Patents by Inventor Umberto Di Vincenzo

Umberto Di Vincenzo 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: 20230335191
    Abstract: A variety of applications can include one or more memory devices having one or more memory arrays of memory cells, where each memory cell is a resistive memory cell arranged such that a clamp current for the memory cell can be provided by an access line biasing circuit to the memory cell opposite a coupling of a sense circuit to a digit line to the memory array. The access line biasing circuit and the sense circuit can be operated in a digit line precharge phase and an access line biasing phase of a memory cell of the memory array using a set of switches to control activities for the memory cell in the memory array, the sense circuit, and the access line biasing circuit. A reference current can be provided from the access line biasing circuit to the sense circuit. Additional devices, systems, and methods are discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Ferdinando Bedeschi, Pierguido Garofalo, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Claudia Palattella
  • Patent number: 11776590
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of operating memory cells, comprising reading a previous user data from the memory cells; writing a new user data and merging the new user data with the previous user data into write registers; generating mask register information, and wherein the mask register information indicates bits of the previous user data stored in the memory cells to be switched or not to be switched in their logic values; counting numbers of a first logic value and a second logic value to be written using the mask register information, respectively; storing the numbers of the first logic value and the second logic value into a first counter and a second counter, respectively; and applying a programming pulse to the memory cells according to the mask register information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Riccardo Muzzetto, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Publication number: 20230290413
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for storing one data value by programming a first memory cell and a second memory cell are disclosed. The first memory cell and the second memory cell may each be programmed to a first data state, a second data state, or a third data state, and the one data value can correspond to a combination of the first data state, the second data state, or the third data state to which the first memory cell and the second memory cell are programmed, where two combinations of the first data state, the second data state, or the third data state to which the first memory cell is programmable and the first data state, the second data state, or the third data state to which the second memory cell is programmable are ineligible to correspond to the one data value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventor: Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Patent number: 11756602
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for sensing component with a common node are described. A set of sense circuits of a memory device may include a shared differential amplifier having a first branch for each sense circuit and a shared second branch, as well as a shared common node. A respective latch of each sense amplifier may be initialized to a second logic state, and the common node may undergo a voltage ramp to determine the state stored in the memory cell. If the memory cell stores the first logic state, the sense amplifier may couple with the common node to draw the current and switch the state of the latch to the first logic state. Alternatively, if the memory cell stores the second logic state the current may not be drawn and the state of the latch may not switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Michele Maria Venturini
  • Publication number: 20230282301
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses with counter-based reading are described. A memory cells of a codeword are accessed and respective voltages are generated. A reference voltage is generated and a logic state of each memory cell is determined based on the reference voltage and the respective generated cell voltage. The reference voltage is modified until a count of memory cells determined to be in a predefined logic state with respect to the last modified reference voltage value meets a criterium. In some embodiments the criterium may be an exact match between the memory cells count and an expected number of memory cells in the predefined logic state. In other embodiments, an error correction (ECC) algorithm may be applied while the difference between the count of cells in the predefined logic state and the expected number of cells in that state does not exceed a detection or correction power of the ECC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Patent number: 11749360
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices that support techniques for programming self-selecting memory are described. Received data may include a first group of bits that each have a first logic value and a second group of bits that each have a second logic value. The first and second group of bits may be stored in a first set of memory cells and a second set of memory cells, respectively. A first programming operation for writing the second logic value to both the first and second set of memory cells and verifying whether the second logic value is written to each of the first set of memory cells, the second set of memory cells, or both may be performed. A second programming operation may write the first logic value to either the first set of memory cells or the second set of memory cells based on a result of the verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Patent number: 11735244
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for time-based access of memory cells in a memory array are described herein. During a sense portion of a read operation, a selected memory cell may be charged to a predetermined voltage level. A logic state stored on the selected memory cell may be identified based on a duration between the beginning of the charging and when selected memory cell reaches the predetermined voltage level. In some examples, time-varying signals may be used to indicate the logic state based on the duration of the charging. The duration of the charging may be based on a polarization state of the selected memory cell, a dielectric charge state of the selected state, or both a polarization state and a dielectric charge state of the selected memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Patent number: 11715508
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a source follower-based sensing architecture and sensing scheme are described. In one example, a memory device may include a sense circuit that includes two source followers that are coupled to each other and to a sense amplifier. A method of operating the memory device may include transferring a digit line voltage to one of the source followers and transferring a reference voltage to the other source follower. After transferring the digit line voltage and the reference voltage, the source followers may be enabled so that signals representative of the digit line voltage and the reference voltage are transferred from the outputs of the source followers to the sense amplifier for sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, Huy T. Vo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Patent number: 11705211
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for accessing an array of memory cells, including storing a set of user data in a plurality of memory cells, storing, in a portion of the array, additional information representative of a voltage difference between a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage of the memory cells programmed to a first logic state, applying to the array a read voltage to activate a first group of memory cells corresponding to a preset number of memory cells, determining that the first group of memory cells has been activated based on applying the read voltage, wherein the read voltage is equal to the first threshold voltage when the first group of memory cells has been activated, and based on the additional data information, applying the voltage difference to the array to activate a second group of memory cells programmed to the first logic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Riccardo Muzzetto, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Patent number: 11694748
    Abstract: A method, a circuit, and a system for reading memory cells. The method may include: applying a first voltage with a first polarity to a plurality of the memory cells; applying a second voltage with a second polarity to one or more of said plurality of the memory cells; applying at least a third voltage with the first polarity to one or more of said plurality of the memory cells; detecting electrical responses of memory cells to the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage; and determining a logic state of respective memory cells based on the electrical responses of the memory cells to the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Publication number: 20230207004
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for adaptively controlling a reset current of a memory cell are described. A system comprises: a mirror circuit with one branch coupled with a top electrode of the memory cell and the other branch coupled with one end of a resistive reference, and wherein a bottom electrode of the memory cell is coupled to a reference potential, the other end of the resistive reference is provided with a first electric potential; a control circuit; and a feedback circuit for feeding an electric potential to the top electrode of the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Marco Sforzin, Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Publication number: 20230206979
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for sensing component with a common node are described. A set of sense circuits of a memory device may include a shared differential amplifier having a first branch for each sense circuit and a shared second branch, as well as a shared common node. A respective latch of each sense amplifier may be initialized to a second logic state, and the common node may undergo a voltage ramp to determine the state stored in the memory cell. If the memory cell stores the first logic state, the sense amplifier may couple with the common node to draw the current and switch the state of the latch to the first logic state. Alternatively, if the memory cell stores the second logic state the current may not be drawn and the state of the latch may not switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Michele Maria Venturini
  • Publication number: 20230206978
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for techniques to perform a sense operation are described. In some examples, a memory device may include a pair of transistor to precharge a digit line. A first transistor of the pair of transistors may be coupled with a first node and a second transistor of the pair of transistors may be coupled with a second node. In some cases, the first node and the second node may be selectively coupled via a transistor. The first and second transistors may be activated to precharge the first and second nodes. In some examples, a pulse may be applied to a capacitor coupled with the second node to transfer a charge to the digit line. In some cases, the cascode transistor may maintain or control the voltage of the digit line to be at or below an upper operating voltage of the memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Michele Maria Venturini
  • Patent number: 11670368
    Abstract: A method for reading memory cells is described. The method may include applying a first read voltage to a plurality of memory cells, detecting first threshold voltages exhibited by the plurality of memory cells in response to application of the first read voltage, associating a first logic state to one or more cells of the plurality of memory cells, applying a second read voltage to the plurality of memory cells, where the second read voltage has the same polarity of the first read voltage and a higher magnitude than an expected highest threshold voltage of memory cells in the first logic state, and detecting second threshold voltages exhibited by the plurality of memory cells in response to application of the second read voltage, among other aspects. A related circuit, a related memory device and a related system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Publication number: 20230141713
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to counter-based sense amplifier method for memory cells are described. The counter-based read algorithm may comprise the following phases: storing in a counter associated to an array of memory cells the value of the number of bits having a predetermined logic value of the data bits stored in the memory array; reading from said counter the value corresponding to the number of bits having the predetermined logic value; reading the data stored in the array of memory cells by applying a ramp of biasing voltages; counting the number of bits having the predetermined logic value during the data reading phase; stopping the data reading phase when the number of bits having the predetermined logic value is equal to the value stored in said counter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Riccardo Muzzetto, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Publication number: 20230110946
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for accessing an array of memory cells, comprising the steps of storing user data in a plurality of memory cells of a memory array, storing, in a counter associated to the array of memory cells, count data corresponding to a number of bits in the user data having a predetermined first logic value, applying a read voltage to the memory cells to read the user data stored in the array of memory cells, applying the read voltage to the cells of the counter to read the count data stored in the counter and to provide a target value corresponding to the number of bits in the user data having the first logic value, wherein, during the application of the read voltage, the count data are read simultaneously to the user data in such a way that the target value is provided during the reading of the user data, and based on the target value of the counter, stopping the application of the read voltage when the number of bits in the user data having the first logic value corresponds
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Riccardo Muzzetto, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto di Vincenzo
  • Publication number: 20230104314
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a memory device comprising an array of memory cells arranged in a multideck configuration comprising a plurality of superimposed decks, a plurality of access lines comprising at least a first plurality of access lines arranged in a first level, a second plurality of access lines arranged in a second level, and a third plurality of access lines arranged in a third level between the first plurality of access lines and the second plurality of access lines, the third plurality of access lines being arranged between two decks of the plurality of decks, a plurality of drivers configured to drive signals to the access lines, and connection elements configured to electrically connect the access lines to the respective drivers. The connections elements and the access lines are arranged so that a single driver of the plurality of drivers is configured to drive at least one access line of each level of the at least three levels. Related memory systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Riccardo Muzzetto, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto di Vincenzo
  • Publication number: 20230084481
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a read algorithm for a memory device are described. When performing a read operation, the memory device may access a memory cell to retrieve a value stored by the memory cell. The memory device may compare a set of reference voltages with a signal output by the memory cell based on accessing the memory cell. Thus, the memory device may determine a set of candidate values stored by the memory cell, where each candidate value is associated with one of the reference voltages. The memory device may determine and output the value stored by the memory cell based on determining the set of candidate values. In some cases, the memory device may determine the value stored by the memory cell based on performing an error control operation on each of the set of candidate values to detect a quantity of errors within each candidate value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Patent number: 11594297
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses with counter-based reading are described. A memory cells of a codeword are accessed and respective voltages are generated. A reference voltage is generated and a logic state of each memory cell is determined based on the reference voltage and the respective generated cell voltage. The reference voltage is modified until a count of memory cells determined to be in a predefined logic state with respect to the last modified reference voltage value meets a criterium. In some embodiments the criterium may be an exact match between the memory cells count and an expected number of memory cells in the predefined logic state. In other embodiments, an error correction (ECC) algorithm may be applied while the difference between the count of cells in the predefined logic state and the expected number of cells in that state does not exceed a detection or correction power of the ECC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Patent number: 11587604
    Abstract: Methods and devices for reading a memory cell using a sense amplifier with split capacitors is described. The sense amplifier may include a first capacitor and a second capacitor that may be configured to provide a larger capacitance during certain portions of a read operation and a lower capacitance during other portions of the read operation. In some cases, the first capacitor and the second capacitor are configured to be coupled in parallel between a signal node and a voltage source during a first portion of the read operation to provide a higher capacitance. The first capacitor may be decoupled from the second capacitor during a second portion of the read operation to provide a lower capacitance during the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Riccardo Muzzetto