Patents by Inventor Wei Lu CHU

Wei Lu CHU 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: 10998010
    Abstract: Systems and devices are provided for fully discharging leakage current generated during standby and/or power down modes regardless of variations in PVT conditions. An apparatus may include a power generation unit that powers components of the apparatus and a bleeder circuit. The bleeder circuit may include an operational amplifier. Further, the bleeder circuit may include leakage current generator circuitry that is coupled to the operational amplifier and generates a first current that mimics leakage current generated by the power generation unit. Furthermore, the bleeder circuit may include leakage current mirroring circuitry that is coupled to an output of the operational amplifier and that generates a second current that mirrors the first current. In addition, the bleeder circuit may also include leakage current bleeder circuitry that is coupled to the leakage current mirroring circuitry and that generates a third current that sinks the leakage current to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Lu Chu, Dong Pan
  • Patent number: 10897244
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for voltage dependent delay. An example apparatus includes an oscillator including a delay circuit that is configured to provide an oscillating output signal has a delay based on a delay of the delay circuit. The delay of the delay circuit is based on a voltage it receives. For example, the delay of the delay circuit increases for an increasing received voltage and decreases for a decreasing received voltage. As a result, the oscillating output signal provided by the oscillator is based on the received voltage. For example, a frequency of the oscillating output signal decreases for increasing received voltage and increases for decreasing received voltage. Described in another way, the frequency of the oscillating output signal is relatively low for relatively high received voltage and relatively high for relatively low received voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi Qi Huang, Wei Lu Chu, Dong Pan
  • Patent number: 10885998
    Abstract: A circuit may include a voltage line and latch circuitry. The latch circuitry may be characterized by a switching voltage threshold and may be coupled to the voltage line. The latch circuitry may generate an output used to determine a state of a fuse. The circuit may also include generation circuitry coupled to the latch circuitry via the voltage line, wherein the generation circuitry is configured to pre-charge the voltage line to a first voltage between a system logical low voltage and the switching voltage threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Lu Chu, Dong Pan
  • Publication number: 20200327913
    Abstract: Systems and devices are provided for fully discharging leakage current generated during standby and/or power down modes regardless of variations in PVT conditions. An apparatus may include a power generation unit that powers components of the apparatus and a bleeder circuit. The bleeder circuit may include an operational amplifier. Further, the bleeder circuit may include leakage current generator circuitry that is coupled to the operational amplifier and generates a first current that mimics leakage current generated by the power generation unit. Furthermore, the bleeder circuit may include leakage current mirroring circuitry that is coupled to an output of the operational amplifier and that generates a second current that mirrors the first current. In addition, the bleeder circuit may also include leakage current bleeder circuitry that is coupled to the leakage current mirroring circuitry and that generates a third current that sinks the leakage current to ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Wei Lu Chu, Dong Pan
  • Patent number: 10678284
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for providing a current independent of temperature are described. An example apparatus includes a current generator that includes two components that are configured to respond equally and opposite to changes in temperature. The responses of the two components may allow a current provided by the current generator to remain independent of temperature. One of the two components in the current generator may mirror a component included in a voltage source that is configured to provide a voltage to the current generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei Lu Chu
  • Patent number: 10643686
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array including a plurality of memory cells; and an array timer coupled to the memory array, configured to generate an output timing signal based on a fixed input and a reference signal, wherein: the fixed input is from a supply circuit, the reference signal is from a reference block, and the output timing signal is configured to control the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi Qi Huang, Wei Lu Chu, Hiromasa Noda, Dong Pan
  • Patent number: 10613572
    Abstract: Systems and devices are provided for generating a process, voltage, temperature (PVT)-independent reference current for a relatively low voltage domain. An apparatus may include a bandgap circuit that outputs a bandgap voltage and a first proportion-to-absolute temperature (PTAT) current. The apparatus may also include trimming circuitry that outputs a reference a voltage based at least in part on the bandgap voltage. Further, the apparatus may include reference current generation circuitry. In particular, the reference current generation circuitry may include a complementary-to-absolute-temperature (CTAT) current generation portion that generates a CTAT current based on the reference voltage as well as a PTAT current tuning portion that tunes a received first PTAT current to generate a second PTAT current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei Lu Chu
  • Patent number: 10614860
    Abstract: Systems and devices are provided for fully discharging leakage current generated during standby and/or power down modes regardless of variations in PVT conditions. An apparatus may include a power generation unit that powers components of the apparatus and a bleeder circuit. The bleeder circuit may include an operational amplifier. Further, the bleeder circuit may include leakage current generator circuitry that is coupled to the operational amplifier and generates a first current that mimics leakage current generated by the power generation unit. Furthermore, the bleeder circuit may include leakage current mirroring circuitry that is coupled to an output of the operational amplifier and that generates a second current that mirrors the first current. In addition, the bleeder circuit may also include leakage current bleeder circuitry that is coupled to the leakage current mirroring circuitry and that generates a third current that sinks the leakage current to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Lu Chu, Dong Pan
  • Patent number: 10606300
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and current generators that generate current are described. An example apparatus includes a current source configured to provide a current. The current source may be coupled to a voltage source via a transistor. The transistor may be configured to provide the voltage source to the current source based on a voltage of a gate of the transistor. The example apparatus may further include an amplifier configured to provide a voltage to the gate of the transistor based on a voltage differential between two inputs. The voltage differential between the two inputs may adjust due to process, voltage or temperature changes such that the current provided by the current source remains constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei Lu Chu
  • Patent number: 10459466
    Abstract: An apparatus is described comprising a bandgap reference circuit comprising: an amplifier including first and second inputs and an output; and a bandgap transistor coupled to the output of the amplifier at a control electrode thereof, the bandgap transistor being further coupled commonly to the first and second inputs of the amplifier at a first electrode thereof to form a feedback path. The apparatus further comprises a resistor coupled to the first electrode of the bandgap transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Lu Chu, Dong Pan
  • Publication number: 20190304533
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array including a plurality of memory cells; and an array timer coupled to the memory array, configured to generate an output timing signal based on a fixed input and a reference signal, wherein: the fixed input is from a supply circuit, the reference signal is from a reference block, and the output timing signal is configured to control the memory array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Zhi Qi Huang, Wei Lu Chu, Hiromasa Noda, Dong Pan
  • Patent number: 10425064
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a delay circuit are provided. In an example, a delay circuit can include a resistor configured to receive a compensation current, a capacitor configured to receive a charge current based on the compensation current, a first compensation circuit configured to provide a control signal, and a charge-current coupling circuit. The first compensation circuit can include an inverter circuit configured to track an inverter threshold voltage across process, voltage and temperature variations, wherein an output of the inverter circuit is directly coupled to an input of the inverter circuit, and an amplifier configured to receive the output of the inverter circuit an provide the control signal. The charge-current coupling circuit can be configured to receive the control signal and to provide the compensation current and the charge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Pan, Wei Lu Chu
  • Patent number: 10373670
    Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array including a plurality of memory cells; and an array timer coupled to the memory array, configured to generate an output timing signal based on a V-I stable input and an analog reference signal, wherein: the V-I stable input is from a bandgap supply circuit, the analog reference signal is from an analog reference block, and the output timing signal is configured to control the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi Qi Huang, Wei Lu Chu, Hiromasa Noda, Dong Pan
  • Patent number: 10331151
    Abstract: Systems and devices are provided for generating a process, voltage, temperature (PVT)-independent reference current in a resource-efficient manner. A semiconductor device may include a bandgap circuit that outputs a reference voltage and gate signal. The semiconductor device may also include a reference current circuit that includes a complementary-to-absolute-temperature (CTAT) current generation portion and a variation-independent reference current generation portion. The variation-independent reference current generation portion may receive the gate signal from the bandgap circuit, apply the gate signal to a proportion-to-absolute temperature (PTAT) branch of the variation-independent reference current generation portion, and generate mirror PTAT and CTAT currents. The reference current circuit may also include a reference node that generates the reference current supply based at least in part on the mirror CTAT current and the mirror PTAT current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei Lu Chu
  • Publication number: 20190171246
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and current generators that generate current are described. An example apparatus includes a current source configured to provide a current. The current source may be coupled to a voltage source via a transistor. The transistor may be configured to provide the voltage source to the current source based on a voltage of a gate of the transistor. The example apparatus may further include an amplifier configured to provide a voltage to the gate of the transistor based on a voltage differential between two inputs. The voltage differential between the two inputs may adjust due to process, voltage or temperature changes such that the current provided by the current source remains constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventor: Wei Lu Chu
  • Patent number: 10216213
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and current generators that generate current are described. An example apparatus includes a current source configured to provide a current. The current source may be coupled to a voltage source via a transistor. The transistor may be configured to provide the voltage source to the current source based on a voltage of a gate of the transistor. The example apparatus may further include an amplifier configured to provide a voltage to the gate of the transistor based on a voltage differential between two inputs. The voltage differential between the two inputs may adjust due to process, voltage or temperature changes such that the current provided by the current source remains constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei Lu Chu
  • Publication number: 20180341282
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for providing a current independent of temperature are described. An example apparatus includes a current generator that includes two components that are configured to respond equally and opposite to changes in temperature. The responses of the two components may allow a current provided by the current generator to remain independent of temperature. One of the two components in the current generator may mirror a component included in a voltage source that is configured to provide a voltage to the current generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Wei Lu Chu
  • Publication number: 20180284820
    Abstract: An apparatus is described comprising a bandgap reference circuit comprising: an amplifier including first and second inputs and an output; and a bandgap transistor coupled to the output of the amplifier at a control electrode thereof, the bandgap transistor being further coupled commonly to the first and second inputs of the amplifier at a first electrode thereof to form a feedback path. The apparatus further comprises a resistor coupled to the first electrode of the bandgap transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Lu Chu, Dong Pan
  • Patent number: 10073477
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for providing a current independent of temperature are described. An example apparatus includes a current generator that includes two components that are configured to respond equally and opposite to changes in temperature. The responses of the two components may allow a current provided by the current generator to remain independent of temperature. One of the two components in the current generator may mirror a component included in a voltage source that is configured to provide a voltage to the current generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei Lu Chu
  • Publication number: 20180173267
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and current generators that generate current are described. An example apparatus includes a current source configured to provide a current. The current source may be coupled to a voltage source via a transistor. The transistor may be configured to provide the voltage source to the current source based on a voltage of a gate of the transistor. The example apparatus may further include an amplifier configured to provide a voltage to the gate of the transistor based on a voltage differential between two inputs. The voltage differential between the two inputs may adjust due to process, voltage or temperature changes such that the current provided by the current source remains constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventor: Wei Lu Chu