Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Price

Thomas C. Price 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: 6148360
    Abstract: A method and apparatus suspend a program operation in a nonvolatile writeable memory. The nonvolatile writeable memory includes a memory array, a command register and memory array control circuitry. The command register decodes a program suspend command and provides a suspend signal as an output. The memory array control circuitry is coupled to receive the suspend signal from the command register. The memory array control circuitry performs a program operation in which data is written to the memory array. The memory array control circuitry suspends the program operation upon receiving the suspend signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Leak, Fasil G. Bekele, Thomas C. Price, Alan E. Baker, Charles W. Brown, Peter K. Hazen, Vishram Prakash Dalvi, Rodney R. Rozman, Christopher John Haid, Jerry Kreifels
  • Patent number: 5937424
    Abstract: A method and apparatus suspend a program operation in a nonvolatile writeable memory. The nonvolatile writeable memory includes a memory array, a command register, and memory array control circuitry. The command register decodes a program suspend command and provides a suspend signal as an output. The memory array control circuitry is coupled to receive the suspend signal from the command register. The memory array control circuitry performs a program operation in which data is written to the memory array. The memory array control circuitry suspends the program operation upon receiving the suspend signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Leak, Fasil G. Bekele, Thomas C. Price, Alan E. Baker, Charles W. Brown, Peter K. Hazen, Vishram Prakash Dalvi, Rodney R. Rozman, Christopher John Haid, Jerry Kreifels
  • Patent number: 5592641
    Abstract: A method and device for selectively enabling and disabling write access to flash blocks in a flash memory device. A lock command locks and unlocks a flash block in a flash array containing a plurality of flash blocks. A block data row decoder selects a block data area of the flash block, and a block status row decoder selects a block status area of the flash block. A lock bit in the block status area is programmed to a first logic state if the lock command specifies a lock flash block operation, or to a second logic state if the lock command specifies a release flash block operation. If a write protect input, read from the write protect pin of the flash memory device, indicates that a write lock is enabled and if a block enabled status bit in a block status register corresponding to the block indicates that the block has the write lock, then the lock bit is read and stored into the block enabled status bit in the block status register corresponding to the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mickey L. Fandrich, Salim B. Fedel, Thomas C. Price, Richard J. Durante, Geoffrey A. Gould, Timothy W. Goodell, Scott M. Doyle
  • Patent number: 5513136
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory comprises a memory array and a control circuit coupled to the memory array for performing memory operations with respect to the memory array. A storage circuit associated with the memory array is provided for storing a data. When the data is stored in the storage circuit, the memory array is locked from being accessed for the memory operations. A logic circuit is coupled to the control circuit and the storage circuit for preventing the control circuit from accessing the memory array with respect to the memory operations in accordance with the data. The logic circuit prevents the control circuit from accessing the memory array when the storage circuit stores the data. A control input is provided for receiving a control signal. The control signal is applied to the logic circuit and can be in a first voltage state and a second voltage state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mickey L. Fandrich, Virgil N. Kynett, Salim B. Fedel, Thomas C. Price
  • Patent number: 5363335
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory is described that includes a memory array and control circuitry coupled to the memory array for controlling memory operations with respect to the memory array. The control circuitry can operate at a first power supply voltage and a second power supply voltage. A configuration circuit is coupled to receive a power supply voltage indication signal for selectively configuring the control circuitry in accordance with the power supply indication signal to operate at one of the first and second power supply voltages. When the power supply voltage indication signal is in a first state, the configuration circuit configures the control circuitry to operate at the first power supply voltage. When the power supply voltage indication signal is in a second state, the configuration circuit configures the control circuitry to operate at the second power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Owen Jungroth, Thomas C. Price