Patents by Inventor Yasuo Satoh

Yasuo Satoh 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: 11139019
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for correcting a code used for delay adjustment are disclosed. An example method includes providing a bit of a thermometer code responsive, at least, to a shift direction signal; and adjusting an amount of a delay responsive to the thermometer code. Providing the bit comprises correcting the bit using one or more adjacent bits on one side of the bit in the thermometer code and one or more adjacent bits on another side of the bit in the thermometer code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuo Satoh
  • Patent number: 11115007
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of a two-phase flip-flop with symmetrical rise and fall times are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may include a clock generator circuit including a two-phase flip-flop circuit configured to provide an output signal. The two-phase flip-flop circuit includes a two-phase flip-flop and a driver circuit. The two-phase flip-flop is configured to provide a first driver control signal and a second driver control signal responsive to a clock signal. The first driver control signal and the second driver control signal are complementary. The driver circuit is configured to provide the output signal responsive to the first driver control signal and the second driver control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler J. Gomm, Yasuo Satoh
  • Publication number: 20210217457
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for adjusting a phase mixer circuit are disclosed. An example method includes providing data values stored by a plurality of first registers and a plurality of second registers. The method includes: during a first mode of operation, receiving the data values by groups of first registers of the plurality of the first registers and holding the data values by the plurality of second registers; during a second mode of operation, inverting a data value by one first register of the plurality of first registers at a time and holding the data values by the plurality of second registers; and during a third mode of operation, either inverting the data value by one first register of the plurality of first registers while holding the data values by the plurality of second registers or inverting a data value by one second register of the plurality of second registers while holding the data values by the plurality of first registers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuo Satoh
  • Patent number: 11049543
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a delay locked loop (DLL) control circuit coupled to an update trigger generator and a DLL update circuit. The DLL control circuit may receive an update trigger signal and an internal refresh signal and configured to activate the DLL update circuit responsive to an update trigger in the update trigger signal and deactivate the DLL update circuit responsive to an active internal refresh signal. The DLL update circuit may perform DLL update to one or more memory cell arrays when activated and not perform DLL update to the memory cell arrays when deactivated. The DLL control circuit may reactivate the DLL update circuit once the internal refresh signal becomes inactive. In other scenarios, once the DLL update circuit is deactivated, the DLL update circuit stays deactivated until the next update trigger in the update trigger signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Miyano, Yasuo Satoh, Kenji Mae
  • Patent number: 11043941
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for adjusting a phase mixer circuit are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a shift register that includes a plurality of registers coupled in series to one another. The plurality of registers are grouped into a first group of registers and a second group of registers. The first group of registers includes first and second registers. The second group of registers includes a third register. The first and second registers of the first group of registers are configured to receive in common an output of the third register of the second group of registers so that both the first and second registers store the output of the third register responsive to a shift clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuo Satoh
  • Publication number: 20210149423
    Abstract: In an example semiconductor device, the voltage/temperature conditions of the semiconductor device and associated calibration codes of multiple instances of ZQ calibrations are pre-stored in a register array. When a pre-stored voltage/temperature condition occurs again, ZQ calibration is not performed. Instead, the associated pre-stored calibration code is retrieved from the register array and provided to the IO circuit. When a voltage/temperature condition of the semiconductor device does not match any pre-stored voltage/temperature condition in the register array, a ZQ calibration is performed. When the ZQ calibration is performed, a register in the register array is selected according to an update policy and updated by the calibration code newly provided by the ZQ calibration along with the voltage/temperature condition at the time when the ZQ calibration is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Yuan He, Yasuo Satoh
  • Patent number: 11012060
    Abstract: Several embodiments of electrical circuit devices and systems with a duty cycle correction apparatus that includes a duty cycle adjustment circuit that is configured to adjust a duty cycle of the input clock signal based on an averaged code value. The duty cycle correction apparatus includes a duty cycle detector circuit that receives first and second clock signals from a clock distribution network. The duty cycle detector is configured to output a duty cycle status signal that indicates whether the first clock signal is above or below a 50% duty cycle based on a comparison of the first clock signal to the second clock signal. The duty cycle correction apparatus also includes a counter logic circuit configured to determine the average code value, and the counter logic circuit automatically cancels an offset of the duty cycle detector when determining the averaged code value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuo Satoh
  • Publication number: 20210111706
    Abstract: A memory device includes a terminal calibration circuit having at least one of a pull-down circuit or a pull-up circuit used in calibrating an impedance of a data bus termination. The memory device also includes a reference calibration circuit configured to generate a calibration current. The terminal calibration circuit can be configured to program an impedance of the least one of a pull-down circuit or a pull-up circuit based on the calibration current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Yasuo Satoh, Hiroki Takahashi, Shuichi Tsukada, Yuan He
  • Publication number: 20210065782
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a delay locked loop (DLL) control circuit coupled to an update trigger generator and a DLL update circuit. The DLL control circuit may receive an update trigger signal and an internal refresh signal and configured to activate the DLL update circuit responsive to an update trigger in the update trigger signal and deactivate the DLL update circuit responsive to an active internal refresh signal. The DLL update circuit may perform DLL update to one or more memory cell arrays when activated and not perform DLL update to the memory cell arrays when deactivated. The DLL control circuit may reactivate the DLL update circuit once the internal refresh signal becomes inactive. In other scenarios, once the DLL update circuit is deactivated, the DLL update circuit stays deactivated until the next update trigger in the update trigger signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Miyano, Yasuo Satoh, Kenji Mae
  • Patent number: 10931270
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for data transmission offset values in burst transmissions. An example apparatus may include offset logic configured to provide offset values associated with a receiver circuit of a memory device coupled to a signal line. The offset values are based on individual transition threshold voltages biases of sample circuits of the receiver circuit. The example apparatus may further include an input/output (I/O) circuit comprising a driver circuit. The driver circuit configured to receive a logic signal and the offset values and to provide an output signal to the signal line based on the logic signal and to adjust voltages of the output signal based on the offset values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuo Satoh, Kazutaka Miyano
  • Patent number: 10931289
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a variable clock divider configured to divide a first clock signal to generate a second clock signal, a delay circuit configured to delay the second clock signal to generate a third clock signal, and a phase detector configured to compare phases of the second and third clock signals. The variable clock divider has a division ratio that is variable based, at least in part, on a delay amount of the delay circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuo Satoh
  • Patent number: 10891989
    Abstract: A memory system includes an external calibration device that has a predetermined impedance and a first memory device with a first pad for selective connection to the external calibration device. The first memory device also includes an internal calibration device having an impedance that is programmable and a second pad connected to the internal calibration device. The system further includes a second memory device having a third pad for selective connection to the second pad of the first memory device. A processing device is operatively coupled to the first memory device and the second memory device. The processing device programs the impedance of the internal calibration device of the first memory device based on the external calibration device, and programs an impedance of a termination component in the second memory device based on the impedance of the internal calibration device of the first memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuo Satoh, Yuan He
  • Patent number: 10886898
    Abstract: A memory device includes a terminal calibration circuit having at least one of a pull-down circuit or a pull-up circuit used in calibrating an impedance of a data bus termination. The memory device also includes a reference calibration circuit configured to generate a calibration current. The terminal calibration circuit can be configured to program an impedance of the least one of a pull-down circuit or a pull-up circuit based on the calibration current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuo Satoh, Hiroki Takahashi, Shuichi Tsukada, Yuan He
  • Patent number: 10770130
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for maintaining a duty cycle error counter. An example apparatus may a duty cycle detect circuit configured to receive a clock signal and to detect a duty cycle error of the clock signal. The duty cycle detect error includes a counter configured to store a count value indicating the duty cycle error using Gray code. The counter is adjusted in response to detection of non-zero duty cycle error, and the counter is configured to convert the count value from Gray code to binary code as a binary count value. The duty cycle detect circuit is further configured to provide a duty cycle error signal based on the binary count value. The example apparatus further comprising a duty cycle correction circuit configured to adjust a duty cycle of the clock signal based on the duty cycle error signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuo Satoh, Tyler J. Gomm
  • Patent number: 10747245
    Abstract: In an example semiconductor device, the voltage/temperature conditions of the semiconductor device and associated calibration codes of multiple instances of ZQ calibrations are pre-stored in a register array. When a pre-stored voltage/temperature condition occurs again, ZQ calibration is not performed. Instead, the associated pre-stored calibration code is retrieved from the register array and provided to the IO circuit. When a voltage/temperature condition of the semiconductor device does not match any pre-stored voltage/temperature condition in the register array, a ZQ calibration is performed. When the ZQ calibration is performed, a register in the register array is selected according to an update policy and updated by the calibration code newly provided by the ZQ calibration along with the voltage/temperature condition at the time when the ZQ calibration is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan He, Yasuo Satoh
  • Patent number: 10700689
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for detecting a loop count in a delay-locked loop that uses a divide clock in a measure initialization process. An example apparatus includes a divider configured to receive a signal and produce a first divided signal and a second divided signal that is complementary to the first divided signal, a first circuit configured to count the first divided signal during a first enabled period and produce a first count value, a second circuit configured to count the second divided signal during a second enabled period and produce a second count value, and an adder configured to produce a third count value responsive to the first and second count values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuo Satoh
  • Publication number: 20200176036
    Abstract: A memory system includes an external calibration device that has a predetermined impedance and a first memory device with a first pad for selective connection to the external calibration device. The first memory device also includes an internal calibration device having an impedance that is programmable and a second pad connected to the internal calibration device. The system further includes a second memory device having a third pad for selective connection to the second pad of the first memory device. A processing device is operatively coupled to the first memory device and the second memory device. The processing device programs the impedance of the internal calibration device of the first memory device based on the external calibration device, and programs an impedance of a termination component in the second memory device based on the impedance of the internal calibration device of the first memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Yasuo Satoh, Yuan He
  • Publication number: 20200177172
    Abstract: Several embodiments of electrical circuit devices and systems with a duty cycle correction apparatus that includes a duty cycle adjustment circuit that is configured to adjust a duty cycle of the input clock signal based on an averaged code value. The duty cycle correction apparatus includes a duty cycle detector circuit that receives first and second clock signals from a clock distribution network. The duty cycle detector is configured to output a duty cycle status signal that indicates whether the first clock signal is above or below a 50% duty cycle based on a comparison of the first clock signal to the second clock signal. The duty cycle correction apparatus also includes a counter logic circuit configured to determine the average code value, and the counter logic circuit automatically cancels an offset of the duty cycle detector when determining the averaged code value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventor: Yasuo Satoh
  • Publication number: 20200153443
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for detecting a loop count in a delay-locked loop that uses a divide clock in a measure initialization process. An example apparatus includes a divider configured to receive a signal and produce a first divided signal and a second divided signal that is complementary to the first divided signal, a first circuit configured to count the first divided signal during a first enabled period and produce a first count value, a second circuit configured to count the second divided signal during a second enabled period and produce a second count value, and an adder configured to produce a third count value responsive to the first and second count values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Yasuo Satoh
  • Publication number: 20200136600
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for data transmission offset values in burst transmissions. An example apparatus may include offset logic configured to provide offset values associated with a receiver circuit of a memory device coupled to a signal line. The offset values are based on individual transition threshold voltages biases of sample circuits of the receiver circuit. The example apparatus may further include an input/output (I/O) circuit comprising a driver circuit. The driver circuit configured to receive a logic signal and the offset values and to provide an output signal to the signal line based on the logic signal and to adjust voltages of the output signal based on the offset values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuo Satoh, Kazutaka Miyano