Patents by Inventor William Melton
William Melton 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).
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Publication number: 20240120006Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for three-state programming of memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of memory cells, and circuitry configured to program a memory cell of the plurality of memory cells to one of three possible data states by applying a voltage pulse to the memory cell, determining whether the memory cell snaps back in response to the applied voltage pulse, and applying an additional voltage pulse to the memory cell based on the determination of whether the memory cell snaps back.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
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Patent number: 11869588Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for three-state programming of memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of memory cells, and circuitry configured to program a memory cell of the plurality of memory cells to one of three possible data states by applying a voltage pulse to the memory cell, determining whether the memory cell snaps back in response to the applied voltage pulse, and applying an additional voltage pulse to the memory cell based on the determination of whether the memory cell snaps back.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Hernan A Castro, Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
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Patent number: 11803442Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for error caching techniques for improved error correction in a memory device are described. An apparatus, such as a memory device, may use an error cache to store indications of memory cells identified as defective and may augment an error correction procedure using the stored indications. If one or more errors are detected in data read from the memory array, the apparatus may check the error cache, and if a bit of the data is indicated as being associated with a defective cell, the bit may be inverted. After such inversion, the data may be checked for errors again. If the inversion corrects an error, the resulting data may be error-free or may include a reduced quantity of errors that may be correctable using an error correction scheme.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2022Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Sean S. Eilert, William A. Melton, Justin Eno
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Publication number: 20230107964Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for in-or near-memory processing are described. Bits of a first number may be stored on a number of memory elements, wherein each memory element of the number of memory elements intersects a bit line and a word line of a number of word lines. A number of signals corresponding to bits of a second number may be driven on the number of word lines to generate a number of output signals. A value equal to a product of the first number and the second number may be generated based on the number of output signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Dmitri Yudanov, Sean S. Eilert, Hernan A. Castro, William A. Melton
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Publication number: 20230071764Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for error caching techniques for improved error correction in a memory device are described. An apparatus, such as a memory device, may use an error cache to store indications of memory cells identified as defective and may augment an error correction procedure using the stored indications. If one or more errors are detected in data read from the memory array, the apparatus may check the error cache, and if a bit of the data is indicated as being associated with a defective cell, the bit may be inverted. After such inversion, the data may be checked for errors again. If the inversion corrects an error, the resulting data may be error-free or may include a reduced quantity of errors that may be correctable using an error correction scheme.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Sean S. Eilert, William A. Melton, Justin Eno
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Patent number: 11537861Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for in-or near-memory processing are described. Bits of a first number may be stored on a number of memory elements, wherein each memory element of the number of memory elements intersects a bit line and a word line of a number of word lines. A number of signals corresponding to bits of a second number may be driven on the number of word lines to generate a number of output signals. A value equal to a product of the first number and the second number may be generated based on the number of output signals.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Dmitri Yudanov, Sean S. Eilert, Hernan A. Castro, William A. Melton
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Publication number: 20220405169Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for adaptive parity techniques for a memory device are described. An apparatus, such as a memory device, may use one or more error correction code (ECC) schemes, an error cache, or both to support access operations. The memory device may receive a command from a host device to read or write data. If the error cache includes an entry for the data, the memory device may read or write the data using a first ECC scheme. If the error cache does not include an entry for the data, the memory device may read or write the data without using an ECC scheme or using a second ECC scheme different than the first ECC scheme.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2022Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventors: Justin Eno, William A. Melton, Sean S. Eilert
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Patent number: 11461170Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for error caching techniques for improved error correction in a memory device are described. An apparatus, such as a memory device, may use an error cache to store indications of memory cells identified as defective and may augment an error correction procedure using the stored indications. If one or more errors are detected in data read from the memory array, the apparatus may check the error cache, and if a bit of the data is indicated as being associated with a defective cell, the bit may be inverted. After such inversion, the data may be checked for errors again. If the inversion corrects an error, the resulting data may be error-free or may include a reduced quantity of errors that may be correctable using an error correction scheme.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2020Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Sean S. Eilert, William A. Melton, Justin Eno
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Publication number: 20220246210Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for three-state programming of memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of memory cells, and circuitry configured to program a memory cell of the plurality of memory cells to one of three possible data states by applying a voltage pulse to the memory cell, determining whether the memory cell snaps back in response to the applied voltage pulse, and applying an additional voltage pulse to the memory cell based on the determination of whether the memory cell snaps back.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
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Patent number: 11385961Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for adaptive parity techniques for a memory device are described. An apparatus, such as a memory device, may use one or more error correction code (ECC) schemes, an error cache, or both to support access operations. The memory device may receive a command from a host device to read or write data. If the error cache includes an entry for the data, the memory device may read or write the data using a first ECC scheme. If the error cache does not include an entry for the data, the memory device may read or write the data without using an ECC scheme or using a second ECC scheme different than the first ECC scheme.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Justin Eno, William A. Melton, Sean S. Eilert
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Patent number: 11315633Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for three-state programming of memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of memory cells, and circuitry configured to program a memory cell of the plurality of memory cells to one of three possible data states by applying a voltage pulse to the memory cell, determining whether the memory cell snaps back in response to the applied voltage pulse, and applying an additional voltage pulse to the memory cell based on the determination of whether the memory cell snaps back.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
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Publication number: 20220075817Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for multi-state programming of memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of memory cells, and circuitry configured to program a memory cell of the plurality of memory cells to one of a plurality of possible data states by applying a voltage pulse to the memory cell, determining the memory cell snaps back in response to the applied voltage pulse, turning off a current to the memory cell upon determining the memory cell snaps back, and applying a number of additional voltage pulses to the memory cell after turning off the current to the memory cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Hernan A. Castro, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
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Publication number: 20220050745Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for adaptive parity techniques for a memory device are described. An apparatus, such as a memory device, may use one or more error correction code (ECC) schemes, an error cache, or both to support access operations. The memory device may receive a command from a host device to read or write data. If the error cache includes an entry for the data, the memory device may read or write the data using a first ECC scheme. If the error cache does not include an entry for the data, the memory device may read or write the data without using an ECC scheme or using a second ECC scheme different than the first ECC scheme.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2020Publication date: February 17, 2022Inventors: Justin Eno, William A. Melton, Sean S. Eilert
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Publication number: 20220050744Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for error caching techniques for improved error correction in a memory device are described. An apparatus, such as a memory device, may use an error cache to store indications of memory cells identified as defective and may augment an error correction procedure using the stored indications. If one or more errors are detected in data read from the memory array, the apparatus may check the error cache, and if a bit of the data is indicated as being associated with a defective cell, the bit may be inverted. After such inversion, the data may be checked for errors again. If the inversion corrects an error, the resulting data may be error-free or may include a reduced quantity of errors that may be correctable using an error correction scheme.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2020Publication date: February 17, 2022Inventors: Sean S. Eilert, William A. Melton, Justin Eno
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Publication number: 20210397932Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for in-or near-memory processing are described. Bits of a first number may be stored on a number of memory elements, wherein each memory element of the number of memory elements intersects a bit line and a word line of a number of word lines. A number of signals corresponding to bits of a second number may be driven on the number of word lines to generate a number of output signals. A value equal to a product of the first number and the second number may be generated based on the number of output signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2020Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Dmitri Yudanov, Sean S. Eilert, Hernan A. Castro, William A. Melton
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Patent number: 11177009Abstract: The present provision includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for multi-state programming of memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of memory cells, and circuitry configured to program a memory cell of the plurality of memory cells to one of a plurality of possible data states by applying a voltage pulse to the memory cell, determining the memory cell snaps back in response to the applied voltage pulse, turning off a current to the memory cell upon determining the memory cell snaps back, and applying a number of additional voltage pulses to the memory cell after turning off the current to the memory cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Hernan A. Castro, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
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Publication number: 20210202018Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for multi-state programming of memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of memory cells, and circuitry configured to program a memory cell of the plurality of memory cells to one of a plurality of possible data states by applying a voltage pulse to the memory cell, determining the memory cell snaps back in response to the applied voltage pulse, turning off a current to the memory cell upon determining the memory cell snaps back, and applying a number of additional voltage pulses to the memory cell after turning off the current to the memory cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2019Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Hernan A. Castro, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
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Publication number: 20210201995Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for three-state programming of memory cells. An embodiment includes a memory having a plurality of memory cells, and circuitry configured to program a memory cell of the plurality of memory cells to one of three possible data states by applying a voltage pulse to the memory cell, determining whether the memory cell snaps back in response to the applied voltage pulse, and applying an additional voltage pulse to the memory cell based on the determination of whether the memory cell snaps back.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2019Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Hernan A. Castro, Jeremy M. Hirst, Shanky K. Jain, Richard K. Dodge, William A. Melton
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Patent number: 10930324Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for self-referencing sensing schemes with coupling capacitance are described. A sense component of a memory device may include a capacitive coupling between two nodes of the sense component. The capacitive coupling may, in some examples, be provided by a capacitive element of the sense component or an intrinsic capacitance between features of the sense component. An example of a method employing such a sense component for detecting a logic state stored by a memory cell may include generating a first sense signal at one of the nodes while the node is coupled with the memory cell, and generating a second sense signal at the other of the nodes while the other node is coupled with the memory cell. The sense signals may be based at least in part on the capacitive coupling between the two nodes.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Mahdi Jamali, William A. Melton, Daniele Vimercati, Xinwei Guo, Yasuko Hattori
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Publication number: 20200279590Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for self-referencing sensing schemes with coupling capacitance are described. A sense component of a memory device may include a capacitive coupling between two nodes of the sense component. The capacitive coupling may, in some examples, be provided by a capacitive element of the sense component or an intrinsic capacitance between features of the sense component. An example of a method employing such a sense component for detecting a logic state stored by a memory cell may include generating a first sense signal at one of the nodes while the node is coupled with the memory cell, and generating a second sense signal at the other of the nodes while the other node is coupled with the memory cell. The sense signals may be based at least in part on the capacitive coupling between the two nodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Mahdi Jamali, William A. Melton, Daniele Vimercati, Xinwei Guo, Yasuko Hattori