Patents by Inventor Tomoharu Tanaka

Tomoharu Tanaka 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: 20170053706
    Abstract: Data storage circuits are connected to the bit lines in a one-to-one correspondence. A write circuit writes the data on a first page into a plurality of 5 first memory cells selected simultaneously by a word line. Thereafter, the write circuit writes the data on a second page into the plurality of first memory cell. Then, the write circuit writes the data on the first and second pages into second memory cells adjoining 10 the first memory cells in the bit line direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Noboru SHIBATA, Tomoharu TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20170040053
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes an electrically data rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory cell and a write circuit for writing data in the memory cell, the write circuit writing a data in the memory cells by supplying a write voltage Vpgm and a write control voltage VBL to the memory cell, continuing the writing of the data in the memory cell by changing the value of the write control voltage VBL in response to an advent of a first write state of the memory cell and inhibiting any operation of writing a data to the memory cell by further changing the value of the write control voltage VBL to Vdd in response to an advent of a second write state of the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Tomoharu Tanaka, Jian Chen
  • Patent number: 9539505
    Abstract: A game device having a touch panel to accept an input by a flick operation according to a contact operation and a slide operation on the touch panel, instructs a flick operation by displaying on the touch panel a screen that instructs a flick operation from a predetermined position in a predetermined direction on the touch panel at a predetermined timing, detects a contact start position on the touch panel by the flick operation, detects the slide direction from the contact start position on the touch panel by the flick operation, detects the contact timing on the touch panel by the flick operation and determines whether to accept or reject the flick operation based on a comparison between the detected contact start position and the predetermined position, a comparison between the detected slide direction and the predetermined direction, and a comparison between the detected contact timing and the predetermined timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SEGA
    Inventors: Tomoharu Tanaka, Minami Kumazawa, Seiki Saito, Toshiyuki Mukaiyama
  • Patent number: 9508422
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes an electrically data rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory cell and a write circuit for writing data in the memory cell, the write circuit writing a data in the memory cells by supplying a write voltage Vpgm and a write control voltage VBL to the memory cell, continuing the writing of the data in the memory cell by changing the value of the write control voltage VBL in response to an advent of a first write state of the memory cell and inhibiting any operation of writing a data to the memory cell by further changing the value of the write control voltage VBL to Vdd in response to an advent of a second write state of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoharu Tanaka, Jian Chen
  • Patent number: 9466380
    Abstract: Semiconductor memory devices and methods include a flash memory cell array fabricated in a well, with memory cells in the same column connected to each other in series and connected to a respective bit line. The memory devices also include a column decoder, a data register buffer unit, a row decoder, an erase control unit, and an input/output buffer unit. In one or more embodiments, the erase control unit applies voltages to the well to erase the memory cells in a manner that avoids breaking down p-n junctions formed by transistors fabricated in the well. In another embodiment, high voltage transistors are used to selectively isolate the bit lines from and couple the bit lines to a peripheral circuit in pairs so that each high voltage transistor is shared by two bit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yamada, Tomoharu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9460804
    Abstract: Data storage circuits are connected to the bit lines in a one-to-one correspondence. A write circuit writes the data on a first page into a plurality of 5 first memory cells selected simultaneously by a word line. Thereafter, the write circuit writes the data on a second page into the plurality of first memory cell. Then, the write circuit writes the data on the first and second pages into second memory cells adjoining 10 the first memory cells in the bit line direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Noboru Shibata, Tomoharu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20160284396
    Abstract: A memory cell array is configured to have a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix, each of the memory cells being connected to a word line and a bit line and being capable of storing n values (n is a natural number equal to or larger than 3). A control circuit controls the potentials of the word line and bit line according to input data and writes data into a memory cell. The control circuit writes data into the memory cell to a k-valued threshold voltage (k<=n) in a write operation, precharges the bit line once, and then changes the potential of the word line an i number of times to verify whether the memory cell has reached an i-valued (i<=k) threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Noboru SHIBATA, Tomoharu TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20160232974
    Abstract: Semiconductor memory devices and methods include a flash memory cell array fabricated in a well, with memory cells in the same column connected to each other in series and connected to a respective bit line. The memory devices also include a column decoder, a data register buffer unit, a row decoder, an erase control unit, and an input/output buffer unit. In one or more embodiments, the erase control unit applies voltages to the well to erase the memory cells in a manner that avoids breaking down p-n junctions formed by transistors fabricated in the well. In another embodiment, high voltage transistors are used to selectively isolate the bit lines from and couple the bit lines to a peripheral circuit in pairs so that each high voltage transistor is shared by two bit lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yamada, Tomoharu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20160232979
    Abstract: Apparatuses may include a memory block with strings of memory cells formed in a plurality of tiers. The apparatus may further comprise access lines and data lines shared by the strings, with the access lines coupled to the memory cells corresponding to a respective tier of the plurality of tiers. The memory cells corresponding to at least a portion of the respective tier may comprise a respective page of a plurality of pages. Subsets of the data lines may be mapped into a respective partial page of a plurality of partial pages of the respective page. Each partial page may be independently selectable from other partial pages. Additional apparatuses and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Abraham, Tomoharu Tanaka, Koichi Kawai, Yuichi Einaga
  • Patent number: 9390802
    Abstract: A memory cell array is configured to have a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix, each of the memory cells being connected to a word line and a bit line and being capable of storing n values (n is a natural number equal to or larger than 3). A control circuit controls the potentials of the word line and bit line according to input data and writes data into a memory cell. The control circuit writes data into the memory cell to a k-valued threshold voltage (k<=n) in a write operation, precharges the bit line once, and then changes the potential of the word line an i number of times to verify whether the memory cell has reached an i-valued (i<=k) threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Noboru Shibata, Tomoharu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20160111147
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes an electrically data rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory cell and a write circuit for writing data in the memory cell, the write circuit writing a data in the memory cells by supplying a write voltage Vpgm and a write control voltage VBL to the memory cell, continuing the writing of the data in the memory cell by changing the value of the write control voltage VBL in response to an advent of a first write state of the memory cell and inhibiting any operation of writing a data to the memory cell by further changing the value of the write control voltage VBL to Vdd in response to an advent of a second write state of the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Tomoharu Tanaka, Jian Chen
  • Patent number: 9318199
    Abstract: Apparatuses may include a memory block with strings of memory cells formed in a plurality of tiers. The apparatus may further comprise access lines and data lines shared by the strings, with the access lines coupled to the memory cells corresponding to a respective tier of the plurality of tiers. The memory cells corresponding to at least a portion of the respective tier may comprise a respective page of a plurality of pages. Subsets of the data lines may be mapped into a respective partial page of a plurality of partial pages of the respective page. Each partial page may be independently selectable from other partial pages. Additional apparatuses and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Abraham, Tomoharu Tanaka, Koichi Kawai, Yuichi Einaga
  • Patent number: 9257189
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes an electrically data rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory cell and a write circuit for writing data in the memory cell, the write circuit writing a data in the memory cells by supplying a write voltage Vpgm and a write control voltage VBL to the memory cell, continuing the writing of the data in the memory cell by changing the value of the write control voltage VBL in response to an advent of a first write state of the memory cell and inhibiting any operation of writing a data to the memory cell by further changing the value of the write control voltage VBL to Vdd in response to an advent of a second write state of the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoharu Tanaka, Jian Chen
  • Publication number: 20160012906
    Abstract: Data storage circuits are connected to the bit lines in a one-to-one correspondence. A write circuit writes the data on a first page into a plurality of 5 first memory cells selected simultaneously by a word line. Thereafter, the write circuit writes the data on a second page into the plurality of first memory cell. Then, the write circuit writes the data on the first and second pages into second memory cells adjoining 10 the first memory cells in the bit line direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Noboru SHIBATA, Tomoharu TANAKA
  • Patent number: 9236146
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of operating memory devices are shown. Configurations described include circuits to perform a single check between programming pulses to determine a threshold voltage with respect to desired benchmark voltages. In one example, the benchmark voltages are used to change a programming speed of selected memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vishal Sarin, Aaron Yip, Tomoharu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150348618
    Abstract: A memory cell array is configured to have a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix, each of the memory cells being connected to a word line and a bit line and being capable of storing n values (n is a natural number equal to or larger than 3). A control circuit controls the potentials of the word line and bit line according to input data and writes data into a memory cell. The control circuit writes data into the memory cell to a k-valued threshold voltage (k<=n) in a write operation, precharges the bit line once, and then changes the potential of the word line an i number of times to verify whether the memory cell has reached an i-valued (i<=k) threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Noboru SHIBATA, Tomoharu TANAKA
  • Patent number: 9183936
    Abstract: Data storage circuits are connected to the bit lines in a one-to-one correspondence. A write circuit writes the data on a first page into a plurality of 5 first memory cells selected simultaneously by a word line. Thereafter, the write circuit writes the data on a second page into the plurality of first memory cell. Then, the write circuit writes the data on the first and second pages into second memory cells adjoining 10 the first memory cells in the bit line direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Noboru Shibata, Tomoharu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9142299
    Abstract: A memory cell array is configured to have a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix, each of the memory cells being connected to a word line and a bit line and being capable of storing n values (n is a natural number equal to or larger than 3). A control circuit controls the potentials of the word line and bit line according to input data and writes data into a memory cell. The control circuit writes data into the memory cell to a k-valued threshold voltage (k<=n) in a write operation, precharges the bit line once, and then changes the potential of the word line an i number of times to verify whether the memory cell has reached an i-valued (i<=k) threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Noboru Shibata, Tomoharu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150162084
    Abstract: Apparatuses are described that include stacked arrays of memory cell strings and their methods of operation. Apparatuses include architectures that reduce the use of several common components, allowing greater device density and smaller device size for a given semiconductor area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Midori Morooka, Tomoharu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9053043
    Abstract: A flash memory includes a memory sector, a command interface, a first signal buffer, a control signal generation circuit, a data input buffer, an error correction circuit, an address buffer, an address signal generation circuit, a plurality of data memory circuits, and write circuit. The command interface receives a write data input instruction from an external device to generate a write data input instruction signal, and receives a write instruction from the external device to generate a write instruction signal. The error correction circuit is activated by the write data input instruction signal to receive the write data in synchronization with the write enable signal, and is activated by the write instruction signal to generate a check data for an error correction in synchronization with the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoharu Tanaka, Noboru Shibata, Toru Tanzawa