Patents by Inventor Steven Michael Kientz

Steven Michael 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: 20250147683
    Abstract: A processing device in a memory sub-system detects an occurrence of a triggering event, determines respective levels of charge loss associated with a first representative wordline of a block of a memory device and with a second representative wordline of the block of the memory device, and determines whether a difference between the respective levels of charge loss satisfies a threshold criterion. Responsive to determining that the difference between the respective levels of charge loss satisfies the threshold criterion, the processing device further determines that the block is in a uniform charge loss state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2025
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Patrick R. Khayat, Steven Michael Kientz, Sivagnanam Parthasarathy, Mustafa N. Kaynak, Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu
  • Patent number: 12293099
    Abstract: A system includes a memory device and a processing device to initialize a block family associated with the memory device and a timer at initialization of the block family. The processing device further stores, in non-volatile memory of the memory device, a value of the timer before powering down the system while the block family is still open. The processing device further detects a power on of the system and measures a data state metric associated with one or more memory cell of a page of the memory device that is associated with the block family. The processing device further compares a level of the data state metric to a temporal voltage shift function to estimate a time after program value of the page and increments the value of the timer, restored from the non-volatile memory, based on the time after program value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Larry J. Koudele, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steven Michael Kientz, Kishore Kumar Muchherla
  • Publication number: 20250117148
    Abstract: An example method of threshold voltage offset calibration at memory device power up comprises: identifying a set of memory pages that have been programmed within a time window; determining, for each voltage offset bin of a plurality of voltage offset bins, a corresponding value of a data state metric produced by a memory access operation with respect to a memory page of the set of memory pages; identifying a subset of the plurality of voltage offset bins, such that memory access operations performed using the corresponding voltage offsets produced respective values of the data state metric that satisfy a predefined quality criterion; selecting, among the subset of the plurality of voltage offset bins, a voltage offset bin that is associated with the lowest voltage offset; and associating the set of memory pages with the selected voltage offset bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Steven Michael Kientz, Chia-Yu Kuo
  • Patent number: 12266420
    Abstract: A processing device in a memory sub-system monitors a temperature associated with a block of a memory device, the block comprising a plurality of wordlines. The processing device further determines a first amount of time between when memory cells associated with a first wordline of the plurality of wordlines of the block were written and when memory cells associated with a last wordline of the plurality of wordlines of the block were written. That first amount of time is normalized according to the temperature associated with the block. The processing device further determines, based at last in part on the first amount of time and on an associated scaling factor, an estimate of when the block will reach a uniform charge loss state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Khayat, Steven Michael Kientz, Sivagnanam Parthasarathy, Mustafa N. Kaynak, Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu
  • Publication number: 20250078939
    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 initiate a scan operation on a plurality of block families of the memory device. Each of the plurality of block families is assigned to a voltage offset bin of a plurality of voltage offset bins. The processing device further determines that a number of scan operations to be performed in one scan interval is greater than a maximum number of scan operations to be performed in a scan interval. The processing device further determines based on the voltage offset bins of the plurality of block families and a time elapsed since execution of a previous scan operation of the plurality of block families, a scan priority of each of the plurality of block families, and schedules, based on the scan priority, a scan operation of one or more block families of the plurality of block families during one or more subsequent scan intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Yang Liu, Steven Michael Kientz, Tingjun Xie, Aaron Lee, Jiangli Zhu, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 12223190
    Abstract: A processing device in a memory sub-system detects an occurrence of a triggering event, determines respective levels of charge loss associated with a first representative wordline of a block of a memory device and with a second representative wordline of the block of the memory device, and determines whether a difference between the respective levels of charge loss satisfies a threshold criterion. Responsive to determining that the difference between the respective levels of charge loss satisfies the threshold criterion, the processing device further determines that the block is in a uniform charge loss state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Khayat, Steven Michael Kientz, Sivagnanam Parthasarathy, Mustafa N. Kaynak, Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu
  • Patent number: 12210759
    Abstract: An example method of threshold voltage offset calibration at memory device power up comprises: identifying a set of memory pages that have been programmed within a time window; determining, for each voltage offset bin of a plurality of voltage offset bins, a corresponding value of a data state metric produced by a memory access operation with respect to a memory page of the set of memory pages, wherein the memory access operation utilizes a voltage offset associated with the voltage offset bin; identifying a subset of the plurality of voltage offset bins, such that memory access operations performed using the corresponding voltage offsets produced respective values of the data state metric that satisfy a predefined quality criterion; selecting, among the subset of the plurality of voltage offset bins, a voltage offset bin that is associated with the lowest voltage offset; and associating the set of memory pages with the selected voltage offset bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Michael Kientz, Chia-Yu Kuo
  • Publication number: 20250029639
    Abstract: A first analysis of each respective die of a multi-die memory device is performed. An equation to determine a respective temperature compensation (tempco) value for each respective die based on a number of program erase cycles (PECs) of the respective die based on the first analysis s determined. The equation for use in processing memory access requests directed to the respective die is stored. Whether to update the equation directed to the respective die based on a second analysis of the respective die is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Publication number: 20250014654
    Abstract: A system includes a memory device; and a processing device, operatively coupled to the memory device, the processing device to perform operations including: receiving a request to perform a read operation, the request identifying a set of memory cells in a portion of a memory device; determining a first temperature of the set of memory cells, wherein the first temperature is associated with a first error handing operation of an error handling flow directed to the set of memory cells; determining an offset value to be applied to a temperature compensation coefficient of a parameter of a set of parameters associated with the set of memory cells, wherein the offset value is associated with a temperature range comprising the first temperature; determining a second temperature of the set of memory cells, wherein the second temperature is associated with a second error handling operation following the first error handing operation of the error handling flow directed to the set of memory cells; and responsive to det
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Patrick R. Khayat, Hyungseok Kim, Steven Michael Kientz, Zixiang Loh, Jun Wan
  • Publication number: 20250006281
    Abstract: A system includes a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled with the memory device, to perform operations including identifying an open block of the memory device, determining, based on at least one charge loss metric associated with a set of programmed pages of the open block or at least one charge gain metric associated with a set of erased pages of the open block, whether the open block is valid for programming, and responsive to determining that the open block is not valid for programming, abandoning the open block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2024
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Gary F. Besinga, Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Steven Michael Kientz, Renato C. Padilla
  • Publication number: 20240385926
    Abstract: A system having a processing device operatively coupled with a memory device to perform the following operations: responsive to detecting a triggering event, measuring a temperature of the memory device to obtain a suspend temperature value, enabling a suspend temperature flag to indicate that temperature input for a step of an error handling operation is based on the suspend temperature value. Updating an operating temperature with the suspend temperature value. Determining, using a data structure which maps temperatures to read level offsets, a read level offset for the step of the error handling operation, based on the operating temperature. Causing the step of the error handling operation to be performed on a set of cells using a read level value based on the read level offset and a base read level, an disabling the suspend temperature flag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Steven Michael Kientz, Hyungseok Kim, Zixiang Loh, Patrick R. Khayat, Jun Wan
  • Publication number: 20240386936
    Abstract: An example method of two-stage voltage calibration upon power-up of a memory device comprises: identifying a set of memory pages that have been programmed within a time window; responsive to detecting a power up event, performing a first calibration operation with respect to the set of memory pages to determine a first value of a data state metric; identifying, among a plurality of voltage offset bins, a first voltage offset bin corresponding to the first value of the data state metric; storing, in a temporary metadata table, a first record associating the set of memory pages with the first voltage offset bin; performing a second calibration operation with respect to the set of memory pages to determine a second value of the data state metric, wherein a second accuracy of the second calibration operation exceeds a first accuracy of the first calibration operation; identifying, among a plurality of voltage offset bins, a second voltage offset bin corresponding to the second value of the data state metric; and
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Steven Michael Kientz, Chia-Yu Kuo
  • Publication number: 20240363188
    Abstract: Memory cells may store multiple bits per cell. For example, three-level cell (TLC) memory stores three bits per cell using eight voltage levels. The number of memory cells at each voltage is approximately the total number of cells divided by the number of voltage levels. The number of memory cells above a certain read voltage is the CFByte value for the read voltage. Based on a difference between the CFByte value and a target CFByte value for the read voltage, an adjustment value is determined. Characteristics of an individual memory device may be determined by finding several CFByte values for a small range of read voltages. Using the gathered CFByte values, a DAC adjustment value is determined for the individual memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Steven Michael Kientz, Pitamber Shukla, Tarun Singh Yadav
  • Patent number: 12131795
    Abstract: A first analysis of each respective die of a multi-die memory device is performed. An equation to determine a respective temperature compensation (tempco) value for each respective die based on a number of program erase cycles (PECs) of the respective die based on the first analysis s determined. The equation for use in processing memory access requests directed to the respective die is stored. Whether to update the equation directed to the respective die based on a second analysis of the respective die is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Publication number: 20240347084
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed including a memory device and a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device. The processing device can perform operations including initializing the memory device; selecting at least one sample management unit on the memory device; performing a calibration operation on the sample management unit to determine a duration value reflecting a duration during which the memory device was powered down; adjusting an accumulator value based on the duration value; determining a read voltage value based on the accumulator value; and performing a read operation using the read voltage value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: Robert W. Mason, Pitamber Shukla, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Patent number: 12119068
    Abstract: A system includes a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled with the memory device, to perform operations including detecting a power up event of the memory device, responsive to detecting the power up event, selecting an open block of the memory device, wherein the open block comprises a set of pages, determining, based at least in part on an analysis of the set of pages, whether the open block is valid for programming, and responsive to determining that the open block is valid for programming, keeping the open block open for programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary F. Besinga, Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Steven Michael Kientz, Renato C. Padilla
  • Patent number: 12073866
    Abstract: An example method of two-stage voltage calibration upon power-up of a memory device comprises: identifying a set of memory pages that have been programmed within a time window; responsive to detecting a power up event, performing a first calibration operation with respect to the set of memory pages to determine a first value of a data state metric; identifying, among a plurality of voltage offset bins, a first voltage offset bin corresponding to the first value of the data state metric; storing, in a temporary metadata table, a first record associating the set of memory pages with the first voltage offset bin; performing a second calibration operation with respect to the set of memory pages to determine a second value of the data state metric, wherein a second accuracy of the second calibration operation exceeds a first accuracy of the first calibration operation; identifying, among a plurality of voltage offset bins, a second voltage offset bin corresponding to the second value of the data state metric; and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Michael Kientz, Chia-Yu Kuo
  • Publication number: 20240282390
    Abstract: Various embodiments use a feedback-control loop to track slow charge loss (SCL) for a memory cell of a memory device, which can be used to adjust one or more read level voltages used to read data from the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Sampath Ratnam, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Publication number: 20240274202
    Abstract: A memory sub-system having a memory device with a plurality of cells and a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device, the processing device to perform the operations of: responsive to detecting a power off event, programming, to a predefined logical state, a dummy subset of the plurality of cells; responsive to detecting a power-up event, determining a voltage shift associated with the dummy subset of the plurality of cells; and identifying, based on the voltage shift, a voltage offset bin shift corresponding to a voltage offset bin associated with a specified subset of the plurality of cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Nicola Ciocchini, Ugo Russo, Steven Michael Kientz
  • Publication number: 20240265989
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system that comprises a memory device and a processing device, operatively coupled with the memory device, to perform operations that include, responsive to detecting a triggering event, selecting a family of memory blocks of the memory device, the selected family being associated with a set of bins, each bin associated with a plurality of read voltage offsets to be applied to base read voltages during read operations. The operations performed by the processing device further include calibration operations to determine data state metric values characterizing application of read voltage offsets of various bins. The operations performed by the processing device further include identifying, based on the determined data state metrics, a target bin and associating the selected family with the target bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Sheperek, Bruce A. Liikanen, Steven Michael Kientz