbs, J. W. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20190279984
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus having memory cells which include capacitors. Bitline pairs couple with each of the memory cells. One of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a first comparative bitline and the other of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a second comparative bitline. The bitline pairs extend to sense amplifiers which compare electrical properties of the first and second comparative bitlines to one another. The memory cells are subdivided amongst a first memory cell set using a first set of bitline pairs and a first set of sense amplifiers, and a second memory cell set using a second set of bitline pairs and a second set of sense amplifiers. The second set of bitline pairs has the same bitlines as the first set of bitline pairs, but in a different pairing arrangement as compared to the first set of bitline pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Michael Amiel Shore, Charles L. Ingalls, Steve V. Cole
  • Patent number: 10347635
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus having memory cells which include capacitors. Bitline pairs couple with each of the memory cells. One of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a first comparative bitline and the other of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a second comparative bitline. The bitline pairs extend to sense amplifiers which compare electrical properties of the first and second comparative bitlines to one another. The memory cells are subdivided amongst a first memory cell set using a first set of bitline pairs and a first set of sense amplifiers, and a second memory cell set using a second set of bitline pairs and a second set of sense amplifiers. The second set of bitline pairs has the same bitlines as the first set of bitline pairs, but in a different pairing arrangement as compared to the first set of bitline pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Michael Amiel Shore, Charles L. Ingalls, Steve V. Cole
  • Publication number: 20190006365
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus having memory cells which include capacitors. Bitline pairs couple with each of the memory cells. One of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a first comparative bitline and the other of the bitlines within each bitline pair corresponds to a second comparative bitline. The bitline pairs extend to sense amplifiers which compare electrical properties of the first and second comparative bitlines to one another. The memory cells are subdivided amongst a first memory cell set using a first set of bitline pairs and a first set of sense amplifiers, and a second memory cell set using a second set of bitline pairs and a second set of sense amplifiers. The second set of bitline pairs has the same bitlines as the first set of bitline pairs, but in a different pairing arrangement as compared to the first set of bitline pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Micron Technology , Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Derner, Michael Amiel Shore, Charles L. Ingalls, Steve V. Cole
  • Patent number: 5346836
    Abstract: A process for forming low resistance contacts between silicide areas and upper level polysilicon interconnect layers including a specific doping technique that provides solid low resistance contacts between a lower level of a silicided area and an upper level polysilicon interconnect. The doping technique combines a doping implant of the upper level polysilicon and an ion-mixing implant into a single implant thereby achieving a low resistive implant which also reduces processing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Monte Manning, Steve V. Cole, Tyler A. Lowrey