Patents by Inventor Woo-yeong Cho

Woo-yeong Cho 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: 7936619
    Abstract: Provided are a nonvolatile memory and related method of programming same. The nonvolatile memory includes a memory cell array with a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells and a write circuit. The write circuit is configured to write first logic state data to a first group of memory cells during a first program operation using a first internally generated step-up voltage, and second logic state data to a second group of memory cells during a second program operation using an externally supplied step-up voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-Min Park, Kwang-Jin Lee, Du-Eung Kim, Woo-Yeong Cho, Hui-Kwon Seo
  • Patent number: 7924639
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nonvolatile memory device that uses a resistance material. The nonvolatile memory device includes: a stacked memory cell array having a plurality of memory cell layers stacked in a vertical direction, the stacked memory cell array having at least one memory cell group and at least one redundancy memory cell group; and a repair control circuit coupled to the stacked memory cell array, the repair control circuit configured to repair a defective one of the at least one memory cell group with a selected one of the at least one redundancy memory cell group. The features that enable repair improve the fabrication yield of the nonvolatile memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-min Park, Sang-beom Kang, Woo-yeong Cho, Hyung-rok Oh
  • Patent number: 7920405
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell array including a memory cell array having word lines, bit lines, and non-volatile memory cells, each non-volatile memory cell having a variable resistive material and an access element connected between the corresponding word line and the corresponding bit line. The variable resistive material has a resistance level that varies according to data to be stored. A selection circuit selects at least one non-volatile memory cell in which data will be written. An adaptive write circuit/method supplies a write bias to the selected non-volatile memory cell through the bit line connected to the selected non-volatile memory cell to write data in the selected non-volatile memory cell and varies (e.g., increases) the write bias until the resistance level of the selected non-volatile memory cell varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-beom Kang, Woo-yeong Cho, Hyung-rok Oh, Joon-min Park
  • Publication number: 20110063904
    Abstract: A method of programming a phase change memory device is disclosed. Write data is programmed in a plurality of phase change memory cells by applying write pulses to each of the plurality of phase change memory cells. Whether each of the phase change memory cells is programmed is verified by applying at least one verification pulse to each of the phase-change memory cells. A number of applications for the at least one verification pulse and the intervals between respective applications of the at least one verification pulse are varied in accordance with a verification result for each of the phase-change memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Hoan CHANG, Seong-Moo HEO, Kwang-Suk YU, Yeong-Taek LEE, Woo-Yeong CHO
  • Patent number: 7907467
    Abstract: A resistance semiconductor memory device of a three-dimensional stack structure, and a word line decoding method thereof, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-Min Park, Sang-Beom Kang, Hyung-Rok Oh, Woo-Yeong Cho
  • Patent number: 7903448
    Abstract: A resistance random access memory (RRAM) having a source line shared structure and an associated data access method. The RRAM, in which a write operation of writing data of first state and second state to a selected memory cell is performed through first and second write paths having mutually opposite directions, includes word lines, bit lines, a memory cell array and a plurality of source lines. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells each constructed of an access transistor coupled to a resistive memory device. The memory cells are disposed in a matrix of rows and columns and located at each intersection of a word line and a bit line. Each of the plurality of source lines is disposed between a pair of word lines and in the same direction as the word lines. A positive voltage is applied to a source line in a memory cell write operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-Rok Oh, Sang-Beom Kang, Joon-Min Park, Woo-Yeong Cho
  • Publication number: 20110053293
    Abstract: A magnetic memory device includes a common line; a first write-in diode, a readout diode and a second write-in diode being connected to the common line in parallel. The magnetic memory device further includes a magnetic tunnel junction structure connected to the readout diode, first and second write-in conductors disposed at both sides of the magnetic tunnel junction structure and connected to the first and second write-in diodes, respectively and a first write-in line, a readout line and a second write-in line, which are connected to the first write-in conductor, the magnetic tunnel injection structure, and the second write-in conductor, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Woo-Yeong CHO, Yun-Seung Shin, Hyun-Geun Byun, Choong-Keun Kwak
  • Publication number: 20110042746
    Abstract: A single transistor floating-body dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device includes a floating body located on a semiconductor substrate and a gate electrode located on the floating body, the floating body including an excess carrier storage region. The DRAM device further includes source and drain regions respectively located at both sides of the gate electrode, and leakage shielding patterns located between the floating body and the source and drain regions. Each of the source and drain regions contact the floating body, which may be positioned between the source and drain regions. The floating body may also laterally extend under the leakage shielding patterns, which may be arranged at outer sides of the gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nam-Kyun Tak, Ki-Whan Song, Chang-Woo Oh, Woo-Yeong Cho
  • Patent number: 7894236
    Abstract: An integrated circuit memory device includes an array of nonvolatile memory cells (e.g., variable resistance cells) having a first plurality of lines electrically coupled to memory cells therein. A read/write control circuit is provided. The read/write control circuit includes a read/write merge circuit and a column selection circuit. The read/write control circuit, which is configured to drive a selected one of the first plurality of lines with unequal write and read voltages during respective write and read operations, includes a compensating unit. This compensating unit is configured to provide a read compensation current to the selected one of the first plurality of lines circuit during the read operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-rok Oh, Woo-yeong Cho, Sang-beom Kang, Joon-min Park
  • Patent number: 7889545
    Abstract: An apparatus and operating method of a nonvolatile memory device having three-level nonvolatile memory cells is used to store more than one bit of data in a nonvolatile memory cell. In addition, the data can be selectively written through a write-verify operation, thereby improving write operation reliability. The operating method includes providing a memory cell array having first through third nonvolatile memory cells where each memory cell is capable of storing one among first data through third data corresponding to first through third resistance levels, respectively. Each of the resistance levels is different from one another. First and the third data are written to the first and third nonvolatile memory cells, respectively, during a first interval of a write operation. Second data is written to the second nonvolatile memory cell during a second interval of the write operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-Jin Lee, Du-Eung Kim, Woo-Yeong Cho
  • Patent number: 7885098
    Abstract: In one aspect, a non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a phase phase-change memory cell array including a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, and a plurality of phase-change memory cells, where each the phase-change memory cells includes a phase-change resistive element and a diode connected in series between a word line and a bit line among the plurality of word lines and bit lines of the phase-change memory cell array. The memory device of this aspect further includes a sense node which is selectively connected to a bit line of the phase-change memory cell array, a boosting circuit which generates a boosted voltage which is greater than an internal power supply voltage, a pre-charge and biasing circuit which is driven by the boosted voltage to pre-charge and bias the sense node, and a sense amplifier connected to the sense node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Hwan Ro, Woo-Yeong Cho, Byung-Gil Choi
  • Patent number: 7881103
    Abstract: A phase-change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a bit line and a word line arranged on the semiconductor substrate to intersect each other, and a phase-change material strip interposed between the bit line and the word line and extending lengthwise in a direction that is substantially parallel to at least a portion of the word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Du-eung Kim, Chang-soo Lee, Woo-yeong Cho, Byung-gil Choi
  • Patent number: 7869256
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device is employed in which data values are determined by the polarities at both ends of a cell, The non-volatile memory device includes a first decoder which decodes a plurality of predetermined bit values of a row address into a first address and is disposed in a row direction of a memory cell array; a second decoder which decodes the other bit values of the row address into a second address and is disposed in a column direction of the memory cell array; and a driver which applies bias voltages to a word line which corresponds to the first address or the second address in accordance with the data values. By including first and second decoders and decoding a row address in two steps, a bi-directional RRAM according to the present invention can perform addressing at high speeds while reducing chip size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-min Park, Sang-beom Kang, Woo-yeong Cho, Hyung-rok Oh
  • Publication number: 20110002160
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive random access memory (RAM) may include a plurality of variable resistance devices, a plurality of read bitlines electrically connected to respective variable resistance devices, and a plurality of write bitlines alternating with the read bitlines. The magnetoresistive RAM may be configured to apply a first write current through a first write bitline adjacent to a first variable resistance device when writing a first data to the first variable resistance device, and apply a first inhibition current through a second write bitline adjacent to a second variable resistance device, the second variable resistance device being adjacent to the first write bitline, and between the first write bitline and the second write bitline, and the first write current and the first inhibition current flowing in a same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woo-yeong CHO, Yun-seung SHIN
  • Publication number: 20100329070
    Abstract: A resistance semiconductor memory device of a three-dimensional stack structure, and a word line decoding method thereof, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Joon Min Park, Sang-Beom Kang, Hyung-Rok Oh, Woo-Yeong Cho
  • Patent number: 7859882
    Abstract: A resistive memory device is provided. The resistive memory device includes word lines arranged in M rows, bit lines arranged in N columns, local source lines arranged in M/2 rows, and resistive memory cells arranged in M rows and N columns. Each of the resistive memory cells includes a resistance variable element having a first electrode connected to a corresponding bit line, and a cell transistor having a first terminal connected to a second electrode of the resistance variable element, a second terminal connected to a corresponding local source line, and a control terminal connected to a corresponding word line. The local source line is commonly connected to the second terminals of the cell transistors of the two neighboring rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-yeong Cho, Du-eung Kim, Sang-beom Kang
  • Publication number: 20100320433
    Abstract: A variable resistance memory device includes a substrate, a plurality of active lines formed on the substrate, are uniformly separated, and extend in a first direction, a plurality of switching devices formed on the active lines and are separated from one another, a plurality of variable resistance devices respectively formed on and connected to the switching devices, a plurality of local bit lines formed on the variable resistance devices, are uniformly separated, extend in a second direction, and are connected to the variable resistance devices, a plurality of local word lines formed on the local bit lines, are uniformly separated, and extend in the first direction, a plurality of global bit lines formed on the local word lines, are uniformly separated, and extend in the second direction, and a plurality of global word lines formed on the global bit lines, are uniformly separated, and extend in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Yu-hwan Ro, Byung-gil Choi, Woo-yeong Cho, Hyung-rok Oh
  • Patent number: 7851878
    Abstract: A magnetic memory device includes a common line; a first write-in diode, a readout diode and a second write-in diode being connected to the common line in parallel. The magnetic memory device further includes a magnetic tunnel junction structure connected to the readout diode, first and second write-in conductors disposed at both sides of the magnetic tunnel junction structure and connected to the first and second write-in diodes, respectively and a first write-in line, a readout line and a second write-in line, which are connected to the first write-in conductor, the magnetic tunnel injection structure, and the second write-in conductor, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-Yeong Cho, Yun-Seung Shin, Hyun-Geun Byun, Choong-Keun Kwak
  • Patent number: 7851859
    Abstract: A single transistor floating-body dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device includes a floating body located on a semiconductor substrate and a gate electrode located on the floating body, the floating body including an excess carrier storage region. The DRAM device further includes source and drain regions respectively located at both sides of the gate electrode, and leakage shielding patterns located between the floating body and the source and drain regions. Each of the source and drain regions contact the floating body, which may be positioned between the source and drain regions. The floating body may also laterally extend under the leakage shielding patterns, which may be arranged at outer sides of the gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nam-Kyun Tak, Ki-Whan Song, Chang-Woo Oh, Woo-Yeong Cho
  • Publication number: 20100302884
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preventing coupling noises for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device. According to the method, if an edge of a write operation signal overlaps an activated period of a read operation signal a check result is generated. The write operation signal is modified based on the check result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Kwang-Jin Lee, Yong-Jun Lee, Du-Eung Kim, Woo-Yeong Cho, Joon-Yong Choi