Patents by Inventor Tetsuya Tsujikawa

Tetsuya Tsujikawa 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).

  • Patent number: 7257026
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of threshold values are set to store multi-level data in a memory cell, bits of multi-bit data are separately written into a memory cell according to an address signal or a control signal to effect the reading and erasing. Concretely, the memory array is so constituted that it can be accessed by three-dimensional address of X, Y and Z, and multi-bit data in the memory cell is discriminated by the Z-address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Naoki Yamada, Hiroshi Sato, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Kazuyuki Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20060221685
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of threshold values are set to store multi-level data in a memory cell, bits of multi-bit data are separately written into a memory cell according to an address signal or a control signal to effect the reading and erasing. Concretely, the memory array is so constituted that it can be accessed by three-dimensional address of X, Y and Z, and multi-bit data in the memory cell is discriminated by the Z-address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Naoki Yamada, Hiroshi Sato, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Kazuyuki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 7079416
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of threshold values are set to store multi-level data in a memory cell, bits of multi-bit data are separately written into a memory cell according to an address signal or a control signal to effect the reading and erasing. Concretely, the memory array is so constituted that it can be accessed by three-dimensional address of X, Y and Z, and multi-bit data in the memory cell is discriminated by the Z-address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yamada, Hiroshi Sato, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Kazuyuki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 6992936
    Abstract: Externally supplied program data is latched into data latch circuits DLL and DLR. A judgment is made as to whether or not the latched program data corresponds to any threshold value of multi-levels every time each of plural programing operations is carried out. The program control information corresponding to the judgment result is latched into a sense latch circuit SL. Based upon the latched program control information, the programing operation for setting threshold voltages having multi-levels to a memory cell is carried out in a stepwise manner. Even when the programing operation is ended, the externally supplied program data is left in the data latch circuit. Even when the programing operation of the memory cell is retried due to the overprograming condition, the program data is no longer required to be again received from the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignees: Renesas Technology Corp., Hitachi Ulsi Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Atsushi Nozoe, Michitaro Kanamitsu, Shoji Kubono, Eiji Yamamoto, Ken Matsubara
  • Publication number: 20050122803
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of threshold values are set to store multi-level data in a memory cell, bits of multi-bit data are separately written into a memory cell according to an address signal or a control signal to effect the reading and erasing. Concretely, the memory array is so constituted that it can be accessed by three-dimensional address of X, Y and Z, and multi-bit data in the memory cell is discriminated by the Z-address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Naoki Yamada, Hiroshi Sato, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Kazuyuki Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20050013167
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of threshold values are set to store multi-level data in a memory cell, bits of multi-bit data are separately written into a memory cell according to an address signal or a control signal to effect the reading and erasing. Concretely, the memory array is so constituted that it can be accessed by three-dimensional address of X, Y and Z, and multi-bit data in the memory cell is discriminated by the Z-address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Naoki Yamada, Hiroshi Sato, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Kazuyuki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 6788572
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of threshold values are set to store multi-level data in a memory cell, bits of multi-bit data are separately written into a memory cell according to an address signal or a control signal to effect the reading and erasing. Concretely, the memory array is so constituted that it can be accessed by three-dimensional address of X, Y and Z, and multi-bit data in the memory cell is discriminated by the Z-address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yamada, Hiroshi Sato, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Kazuyuki Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20040160829
    Abstract: Externally supplied program data is latched into data latch circuits DLL and DLR. A judgment is made as to whether or not the latched program data corresponds to any threshold value of multi-levels every time each of plural programing operations is carried out. The program control information corresponding to the judgment result is latched into a sense latch circuit SL. Based upon the latched program control information, the programing operation for setting threshold voltages having multi-levels to a memory cell is carried out in a stepwise manner. Even when the programing operation is ended, the externally supplied program data is left in the data latch circuit. Even when the programing operation of the memory cell is retried due to the overprograming condition, the program data is no longer required to be again received from the external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Atsushi Nozoe, Michitaro Kanamitsu, Shoji Kubono, Eiji Yamamoto, Ken Matsubara
  • Patent number: 6721207
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory system is provided with a control device and non-volatile memory devices, each including memory cells and data latches. The control device supplies commands to the non-volatile memory devices, including a write command, and first and second read commands. When the control device supplies the write command with write address information and data for storing in the non-volatile memory device, it stores the data to the data latches and then to the memory cells, and then verifies storage. When the control device supplies the first read command with read address information, the nonvolatile memory device reads data stored in the memory cells to the data latches and then outputs the data in the data latches to the control device. When the control device supplies the second read command, the non-volatile memory device outputs data in the data latches to the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignees: Renesas Technology Corp., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Atsushi Nozoe, Michitaro Kanamitsu, Shoji Kubono, Eiji Yamamoto, Ken Matsubara
  • Patent number: 6711054
    Abstract: Data are generated based on additional write data input to data latch circuits (DLR and DLL) and data read from memory cells (MC) to program non-volatile memory cells in a write state into the same write state and to program non-volatile memory cells in an erase state into a write state indicated by the additional write data. The generated data are latched in the data latch circuits to perform a logical synthesis process for additional writing. Even after the additional write operation, the logically synthesized data remain in the data latch circuits, and the latched data can be reused against abnormality in writing. This eliminates the need for receiving write data again from the outside when the additional write operation is to be retried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignees: Renesas Technology Corporation, Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michitaro Kanamitsu, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Toshinori Harada, Hiroaki Kotani, Shoji Kubono, Atsushi Nozoe, Takayuki Yoshitake
  • Publication number: 20030214850
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of threshold values are set to store multi-level data in a memory cell, bits of multi-bit data are separately written into a memory cell according to an address signal or a control signal to effect the reading and erasing. Concretely, the memory array is so constituted that it can be accessed by three-dimensional address of X, Y and Z., and multi-bit data in the memory cell is discriminated by the Z-address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Naoki Yamada, Hiroshi Sato, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Kazuyuki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 6590808
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of threshold values are set to store multi-level data in a memory cell, bits of multi-bit data are separately written into a memory cell according to an address signal or a control signal to effect the reading and erasing. Concretely, the memory array is so constituted that it can be accessed by three-dimensional address of X, Y and Z, and multi-bit data in the memory cell is discriminated by the Z-address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yamada, Hiroshi Sato, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Kazuyuki Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20030117843
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of threshold values are set to store multi-level data in a memory cell, bits of multi-bit data are separately written into a memory cell according to an address signal or a control signal to effect the reading and erasing. Concretely, the memory array is so constituted that it can be accessed by three-dimensional address of X, Y and Z, and multi-bit data in the memory cell is discriminated by the Z-address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Naoki Yamada, Hiroshi Sato, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Kazuyuki Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20030072202
    Abstract: Data are generated based on additional write data input to data latch circuits (DLR and DLL) and data read from memory cells (MC) to program non-volatile memory cells in a write state into the same write state and to program non-volatile memory cells in an erase state into a write state indicated by the additional write data. The generated data are latched in the data latch circuits to perform a logical synthesis process for additional writing. Even after the additional write operation, the logically synthesized data remain in the data latch circuits, and the latched data can be reused against abnormality in writing. This eliminates the need for receiving write data again from the outside when the additional write operation is to be retried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Michitaro Kanamitsu, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Toshinori Harada, Hiroaki Kotani, Shoji Kubono, Atsushi Nozoe, Takayuki Yoshitake
  • Patent number: 6507520
    Abstract: Externally supplied program data is latched into data latch circuits DLL and DLR. A judgment is made as to whether or not the latched program data corresponds to any threshold value of multi-levels every time each of plural programing operations is carried out. The program control information corresponding to the judgment result is latched into a sense latch circuit SL. Based upon the latched program control information, the programing operation for setting threshold voltages having multi-levels to a memory cell is carried out in a stepwise manner. Even when the programing operation is ended, the externally supplied program data is left in the data latch circuit. Even when the programing operation of the memory cell is retried due to the overprograming condition, the program data is no longer required to be again received from the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Atsushi Nozoe, Michitaro Kanamitsu, Shoji Kubono, Eiji Yamamoto, Ken Matsubara
  • Patent number: 6504764
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device having a plurality of memory cells and a control circuit. The control circuit receives operation commands from outside the device and controls the operation of the device according to the commands. The commands include read commands and write commands. In a read command, the control circuit reads data in the memory cells and outputs it. In a write command, the control circuit controls the inputting of data to data latch circuits and then to memory cells. The control circuit provides status information indicating whether the writing of data is a success or a failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Atsushi Nozoe, Michitaro Kanamitsu, Shoji Kubono, Eiji Yamamoto, Ken Matsubara
  • Publication number: 20020191459
    Abstract: Externally supplied program data is latched into data latch circuits DLL and DLR. A judgment is made as to whether or not the latched program data corresponds to any threshold value of multi-levels every time each of plural programing operations is carried out. The program control information corresponding to the judgment result is latched into a sense latch circuit SL. Based upon the latched program control information, the programing operation for setting threshold voltages having multi-levels to a memory cell is carried out in a stepwise manner. Even when the programing operation is ended, the externally supplied program data is left in the data latch circuit. Even when the programing operation of the memory cell is retried due to the overprograming condition, the program data is no longer required to be again received from the external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Atsushi Nozoe, Michitaro Kanamitsu, Shoji Kubono, Eiji Yamamoto, Ken Matsubara
  • Patent number: 6496411
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of threshold values are set to store multi-level data in a memory cell, bits of multi-bit data are separately written into a memory cell according to an address signal or a control signal to effect the reading and erasing. Concretely, the memory array is so constituted that it can be accessed by three-dimensional address of X, Y and Z, and multi-bit data in the memory cell is discriminated by the Z-address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yamada, Hiroshi Sato, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Kazuyuki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 6490195
    Abstract: Data are generated based on additional write data input to data latch circuits (DLR and DLL) and data read from memory cells (MC) to program non-volatile memory cells in a write state into the same write state and to program non-volatile memory cells in an erase state into a write state indicated by the additional write data. The generated data are latched in the data latch circuits to perform a logical synthesis process for additional writing. Even after the additional write operation, the logically synthesized data remain in the data latch circuits, and the latched data can be reused against abnormality in writing. This eliminates the need for receiving write data again from the outside when the additional write operation is to be retried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michitaro Kanamitsu, Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Toshinori Harada, Hiroaki Kotani, Shoji Kubono, Atsushi Nozoe, Takayuki Yoshitake
  • Patent number: 6456526
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device having a plurality of memory cells and a control circuit. The control circuit receives operation commands from outside the device and controls the operation of the device according to the commands. The commands include read commands and write commands. In the read command the control circuit reads data in the memory cells and outputs it. In a write command the control circuit controls the inputting of data to data latch circuits and then to memory cells. The control circuit provides status information indicating whether the writing of data is a success or a failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tsujikawa, Atsushi Nozoe, Michitaro Kanamitsu, Shoji Kubono, Eiji Yamamoto, Ken Matsubara