Patents by Inventor Timothy P. Finkbeiner

Timothy P. Finkbeiner 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: 11430539
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for modifiable repair solutions for a memory array are described to support storing repair information for a memory array within the memory array itself. A memory device may include the memory array and an on-die microprocessor, where the microprocessor may retrieve the repair information from the memory array and write the repair information to repair circuitry used for identifying defective memory addresses. The microprocessor may support techniques for identifying additional defects and updating the repair information during operation of the memory array. For example, the microprocessor may identify additional defects based on errors associated with one or more memory cells of the memory array or based on testing performed on one or more memory cells of the memory array. In some cases, a host device may identify additional defects and may notify the microprocessor of the additional defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy A. Manning, Troy D. Larsen, Jonathan D. Harms, Glen E. Hush, Timothy P. Finkbeiner
  • Patent number: 11422826
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operational code storage for an on-die microprocessor are described. A microprocessor may be formed on-die with a memory array. Operating code for the microprocessor may be stored in the memory array, possibly along with other data (e.g., tracking or statistical data) used or generated by the on-die microprocessor. A wear leveling algorithm may result in some number of rows within the memory array not being used to store user data at any given time, and these rows may be used to store the operating code and possibly other data for the on-die microprocessor. The on-die microprocessor may boot and run based on the operating code stored in memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy A. Manning, Jonathan D. Harms, Troy D. Larsen, Glen E. Hush, Timothy P. Finkbeiner
  • Patent number: 11422933
    Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure provide apparatuses and methods for determining a data storage layout. An example apparatus comprising a first address space of a memory array comprising a first number of memory cells coupled to a plurality of sense lines and to a first select line. The first address space is configured to store a logical representation of a first portion of a value. The example apparatus also comprising a second address space of the memory array comprising a second number of memory cells coupled to the plurality of sense lines and to a second select line. The second address space is configured to store a logical representation of a second portion of the value. The example apparatus also comprising sensing circuitry configured to receive the first value and perform a logical operation using the value without performing a sense line address access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle B. Wheeler, Timothy P. Finkbeiner
  • Patent number: 11397688
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to providing coherent memory access. An apparatus for providing coherent memory access can include a memory array, a first processing resource, a first cache line and a second cache line coupled to the memory array, a first cache controller, and a second cache controller. The first cache controller coupled to the first processing resource and to the first cache line can be configured to provide coherent access to data stored in the second cache line and corresponding to a memory address. A second cache controller coupled through an interface to a second processing resource external to the apparatus and coupled to the second cache line can be configured to provide coherent access to the data stored in the first cache line and corresponding to the memory address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Finkbeiner, Troy D. Larsen
  • Patent number: 11380372
    Abstract: Methods and devices related to transferring data between DRAM and SRAM. One method includes activating a first portion of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), reading data from the first portion of the DRAM, latching the data from the first portion of the DRAM in one or more sense amplifiers, and writing the data from the one or more sense amplifiers to a first portion of a static random access memory (SRAM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Finkbeiner, Troy A. Manning, Troy D. Larsen, Glen E. Hush
  • Publication number: 20220208249
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for processing in memory. An example apparatus includes a processing in memory (PIM) capable device having an array of memory cells and sensing circuitry coupled to the array. The PIM capable includes a row address strobe (RAS) component selectably coupled to the array. The RAS component is configured to select, retrieve a data value from, and input a data value to a specific row in the array. The PIM capable device also includes a RAS manager selectably coupled to the RAS component. The RAS manager is configured to coordinate timing of a sequence of compute sub-operations performed using the RAS component. The apparatus also includes a source external to the PIM capable device. The RAS manager is configured to receive instructions from the source to control timing of performance of a compute operation using the sensing circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Perry V. Lea, Timothy P. Finkbeiner
  • Publication number: 20220199127
    Abstract: Methods and devices related to transferring data between DRAM and SRAM. One method includes activating a first portion of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), reading data from the first portion of the DRAM, latching the data from the first portion of the DRAM in one or more sense amplifiers, and writing the data from the one or more sense amplifiers to a first portion of a static random access memory (SRAM).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy P. Finkbeiner, Troy A. Manning, Troy D. Larsen, Glen E. Hush
  • Patent number: 11340983
    Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure provide apparatuses and methods for error code calculation. The apparatus can include an array of memory cells that are coupled to sense lines. The apparatus can include a controller configured to control a sensing circuitry, that is coupled to the sense lines, to perform a number of operations without transferring data via an input/output (I/O) lines. The sensing circuitry can be controlled to calculate an error code for data stored in the array of memory cells and compare the error code with an initial error code for the data to determine whether the data has been modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Perry V. Lea, Timothy P. Finkbeiner
  • Publication number: 20220108761
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for on-die testing for a memory device are described. In some examples, a memory die may include processing circuitry configured to perform evaluations of the memory die based on commands or instructions received from an external device. The processing circuitry may be configured to detect failures of the memory die and transmit related indications to the external device based on the on-die detection. In some examples, the processing circuitry may be configured to communicate failure information at a finer granularity than information associated with expected or nominal behavior. Additionally or alternatively, the processing circuitry may be configured to perform operations according to an internally-generated clock signal that operates at a faster rate or speed than a clock signal from the external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: David W. Overgaard, Andrew P. Lyle, Glen E. Hush, Timothy P. Finkbeiner, Kristopher J. Kopel, Jonathan D. Harms
  • Patent number: 11276457
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a processing in memory (PIM) capable device having an array of memory cells and sensing circuitry coupled to the array. The PIM capable includes a row address strobe (RAS) component selectably coupled to the array. The RAS component is configured to select, retrieve a data value from, and input a data value to a specific row in the array. The PIM capable device also includes a RAS manager selectably coupled to the RAS component. The RAS manager is configured to coordinate timing of a sequence of compute sub-operations performed using the RAS component. The apparatus also includes a source external to the PIM capable device. The RAS manager is configured to receive instructions from the source to control timing of performance of a compute operation using the sensing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Perry V. Lea, Timothy P. Finkbeiner
  • Publication number: 20220066777
    Abstract: Systems and methods related to implementing vector registers in memory. A memory system for implementing vector registers in memory can include an array of memory cells, where a plurality of rows in the array serve as a plurality of vector registers as defined by an instruction set architecture. The memory system for implementing vector registers in memory can also include a processing resource configured to, responsive to receiving a command to perform a particular vector operation on a particular vector register, access a particular row of the array serving as the particular register to perform the vector operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy P. Finkbeiner, Troy D. Larsen
  • Publication number: 20220050635
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for processing in memory. An example apparatus comprises a host and a processing in memory (PIM) capable device coupled to the host via an interface comprising a sideband channel. The PIM capable device comprises an array of memory cells coupled to sensing circuitry and is configured to perform bit vector operations on data stored in the array, and the host comprises a PIM control component to perform virtual address resolution for PIM operations prior to providing a number of corresponding bit vector operations to the PIM capable device via the sideband channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Perry V. Lea, Timothy P. Finkbeiner
  • Publication number: 20210407615
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for modifiable repair solutions for a memory array are described to support storing repair information for a memory array within the memory array itself. A memory device may include the memory array and an on-die microprocessor, where the microprocessor may retrieve the repair information from the memory array and write the repair information to repair circuitry used for identifying defective memory addresses. The microprocessor may support techniques for identifying additional defects and updating the repair information during operation of the memory array. For example, the microprocessor may identify additional defects based on errors associated with one or more memory cells of the memory array or based on testing performed on one or more memory cells of the memory array. In some cases, a host device may identify additional defects and may notify the microprocessor of the additional defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Troy A. Manning, Troy D. Larsen, Jonathan D. Harms, Glen E. Hush, Timothy P. Finkbeiner
  • Publication number: 20210365360
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to mapping a virtual address using a content addressable memory (CAM) are described. In a memory system including a memory and a content addressable memory (CAM), a select line of the CAM can be coupled to a corresponding select line of the memory, which allows the memory system to map a virtual address of a memory device directly to the corresponding select line of the memory. An example method can include receiving, from a host at a memory device comprising a memory array and a content addressable memory (CAM), a first virtual address to be searched among virtual addresses stored within the CAM, identifying, in response to receipt of the first virtual address, a select line of a plurality of select lines of the CAM associated with a second virtual address matching the first virtual address, and activating, in response to identifying the select line of the CAM, a corresponding select line of the memory coupled to the identified select line of the CAM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Harold Robert G. Trout, Troy D. Larsen, Timothy P. Finkbeiner, Glen E. Hush, Troy A. Manning
  • Publication number: 20210365188
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems, apparatuses and methods related to maintaining data in a sorted order in a memory array to improve access time to data in the memory array and directing access to a row of data in cache based upon an address associated with the data. In a number of embodiments, data stored in tables in sorted order can allow access to data based on upon the keys and/or the sorted order of the data, which can increase access times to data the memory array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Harold Robert G. Trout, Glen E. Hush, Troy A. Manning, Timothy P. Finkbeiner, Troy D. Larsen
  • Publication number: 20210365383
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for mapping a virtual address using a CAM are described. A parallel structure of a CAM can enable functions of a MMU to be integrated into a single operation performed using the CAM such that a virtual address of a memory array can be mapped directly to a row of a memory. An example method includes receiving an access command and address information for a memory array; identifying a virtual address and a physical address of the memory array based on the received address information; comparing, during a time period associated with the access command, the virtual address and the physical address to virtual addresses and physical addresses, respectively, of the memory array stored in a CAM; and accessing, during the time period, a row of the memory array coupled to a row of the CAM storing the virtual address and the physical address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Harold Robert G. Trout, Timothy P. Finkbeiner, Troy A. Manning, Glen E. Hush, Troy D. Larsen
  • Publication number: 20210365205
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems, apparatuses and methods related to maintaining data in a sorted order in a memory array to improve access time to data in the memory array and directing access to a row of data in cache based upon an address associated with the data. In a number of embodiments, a number of keys that are stored in a first row of an index table can be split between the first row and a second row in response to the first row being full, where the number of keys are copied to the second row and a first portion of the number of keys remain in the first row and a second portion of the number of keys are moved to the second row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Harold Robert G. Trout, Troy D. Larsen, Timothy P. Finkbeiner, Troy A. Manning, Glen E. Hush
  • Publication number: 20210365204
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems, apparatuses and methods related to maintaining data in a sorted order in a memory array to improve access time to data in the memory array and directing access to a row of data in cache based upon an address associated with the data. In a number of embodiments, data can be sorted by receiving a portion of data for storage in a memory device, extracting a key associated with the portion of data, determining a row of an index table to store the key, and placing the key along with a number of keys in the row of the index table in a sorted order, wherein the sorted order is in relation to keys associated with portions of data previously stored in the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Harold Robert G. Trout, Troy D. Larsen, Troy A. Manning, Timothy P. Finkbeiner, Glen E. Hush
  • Publication number: 20210365268
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operational code storage for an on-die microprocessor are described. A microprocessor may be formed on-die with a memory array. Operating code for the microprocessor may be stored in the memory array, possibly along with other data (e.g., tracking or statistical data) used or generated by the on-die microprocessor. A wear leveling algorithm may result in some number of rows within the memory array not being used to store user data at any given time, and these rows may be used to store the operating code and possibly other data for the on-die microprocessor. The on-die microprocessor may boot and run based on the operating code stored in memory array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Troy A. Manning, Jonathan D. Harms, Troy D. Larsen, Glen E. Hush, Timothy P. Finkbeiner
  • Publication number: 20210365363
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to mapping a virtual address using a physical address are described. In a memory system including a memory (e.g., cache) and a content addressable memory (CAM), the CAM can be configured to search data requested by a host from the memory based on multiple indicators stored in the CAM. For example, in the event that the data stored in the memory is not searchable based on a particular indicator such as a virtual address of a memory array (e.g., main memory), the CAM be configured to search the data based on another indicator such as a physical address of the memory array. Searching the data based on multiple indicators can resolve a synonym problem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Harold Robert G. Trout, Glen E. Hush, Troy A. Manning, Troy D. Larsen, Timothy P. Finkbeiner