Patents by Inventor Toshihiko Kitazume

Toshihiko Kitazume 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: 10769011
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor memory unit, a controller circuit configured to communicate with a host through a serial interface, store write data to be written into a page of the semiconductor memory unit in a data buffer, and an error-correcting code (ECC) circuit configured to generate an error correction code from the write data if the ECC circuit is enabled. The controller circuit writes the error correction code with the write data into the page if the ECC circuit is enabled. A maximum column address of the page which is accessible from the host changes depending on whether or not the ECC circuit is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kodera, Toshihiko Kitazume, Kenichirou Kada, Nobuhiro Tsuji, Shinya Takeda, Tetsuya Iwata, Yoshio Furuyama, Hirosuke Narai
  • Patent number: 10621034
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor memory unit, a controller circuit configured to communicate with a host through a serial interface, store write data to be written into a page of the semiconductor memory unit in a data buffer, and an error-correcting code (ECC) circuit configured to generate an error correction code from the write data if the ECC circuit is enabled. The controller circuit writes the error correction code with the write data into the page if the ECC circuit is enabled. A maximum column address of the page which is accessible from the host changes depending on whether or not the ECC circuit is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kodera, Toshihiko Kitazume, Kenichirou Kada, Nobuhiro Tsuji, Shinya Takeda, Tetsuya Iwata, Yoshio Furuyama, Hirosuke Narai
  • Patent number: 10445174
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor memory unit, a controller configured to communicate with a host through a serial interface and read data stored in a page of the semiconductor memory unit in response to a read command received through the serial interface, and an error-correcting code (ECC) circuit configured to carry out error correction with respect to data read from each unit region of the page. The controller is further configured to transmit, through the serial interface to the host, information that indicates whether or not a number of error bits detected by the ECC circuit in the data read from each unit region of the page through the error correction is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kodera, Toshihiko Kitazume, Kenichirou Kada, Nobuhiro Tsuji, Shinya Takeda, Tetsuya Iwata, Yoshio Furuyama, Hirosuke Narai
  • Patent number: 10310755
    Abstract: A memory system includes a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of blocks, and a controller configured to register a block designated in a protection command as a protected block in a storage region. When the control circuit receives from a host a command to erase the protected block or write to the protected block, the control circuit does not issue a corresponding erase or write command to the semiconductor memory device and notifies the host of the failure to execute the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kodera, Toshihiko Kitazume, Kenichirou Kada, Nobuhiro Tsuji, Shinya Takeda, Tetsuya Iwata, Yoshio Furuyama, Hirosuke Narai
  • Patent number: 10289482
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor memory unit and a controller circuit configured to communicate with a host through a serial interface and access the semiconductor memory unit in response to commands received through the serial interface. The controller circuit, in response to a host command to read parameters of the memory device, updates at least one of parameters of the memory device stored in the memory device based on operational settings of the memory device, and transmits the updated parameters through the serial interface to the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kodera, Toshihiko Kitazume, Kenichirou Kada, Nobuhiro Tsuji, Shinya Takeda, Tetsuya Iwata, Yoshio Furuyama, Hirosuke Narai
  • Patent number: 10235070
    Abstract: A memory system includes a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of blocks, and a controller configured to register a block designated in a protection command as a protected block in a storage region. When the control circuit receives from a host a command to erase the protected block or write to the protected block, the control circuit does not issue a corresponding erase or write command to the semiconductor memory device and notifies the host of the failure to execute the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kodera, Toshihiko Kitazume, Kenichirou Kada, Nobuhiro Tsuji, Shinya Takeda, Tetsuya Iwata, Yoshio Furuyama, Hirosuke Narai
  • Patent number: 9959937
    Abstract: A memory system includes a semiconductor memory device, a controller configured to access the semiconductor module, a plurality of pins for connection to the outside of the memory system, the pins configured to receive and output serial data, and a test circuit. When one of the pins receives serial test data, the test circuit converts the serial test data into parallel test data, and outputs the parallel test data to the semiconductor memory device for writing therein, and when the test circuit receives parallel test data written in the semiconductor memory device, the test circuit converts the parallel test data to serial test data, and outputs the serial test data through one of the pins for test of the memory system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichirou Kada, Shinya Takeda, Toshihiko Kitazume, Mikio Takasugi, Nobuhiro Tsuji, Shunsuke Kodera, Tetsuya Iwata, Yoshio Furuyama, Hirosuke Narai
  • Patent number: 9891987
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor memory unit, a controller configured to communicate with a host through a serial interface and read data stored in a page of the semiconductor memory unit in response to a read command received through the serial interface, and an error-correcting code (ECC) circuit configured to carry out error correction with respect to data read from each unit region of the page. The controller is further configured to transmit, through the serial interface to the host, information that indicates whether or not a number of error bits detected by the ECC circuit in the data read from each unit region of the page through the error correction is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kodera, Toshihiko Kitazume, Kenichirou Kada, Nobuhiro Tsuji, Shinya Takeda, Tetsuya Iwata, Yoshio Furuyama, Hirosuke Narai
  • Patent number: 9747994
    Abstract: A memory system includes first through fifth pins connectable to a host device to output to the host device a first signal through the third pin and to receive from the host device a first chip select signal through the first pin, a second chip select signal through the second pin, a second signal through the fourth pin, and a clock signal through the fifth pin, an interface circuit configured to recognize, as a command, the second signal received through the fourth pin immediately after detecting the first or second chip select signal, and first and second memory cell arrays. The interface circuit and the first and second memory cell arrays are provided in one common package, and is configured to access the first memory cell array when detecting the first chip select signal, and to access the second memory cell array when detecting the second chip select signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hirosuke Narai, Toshihiko Kitazume, Kenichirou Kada, Nobuhiro Tsuji, Shunsuke Kodera, Tetsuya Iwata, Yoshio Furuyama, Shinya Takeda
  • Patent number: 9728275
    Abstract: A memory system includes a plurality of pins for connection to the outside of the memory system, one of the pins being configured to receive a command signal, a memory cell array including a plurality of first memory blocks and a second memory block in which status data indicating which of the first memory blocks is defective, is stored, and a control circuit configured to determine whether or not a first memory block targeted by the command signal is indicated as being defective in the status data. The control circuit allows an operation to be performed on the targeted first memory block in accordance with the command signal when the targeted first memory block is not indicated as being defective, and blocks the operation to be performed on the targeted first memory block when the targeted first memory block is indicated as being defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tsuji, Kenichirou Kada, Shinya Takeda, Toshihiko Kitazume, Shunsuke Kodera, Tetsuya Iwata, Yoshio Furuyama, Hirosuke Narai
  • Publication number: 20170160972
    Abstract: A memory system includes a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of blocks, and a controller configured to register a block designated in a protection command as a protected block in a storage region. When the control circuit receives from a host a command to erase the protected block or write to the protected block, the control circuit does not issue a corresponding erase or write command to the semiconductor memory device and notifies the host of the failure to execute the command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Shunsuke KODERA, Toshihiko KITAZUME, Kenichirou KADA, Nobuhiro TSUJI, Shinya TAKEDA, Tetsuya IWATA, Yoshio FURUYAMA, Hirosuke NARAI
  • Publication number: 20170160946
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor memory unit, a controller configured to communicate with a host through a serial interface and read data stored in a page of the semiconductor memory unit in response to a read command received through the serial interface, and an error-correcting code (ECC) circuit configured to carry out error correction with respect to data read from each unit region of the page. The controller is further configured to transmit, through the serial interface to the host, information that indicates whether or not a number of error bits detected by the ECC circuit in the data read from each unit region of the page through the error correction is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Shunsuke KODERA, Toshihiko KITAZUME, Kenichirou KADA, Nobuhiro TSUJI, Shinya TAKEDA, Tetsuya IWATA, Yoshio FURUYAMA, Hirosuke NARAI
  • Publication number: 20170161140
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor memory unit, a controller circuit configured to communicate with a host through a serial interface, store write data to be written into a page of the semiconductor memory unit in a data buffer, and an error-correcting code (ECC) circuit configured to generate an error correction code from the write data if the ECC circuit is enabled. The controller circuit writes the error correction code with the write data into the page if the ECC circuit is enabled. A maximum column address of the page which is accessible from the host changes depending on whether or not the ECC circuit is enabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Shunsuke KODERA, Toshihiko KITAZUME, Kenichirou KADA, Nobuhiro TSUJI, Shinya TAKEDA, Tetsuya IWATA, Yoshio FURUYAMA, Hirosuke NARAI
  • Patent number: 9620230
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor memory unit, and a controller configured to communicate with a host through a serial interface and access the memory semiconductor unit in response to commands received through the serial interface. The controller, in response to a first read command received through the serial interface to read data in a first page of the semiconductor memory unit, issues a first command to the semiconductor memory unit to read data in the first page and, in addition, a second command to read data in a second page that is consecutive to the first page and not specified in the first read command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinya Takeda, Toshihiko Kitazume, Kenichirou Kada, Nobuhiro Tsuji, Shunsuke Kodera, Tetsuya Iwata, Yoshio Furuyama, Hirosuke Narai
  • Publication number: 20170060484
    Abstract: A memory system includes a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of blocks, and a controller configured to register a block designated in a protection command as a protected block in a storage region. When the control circuit receives from a host a command to erase the protected block or write to the protected block, the control circuit does not issue a corresponding erase or write command to the semiconductor memory device and notifies the host of the failure to execute the command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Shunsuke KODERA, Toshihiko KITAZUME, Kenichirou KADA, Nobuhiro TSUJI, Shinya TAKEDA, Tetsuya IWATA, Yoshio FURUYAMA, Hirosuke NARAI
  • Publication number: 20170062063
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor memory unit, and a controller configured to communicate with a host through a serial interface and access the memory semiconductor unit in response to commands received through the serial interface. The controller, in response to a first read command received through the serial interface to read data in a first page of the semiconductor memory unit, issues a first command to the semiconductor memory unit to read data in the first page and, in addition, a second command to read data in a second page that is consecutive to the first page and not specified in the first read command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Shinya TAKEDA, Toshihiko KITAZUME, Kenichirou KADA, Nobuhiro TSUJI, Shunsuke KODERA, Tetsuya IWATA, Yoshio FURUYAMA, Hirosuke NARAI
  • Publication number: 20170062076
    Abstract: A memory system includes a plurality of pins for connection to the outside of the memory system, one of the pins being configured to receive a command signal, a memory cell array including a plurality of first memory blocks and a second memory block in which status data indicating which of the first memory blocks is defective, is stored, and a control circuit configured to determine whether or not a first memory block targeted by the command signal is indicated as being defective in the status data. The control circuit allows an operation to be performed on the targeted first memory block in accordance with the command signal when the targeted first memory block is not indicated as being defective, and blocks the operation to be performed on the targeted first memory block when the targeted first memory block is indicated as being defective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Nobuhiro TSUJI, Kenichirou KADA, Shinya TAKEDA, Toshihiko KITAZUME, Shunsuke KODERA, Tetsuya IWATA, Yoshio FURUYAMA, Hirosuke NARAI
  • Publication number: 20170062077
    Abstract: A memory system includes a semiconductor memory device, a controller configured to access the semiconductor module, a plurality of pins for connection to the outside of the memory system, the pins configured to receive and output serial data, and a test circuit. When one of the pins receives serial test data, the test circuit converts the serial test data into parallel test data, and outputs the parallel test data to the semiconductor memory device for writing therein, and when the test circuit receives parallel test data written in the semiconductor memory device, the test circuit converts the parallel test data to serial test data, and outputs the serial test data through one of the pins for test of the memory system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Kenichirou KADA, Shinya TAKEDA, Toshihiko KITAZUME, Mikio TAKASUGI, Nobuhiro TSUJI, Shunsuke KODERA, Tetsuya IWATA, Yoshio FURUYAMA, Hirosuke NARAI
  • Publication number: 20170060682
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor memory unit, a controller circuit configured to communicate with a host through a serial interface, store write data to be written into a page of the semiconductor memory unit in a data buffer, and an error-correcting code (ECC) circuit configured to generate an error correction code from the write data if the ECC circuit is enabled. The controller circuit writes the error correction code with the write data into the page if the ECC circuit is enabled. A maximum column address of the page which is accessible from the host changes depending on whether or not the ECC circuit is enabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Shunsuke KODERA, Toshihiko KITAZUME, Kenichirou KADA, Nobuhiro TSUJI, Shinya TAKEDA, Tetsuya IWATA, Yoshio FURUYAMA, Hirosuke NARAI
  • Publication number: 20170060676
    Abstract: A memory device includes a semiconductor memory unit, a controller configured to communicate with a host through a serial interface and read data stored in a page of the semiconductor memory unit in response to a read command received through the serial interface, and an error-correcting code (ECC) circuit configured to carry out error correction with respect to data read from each unit region of the page. The controller is further configured to transmit, through the serial interface to the host, information that indicates whether or not a number of error bits detected by the ECC circuit in the data read from each unit region of the page through the error correction is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Shunsuke KODERA, Toshihiko KITAZUME, Kenichirou KADA, Nobuhiro TSUJI, Shinya TAKEDA, Tetsuya IWATA, Yoshio FURUYAMA, Hirosuke NARAI