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).

  • Patent number: 11289146
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for word line timing management are described. In some examples, a digit line may be precharged as part of accessing a memory cell. The memory cell may include a storage component and a selection component. A word line may be coupled with the selection component, and the word line may be selected in order to couple the storage component with the digit line, by way of the selection component. The word line may be selected while the digit line is still being precharged, and the storage component may become coupled with the digit line with reduced delay after the end of precharging of the digit line, concurrent with the end of the precharging of the digit line, or while the digit line is still being charged. Related techniques for sensing a logic state stored by the memory cell are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Patent number: 11289147
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for sensing techniques for a memory cell are described to enable a latch to sense a logic state of a memory cell. A transistor coupled with a memory cell may boost a first voltage associated with the memory cell to a second voltage via one or more parasitic capacitances of the transistor. The second voltage may be developed on a first node of a sense component, and the second voltage may be shifted to a third voltage at a first node of the sense component by applying a voltage to a shift node coupled with a capacitor of the sense component. Similar boosting and shifting operations may be performed to develop a reference voltage on a second node of the sense component. The sense component may sense the state of the memory cell by comparing with the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Efrem Bolandrina, Riccardo Muzzetto, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Publication number: 20220068335
    Abstract: A method for accessing of memory cells where a set of user data is stored in a plurality of memory cells of the memory array, including: latching a current row address of a selected plurality of memory access; comparing a last row address with the current row address; if the result of the comparison is negative, executing a leakage compensation algorithm through a memory sensing circuitry; if the result of the comparison is positive, waiting for the completion of a write to read procedure on the selected plurality of memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Ferdinando Bedeschi, Riccardo Muzzetto, Umberto di Vincenzo
  • Patent number: 11264074
    Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices for time-resolved 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. In some examples, 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: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Publication number: 20220044722
    Abstract: Techniques are described herein for mitigating parasitic signals induced by state transitions during an access operation of a selected memory cell in a memory device. Some memory devices may include a plate that is coupled with memory cells associated with a plurality of digit lines and/or a plurality of word lines. Because the plate is coupled with a plurality of digit lines and/or word lines, unintended coupling between various components of the memory device may occur during an access operation. To mitigate parasitic signals induced by the unintended coupling, the memory device may isolate the selected memory cell from a selected digit line during certain portions of the access operation. The memory device may isolate the selected memory cell when the plate transitions from a first voltage to a second, when the selected digit line transitions from a third voltage to a fourth voltage, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Lucia Di Martino
  • Patent number: 11244739
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses with counter-based reading are described. In a memory device, 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: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Patent number: 11238945
    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: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Patent number: 11238907
    Abstract: Methods and devices for techniques for precharging a memory cell are described. Precharging a memory cell while the memory cell is coupled with its digit line may reduce a total duration of an access operation thereby reducing a latency associated with accessing a memory device. During a read operation, the memory device may select a word line to couple the memory cell with a selected digit line. Further, the memory device may selectively couple the selected digit line with a reference digit line that is to be precharged to a given voltage. A difference in voltage between the selected digit line and the reference digit line at the completion of precharging may represent a signal indicative of a logic state of the memory cell. The memory device may use a capacitor precharged to a first voltage to capture the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Patent number: 11232823
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for full bias sensing in a memory array are described. Various embodiments of an access operation of a cell in a array may be timed to allow residual charge of a middle electrode between the cell and a selection component to discharge. Access operations may also be timed to allow residual charge of middle electrodes associated with other cells to be discharged. In conjunction with an access operation for a target cell, a residual charge of a middle electrode of another cell may be discharged, and the target cell may then be accessed. A capacitor in electronic communication with a cell may be charged and a logic state of the cell determined based on the charge of the capacitor. The timing for charging the capacitor may be related to the time for discharging a middle electrode of the cell or another cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Publication number: 20220020416
    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: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Lee, Suryanarayana B. Tatapudi, Huy T. Vo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Publication number: 20220020448
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for method for setting a reference voltage for read operations are described. A memory device may perform a first read operation on a set of memory cells using a first reference voltage and detect a first codeword based on performing the first read operation using the first reference voltage. The memory device may compare a first quantity of bits of the first codeword having a first logic value (e.g., a logic value ‘1’) with an expected quantity of bits having the first logic value (e.g., the expected quantity of logic value ‘1’s stored by the set of memory cells). The memory device may determine whether to perform a second read operation on the set of memory cells using a second reference voltage different than the first reference voltage (e.g., greater or less than the first reference voltage) based on the comparing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Publication number: 20220020412
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for read operations based on a dynamic reference are described. A memory device may include a set of memory cells each associated with a capacitive circuit including a first and second capacitor. After receiving a read command, the memory device may couple each capacitive circuit with a respective memory cell (e.g., to transfer a charge stored by each respective memory cell to a capacitive circuit) and may couple the second capacitor of each capacitive circuit to a reference voltage bus. Thus, a reference voltage on the reference voltage bus may be based on an average charge across the second capacitors of each capacitive circuit. The memory device may then compare a charge stored by the first and second capacitors of each capacitive circuit with the reference voltage bus and may output a set of values stored by the set of memory cells based on the comparing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto, Angelo Visconti
  • Patent number: 11217292
    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: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Publication number: 20210398581
    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: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Ferdinando Bedeschi, Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Publication number: 20210383855
    Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices for time-resolved 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. In some examples, 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: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventor: Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Publication number: 20210343322
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for accessing a ferroelectric memory cell are described. In some examples, during a first portion of an access procedure, the voltages of a digit line and word line coupled with the memory cell may be increased while the voltage of a plate coupled with the memory cell is held constant, which may support sensing a logic state stored by the memory cell prior the access procedure, and which may result in a first logic state being written to the memory cell. A voltage of the plate may then be increased, and the digit line may then be coupled with the plate. Because the first logic state was previously written to the memory cell, a target logic state may not need to be subsequently written to the memory cell unless different than the first logic state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventor: Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Patent number: 11164626
    Abstract: A method for reading memory cell, comprising the steps of 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, based on the first threshold voltages, 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, wherein 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, detecting second threshold voltages exhibited by the plurality of memory cells in response to application of the second read voltage, based on the second threshold voltages, associating a second logic state to one or more cells of the plurality of memory cells, applying a third read voltage to the plurality of memory cells, wherein the third read voltage has the same polarity of the first a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Publication number: 20210319820
    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: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Ferdinando Bedeschi, Riccardo Muzzetto
  • Patent number: 11145367
    Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and techniques for read operations are described. In some examples, a memory device may include a first transistor (e.g., memory node transistor) configured to receive a precharge voltage at a first gate and output first voltage based on a threshold of the first transistor to a reference node via a first switch. The device may include a second transistor (e.g., a reference node transistor) configured to receive a precharge voltage and output a second voltage based on a threshold of the second transistor to a memory node via a second switch. The first voltage may be modified by a reference voltage and input to the second transistor. The second voltage may be modified by a voltage stored on a memory cell and input to the first transistor. The first and second transistor may output third and fourth voltages to be sampled to a latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ferdinando Bedeschi, Riccardo Muzzetto, Umberto Di Vincenzo
  • Patent number: 11120873
    Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein relates to memory devices and, more particularly, to programming a memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: OVONYX MEMORY TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Carlo Lisi