Global Word Or Bit Lines Patents (Class 365/185.13)
  • Patent number: 11917807
    Abstract: A memory device includes a page made up of plural memory cells arranged in a column on a substrate, and a page write operation is performed to hold positive hole groups generated by an impact ionization phenomenon, in a channel semiconductor layer by controlling voltages applied to a first gate conductor layer, a second gate conductor layer, a first impurity region, and a second impurity region of each memory cell contained in the page and a page erase operation is performed to remove the positive hole groups out of the channel semiconductor layer by controlling voltages applied to the first gate conductor layer, the second gate conductor layer, the first impurity region, and the second impurity region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Sakui, Nozomu Harada
  • Patent number: 11798615
    Abstract: A memory cell that performs in-memory compute operations, includes a pair of cross-coupled inverters and a pair of transistors for selective performance of read/write/hold operations associated with logic states of the pair of cross-coupled inverters. The memory cell further includes a set of transistors that are gate coupled to and symmetrically arranged about the pair of cross coupled inverters. Output nodes of the memory cell are located at terminals of the set of transistors and provide output based on logic states of the pair of cross coupled inverters and input nodes provided between pairs of the set of transistors. A memory cell array may be generated having a high density arrangement memory cells that can perform in-memory compute operations. The memory cells can be arranged as a neural network including a set of memory cell networks that provide logic output operations based on logic states of the respective memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Anuj Grover, Tanmoy Roy
  • Patent number: 11785771
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array disposed over a substrate extending in a first direction and a second direction intersecting with the first direction in a first semiconductor layer, and including a plurality of cell units and at least two via regions that are arranged in the second direction, wherein a width of each of the at least two via regions in the second direction is a multiple of a width of each of the plurality of cell units in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kim, Tae Sung Park, Sang Hyun Sung, Sung Lae Oh
  • Patent number: 11682443
    Abstract: A memory device includes a page made of a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows on a substrate. A page write operation is performed, during which, in each of the memory cells included in the page, a first voltage V1 is applied to a first drive control line PL, a second voltage V2 is applied to a word line WL, a third voltage V3 is applied to a source line SL, a fourth voltage V4 is applied to a bit line BL, a group of holes generated by an impact ionization phenomenon is retained in an inside of the channel semiconductor layer. A page erase operation is performed, during which the voltages to be applied to the first drive control line PL, the word line WL, the source line SL, and the bit line BL are controlled to discharge the group of holes from the inside of the channel semiconductor layer, and the voltage of the channel semiconductor layer is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: UNISANTIS ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Sakui, Nozomu Harada
  • Patent number: 11508447
    Abstract: Memories might include a plurality of strings of memory cells, a plurality of access lines each connected to the strings of memory cells, and a controller configured to cause the memory to determine a particular voltage level applied to each of the access lines that is deemed to activate each memory cell of a first subset of the strings of series-connected memory cells programmed to store respective data states that are each lower than or equal to a first data state of a plurality of data states, apply the particular voltage level to a particular access line of the plurality of access lines, and for each memory cell connected to the particular access line that is contained in a second subset of the strings of series-connected memory cells, determine whether that memory cell is deemed to be activated while applying the particular voltage level to the particular access line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tommaso Vali, Ramin Ghodsi
  • Patent number: 11488663
    Abstract: Memory devices have an array of elements in two or more dimensions. The memory devices use multiple access lines arranged in a grid to access the memory devices. Memory cells are located at intersections of the access lines in the grid. Drivers are used for each access line and configured to transmit a corresponding signal to respective memory cells of the plurality of memory cells via a corresponding access line. The memory devices also include compensation circuitry configured to determine which driving access lines driving a target memory cell of the plurality of memory cells has the most distance between the target memory cell and a respective driver. The plurality of access lines comprise the driving access lines. The compensation circuitry also is configured to output compensation values to adjust the voltages of the driving access lines based on a polarity of the voltage of the longer driving access line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John Christopher Sancon
  • Patent number: 11443801
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory apparatus includes an access line control circuit. The access line control circuit applies a selected bias voltage to a selected access line coupled with a target memory cell and applies a first unselected bias voltage to an unselected access line adjacent to the selected access line. A second unselected bias voltage is applied to an unselected access line not adjacent to the selected access line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jin Su Park
  • Patent number: 11430519
    Abstract: A switching architecture provides input voltage signals from input voltage lines to a plurality of global word lines connected to word lines of a memory array in a memory device. The switching architecture includes a first switching block receiving a first set of positive voltages used to bias unselected word lines and being connected to a first output line providing a first output bias voltage, and a second switching block receiving a second set of positive voltages and a third set of negative voltages used to bias selected word lines and being connected to a second output line providing a second output bias voltage. A plurality of final switches are input connected to the first and second output lines and are output connected to a respective global word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Passerini, Giulio Maria Iadicicco, Yong Tae Kim, Moon Soo Sung, Dario Melchionni, Miriam Sangalli
  • Patent number: 11397790
    Abstract: An apparatus performs vector matrix multiplication (VMM) for an analog neural network (ANN). The apparatus includes a column of NAND flash cells in series, where each NAND flash cell includes a control gate; a bit line connected to the column of NAND flash cells, where a current drawn from the NAND flash cells flows to the bit line; an integrator connected to the bit line; and a controller having programmed instructions to control the column of NAND flash cells by setting the voltage of the control gate of each NAND flash cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Federico Nardi, Gerrit Jan Hemink, Won Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 11393537
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a substrate, a plurality of memory words, a control block, a first electrically-conducting link, and a plurality of second electrically-conducting links. The substrate includes a substantially planar surface. The memory words include B memory words disposed at the substantially planar surface. The control block includes B control elements disposed at the substantially planar surface. The first electrically-conducting link is disposed in a first plane parallel to the substantially planar surface. The first electrically-conducting link connects one of the B control elements to a memory word of the memory words. The plurality of second electrically-conducting links includes B-1 second electrically-conducting links respectively connecting B-1 remaining control elements to B-1 corresponding memory words of the plurality of memory words.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventors: François Tailliet, Marc Battista
  • Patent number: 11282568
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device includes a memory unit and a circuit unit bonded to the memory unit. The memory unit includes first and second memory cells, first and second bit lines respectively connected to the first and second memory cells, and first and second bonding metals respectively connected to the first and second bit lines. The circuit unit includes a sense amplifier unit including a first wire, a third bonding metal connected with the first wire and opposed to the first bonding metal, and a fourth bonding metal connected with the first wire and opposed to the second bonding metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Maejima
  • Patent number: 11227869
    Abstract: Arrays of memory cells a plurality of sense lines each having a respective plurality of pass gates connected in series between a second data line and a source, and having a respective subset of unit column structures capacitively coupled to first channels of its respective plurality of pass gates, wherein, for each sense line of the plurality of sense lines, each unit column structure of its respective subset of unit column structures is connected to a respective first data line of a respective subset of first data lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Jun Fujiki, Shuji Tanaka, Masashi Yoshida, Masanobu Saito, Yoshihiko Kamata
  • Patent number: 11205492
    Abstract: Memories including an array of memory cells, a local access line connected to a plurality of memory cells of the array of memory cells, a global access line, a transistor connected between the global access line and the local access line, and an energy store either selectively connected to a control gate of the transistor, or selectively connected to a control gate of a different transistor connected between the control gate of the transistor and a voltage node configured to receive a reference potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kalyan C. Kavalipurapu, Xiaojiang Guo
  • Patent number: 11183256
    Abstract: According to a certain embodiment, the semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, a control circuit, and a data register storing an erase verify fail flag. An erase target block is divided into word line groups. The control circuit includes: a counter configured to count the number of the erase verify fail flags to be output as a count value for each group; a plurality of counter registers configured to store the count value for each group; an arithmetic circuit configured to take a difference of the plurality of count values respectively stored in the plurality of counter registers and to output a result of the difference as a number of second fail flags; and a comparator configured to compare the number of criteria of the erase verify fail flag and the number of the second fail flags to be output as a memory state detected result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Shinohara, Katsuki Matsudera, Ian Christopher Gamara, Yoshikazu Harada, Noritaka Kai, Yusuke Tanefusa
  • Patent number: 11145371
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises a memory string that includes a plurality of memory cells electrically connected in series, the memory cells including first to fourth memory cells, first to fourth word lines that are electrically connected to gates of the first to fourth memory cells, respectively, a voltage generation circuit configured to generate a first voltage, a first circuit configured to output the first voltage to one of first and second wires, a second circuit configured to connect the first and second wires to the first and second word lines, respectively, and a third circuit configured to connect the first and second wires to the third and fourth word lines, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sanad Bushnaq
  • Patent number: 11119857
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip for transparent and in-service or production repair of single to multiple memory cell defects in a word during the datapath transit of the word between core memory to the interface of the IC via capturing an accurate bit from a word during a write access to a known defective memory address, and by substituting in a non-defective bit into the word during a read access from a known defective memory address. The IC includes: address matching circuit (CAM), a random access memory (RAM) of substitute memory cells containing accurate associated bit data and bit location in word of defect, and data selection circuitry (MUXs) coupled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: MOSYS, INC.
    Inventors: Dipak K Sikdar, Rajesh Chopra
  • Patent number: 11099784
    Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques are described for reading crosspoint arrays of memory cells with high bandwidth and a relatively small page buffer. Multiple crosspoint arrays (XPAs) are read in parallel, with one memory cell per XPA being read, in a bank of XPAs. To reduce the read time, a row can be selected for the XPAs, after which memory cells in different columns are read, one column at a time, while the same row is selected. This avoids the need to transmit commands and a row address for re-selecting the row in each successive read operation. The XPAs may be ungrouped, or one XPA may be accessible at a time in a group. In one option, the XPAs are arranged in sets, either individually or in groups, and one set is accessible at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Won Ho Choi, Ward Parkinson, Raj Ramanujan, Martin Lueker-Boden
  • Patent number: 11004858
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a non-volatile memory and a logic circuit. The non-volatile memory includes a stacked structure comprising a first insulating layer, a floating gate, a second insulating layer, a control gate and a third insulating layer stacked in this order from a substrate; an erase gate line; and a word line. The logic circuit includes a field effect transistor comprising a gate electrode. The word line includes a protrusion, and a height of the protrusion from the substrate is higher than a height of the erase gate line from the substrate. The word line and the gate electrode are formed of polysilicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsun-Kai Tsao, Hung-Ling Shih, Po-Wei Liu, Shun-Shing Yang, Wen-Tuo Huang, Yong-Shiuan Tsair, S. K. Yang
  • Patent number: 10984877
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a multi-state verify of a memory array are provided. A sense circuit of a memory device is connected to a bit line of the memory array. The sense circuit includes a first voltage clamp, a second voltage clamp, and a program data latch disposed on the bit line. The first and second voltage clamps are biased to first and second voltages, respectively, where the first voltage is lower than the second voltage. When a high bias is applied to the program data latch, the program data latch is in an OFF state, and the first voltage clamp limits the bias on the bit line to the first voltage. When a low bias is applied to the program data latch, the program data latch is in an ON state, and the second voltage clamp limits the bias on the bit line to the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: SanDiskTechnologies LLC
    Inventors: Jongyeon Kim, Hiroki Yabe, Kou Tei, Chia-Kai Chou, Ohwon Kwon
  • Patent number: 10929026
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory comprises an array of a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, a controller coupled to the array, and an evaluator coupled to an output of the array. In a first operational mode, the controller receives a logical address and selects one non-volatile memory cell for access. In a second operational mode, and the controller receives a logical address and selects N non-volatile memory cells for access in which N is an integer greater than 1. If the logical address is for a read access, in the first operational mode the evaluator is disabled and the read-address output of the array corresponds to one selected non-volatile memory cell, and in the second operational mode the evaluator determines an read-address output corresponding to the received logical address based on a read output of the N selected non-volatile memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventors: Dimin Niu, Mu-Tien Chang, Hongzhong Zheng
  • Patent number: 10854282
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a semiconductor memory device includes an array of semiconductor memory cells arranged in rows and columns. The array includes a first segment of memory cells and a second segment of memory cells. A first pair of complementary local bit lines extend over the first segment of memory cells and is coupled to multiple memory cells along a first column within the first segment of memory cells. A second pair of complementary local bit lines extend over the second segment of memory cells and is coupled to multiple memory cells along the first column within the second segment of memory cells. A pair of switches is arranged between the first and second segments of memory cells. The pair of switches is configured to selectively couple the first pair of complementary local bit lines in series with the second pair of complementary local bit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mahmut Sinangil, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Hung-Jen Liao, Jonathan Tsung-Yung Chang, Yen-Huei Chen, Sahil Preet Singh
  • Patent number: 10846009
    Abstract: A memory device includes first, second, third, and fourth memory cell groups and first and second transmitters. The first and second memory cell groups share first local lines. The third and fourth memory cell groups share second local lines. The first transmitter transmits first data to first global lines based on a read command. The first data is output from one of the first memory cell group and the second memory cell group on the first local lines. The second transmitter transmits second data to second global lines based on the read command. The second data is output from one of the third memory cell group and the fourth memory cell group on the second local lines. The number of the first global lines is different from the number of the second global lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyungryun Kim
  • Patent number: 10839080
    Abstract: A Root of Trust hardware hierarchy provides firmware security for motherboard and peripheral devices. Power is received at a computer system and, in response to the receipt of power, of a standby power rail of a motherboard of the computer system is energized, and a first microcontroller mounted on the motherboard authenticates first firmware associated with a baseboard management controller mounted on the motherboard and coupled to the first microcontroller. If the authentication of the first firmware is successful, the baseboard management controller is powered on, a central processing unit coupled to the first microcontroller is held in reset, and a standby power rail of a peripheral component card coupled to the motherboard is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Badriddine Khessib, Bryan David Kelly, Mallik Bulusu
  • Patent number: 10811099
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device and an operating method thereof may be provided. A semiconductor memory device may include a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells and a negative voltage switching circuit for receiving and applying a plurality of negative voltages to bit lines of the memory cell array. The negative voltage switching circuit may apply the plurality of negative voltages different from one another to the bit lines in a program operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Hyun Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 10783941
    Abstract: A memory device includes a conductive line coupled to access addressable storage locations of the memory device. The memory device includes a circuit with a line driver with an access device for the conductive line. A control circuit sets a gate of the access device to an initial overdrive bias voltage to drive a drain of the access device to an initial voltage while the access device control circuit is not connected to the conductive line via another conductive line. The control circuit floats the gate voltage of the access device and connects the control circuit to the conductive line via the other conductive line. The floating initial overdrive voltage does not drop when the initial voltage of the control circuit drops to a final voltage under load conditions. The overdrive can result in a steeper program slope, and a controllable program pulse width or programming time (tPROG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Kalyan Kavalipurapu, Michele Piccardi, Jaekwan Park
  • Patent number: 10762952
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first cell in a first row of a memory array, a second cell in a second row of the memory array, and a data line perpendicular to the first row and the second row, intersecting each of the first cell and the second cell, and electrically coupled with each of the first cell and the second cell. The circuit is configured to simultaneously transfer data from the first cell and the second cell to the data line in a read operation on the first row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shih-Lien Linus Lu
  • Patent number: 10755788
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an impedance compensation circuit is disclosed. The impedance compensation circuit compensates for impedance differences between a first pathway connected to a first transistor and a second pathway connected to a second transistor. However, rather than making a compensation based on a signal (e.g., voltage) applied to either the first or the second pathway, a compensation is made based on the signals (e.g., voltage pulses) applied to third and fourth pathways connected to the transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Peter Rabkin, Kwang-Ho Kim, Masaaki Higashitani, Yingda Dong
  • Patent number: 10734077
    Abstract: Methods for improving read time performance and energy consumption when reading multiple pages within a memory block by dynamically skipping or accelerating unselected word line discharge cycles are described. In some cases, a controller or one or more control circuits in communication with word lines and bit lines associated with a memory block may detect that a read command or instruction for reading a second page within the memory block has arrived prior to the word line discharge phase associated with reading a first page within the memory block, and in response, the controller may skip the discharge cycle for unselected word lines within the memory block prior to reading the second page and initiate the next page read for the second page after a partial discharge period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Norihiro Kamae, Yosuke Kato
  • Patent number: 10699789
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array, an erase body voltage generator, and an erase source voltage generator. The memory cell array includes memory blocks, each of which includes cell strings each including a ground selection transistor, memory cells, and a string selection transistor stacked in a direction perpendicular to a substrate. The erase body voltage generator applies an erase body voltage to the substrate during an erase operation. The erase source voltage generator applies an erase source voltage to a common source line connected with ground selection transistors of the cell strings during the erase operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sunyeong Lee, Kyungmoon Kim, Woojae Jang, Chanjong Ju
  • Patent number: 10658044
    Abstract: The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, an address decoder, a switch, and a control logic. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory blocks having a plurality of memory cells. The address decoder is connected to the memory cell array through row lines. The switch is connected non-memory lines among the row lines. The control logic controls operations of the address decoder and the switch. During an erase operation on memory cells included in a selected memory block among the plurality of memory blocks, the control logic controls the switch to precharge non-memory lines connected to an unselected memory block among the plurality of memory blocks and then float the non-memory lines connected to the unselected memory block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Hee Youl Lee
  • Patent number: 10534416
    Abstract: A control method for communicating with an external device includes the steps of: when the external device is coupled to a connector, receiving a device existence voltage from the external device; generating a first control signal and a second control signal according to the device existence voltage; coupling a first voltage source or a second voltage source to the connector according to the first control signal, such that a first voltage of the first voltage source or a second voltage of the second voltage source is used as a supply voltage of the external device; and coupling a third voltage source or a fourth voltage source to an output node according to the second control signal, such that a third voltage of the third voltage source or a fourth voltage of the fourth voltage source is used as a tunable output voltage at the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: WIWYNN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Li-Min Chang, Kai Jie Lai, Chia-Hung Yen, Po Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 10403368
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes a matrix memory plane with columns of memory words respectively formed on each row of the memory plane by groups of memory cells and control elements respectively associated with the memory words of each row. At least some of the control elements associated with the memory words of the corresponding row form at least one control block of B control elements disposed next to one another, adjacent to a memory block containing the B memory words disposed next to one another and associated with these B control elements, a first electrically-conducting link connecting one of the B control elements to all the control electrodes of the state transistors of the corresponding group of memory cells and B-1 second electrically-conducting link(s) respectively connecting the B-1 control element(s) to all the control electrodes of the state transistors of the B-1 corresponding group(s) of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (ROUSSET) SAS
    Inventors: François Tailliet, Marc Battista
  • Patent number: 10170191
    Abstract: A non-volatile electronic memory device is integrated on a semiconductor and is of the Flash EEPROM type with a NAND architecture including at least one memory matrix divided into physical sectors, intended as smallest erasable units, and organized in rows or word lines and columns or bit lines of memory cells. At least one row or word line of a given physical sector is electrically connected to at least one row or word line of an adjacent physical sector to form a single logic sector being erasable, with the source terminals of the corresponding cells of the pair of connected rows referring to a same selection line of a source line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Luigi Pascucci, Paolo Rolandi
  • Patent number: 10141317
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first metal layer coupled to a bit cell. The apparatus also includes a third metal layer including a write word line that is coupled to the bit cell. The apparatus further includes a second metal layer between the first metal layer and the third metal layer. The second metal layer includes two read word lines coupled to the bit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Niladri Narayan Mojumder, Ritu Chaba, Ping Liu, Stanley Seungchul Song, Zhongze Wang, Choh Fei Yeap
  • Patent number: 10120584
    Abstract: A memory device includes memory cell array including a first and second plane and first and second caches. A controller is configured to output status information in response to a status read command. The status information indicating the states of the caches. The controller begins a first process in response to a command addressed to the first plane if the status information indicates the first and second caches are in the ready state, and begins a second process on the second plane according to a second command to the second plane if the status information indicates at least the second cache is in the ready state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Masanobu Shirakawa, Tokumasa Hara
  • Patent number: 10020034
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and devices for parallel read and write operations. Devices may include a first transmission device coupled to a local bit line and a global bit line associated with a memory unit of a memory array. The first transmission device may be configured to selectively couple the global bit line to the local bit line. The devices may further include a first device coupled to the local bit line and a sense amplifier. The first device may be configured to selectively couple the local bit line to the sense amplifier. The devices may also include a second device coupled to the local bit line and an electrical ground. The second device may be configured to selectively couple the local bit line to the electrical ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Vineet Agrawal, Roger Bettman, Samuel Leshner
  • Patent number: 9865356
    Abstract: A circuit for reading a memory cell of a non-volatile memory device provided with a memory array with cells arranged in wordlines and bitlines, among which a first bitline, associated to the memory cell, and a second bitline, has: a first circuit branch associated to the first bitline and a second circuit branch associated to the second bitline, each with a local node, coupled to which is a first dividing capacitor, and a global node, coupled to which is a second dividing capacitor; a decoder stage for coupling the local node to the first or second bitlines and coupling the global node to the local node; and a differential comparator stage supplies an output signal indicative of the datum stored; and a control unit for controlling the decoder stage, the coupling stage, and the differential comparator stage for generation of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giovanni Campardo, Salvatore Polizzi
  • Patent number: 9847139
    Abstract: An apparatus having a first circuit and a second circuit is disclosed. The first circuit may be configured to generate statistics of a region of a memory circuit as part of a read scrub of the region. The region may have multiple units of data. The memory circuit may be configured to store the data in a nonvolatile condition. The second circuit is generally configured to (i) track one or more parameters of the region based on the statistics, (ii) determine when one or more of the statistics of one or more outliers of the units in the region exceeds a corresponding threshold and (iii) track the parameters of the outlier units separately from the parameters of the region in response to exceeding the corresponding threshold. The parameters generally control one or more reference voltages used to read the data from the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLP
    Inventors: Zhengang Chen, Erich F. Haratsch
  • Patent number: 9799410
    Abstract: A method for programming an antifuse-type OTP memory cell is provided. Firstly, a first program voltage is provided to a gate terminal of an antifuse transistor. A first bit line voltage is transmitted to the antifuse transistor. A first voltage stress with a first polarity is provided to a gate oxide layer of the antifuse transistor to form a weak path between the gate terminal and the first drain/source terminal of the antifuse transistor. Secondly, a second program voltage is provided to the gate terminal of the antifuse transistor. A second bit line voltage is transmitted to the antifuse transistor. A second voltage stress with a second polarity is provided to the gate oxide layer of the antifuse transistor. Consequently, a program current is generated along the weak path to rupture the gate oxide layer above the first drain/source terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: EMEMORY TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Wei-Zhe Wong, Hsin-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9773565
    Abstract: A memory retry-read method, a memory storage device and a memory control circuit unit are provided. The method includes: setting a sequence of several retry-read parameter groups according to several weights of the retry-read parameter groups; reading data from a physical programming unit according to a read voltage; if the data are unable to be corrected by a corresponding ECC code, choosing an adjustment retry-read parameter group from the retry-read parameter groups; retrying reading new data from the physical programming unit according to the adjustment retry-read parameter group; if the new data are able to be corrected by the corresponding ECC code, determining the adjustment retry-read parameter group to be an available retry-read parameter group; and adjusting the weight of the available retry-read parameter group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: PHISON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Chih-Kang Yeh
  • Patent number: 9627011
    Abstract: A method for operating a non-volatile memory device uses a sense amplifier that includes a first branch and a second branch. During a pre-charging step, a bit line of a memory array of the non-volatile memory device is biased in order to pre-charge the bit line. During the pre-charging step, an offset between the first branch and the second branch is detected and stored. During a reading step subsequent to the pre-charging step, a cell current is received from the bit line at the first branch and a reference current is received from a current-reference structure at the second branch. During the reading step, and amplified voltage is generated as a function of the cell current and the reference current. During the reading step, an output voltage is generated based on the amplified voltage compensated by the offset stored during the pre-charging step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Antonino Conte, Francesco La Rosa
  • Patent number: 9614151
    Abstract: A three dimensional variable resistance memory array and method of forming the same. The memory array has memory cells in multiple planes in three dimensions. The planes of the memory cells include shared interconnect lines, dually connected to driving and sensing circuits, that are used for addressing the cells for programming and reading. The memory array is formed using only a single patterned mask per central array plane to form the memory cells of such planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: David H. Wells
  • Patent number: 9595315
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a bit line sense amplifier, a first column select gate, and a second column select gate. The bit line sense amplifier senses an electric potential difference between a bit line and a complementary bit line during a sensing operation for memory cells. The first column select gate transfers an electric potential on the bit line to a local sense amplifier based on a column select signal. The second column select gate transfers an electric potential on the complementary bit line to the local sense amplifier based on the column select signal. The first and second column select gates have different current drive abilities to compensate a difference in bit line interconnection resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon Han, Won-Kyung Park, Junhee Lim, Sungho Jang
  • Patent number: 9589647
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory string including a first cells portion and a second cells portion each including a multiple of memory cells, the second cells portion being disposed over the first cells portion, and a control logic configured to control a peripheral circuit such that each of at least two memory cells in a top of the first cells portion and each of at least two memory cells in a bottom of the second cells portion is programmed to have a smaller data bit than remaining memory cells in the first and second cells portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Ryul Ahn, Ji Hyun Seo, Sung Yong Chung
  • Patent number: 9524972
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first metal layer coupled to a bit cell. The apparatus also includes a third metal layer including a write word line that is coupled to the bit cell. The apparatus further includes a second metal layer between the first metal layer and the third metal layer. The second metal layer includes two read word lines coupled to the bit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Niladri Narayan Mojumder, Ritu Chaba, Ping Liu, Stanley Seungchul Song, Zhongze Wang, Choh Fei Yeap
  • Patent number: 9472292
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory unit including a first memory block and a second memory block, a power supply unit suitable for applying a plurality of operating voltages to one of first global lines or second global lines, a switching circuit suitable for switching the first global lines and first internal global lines in response to a first control signal and switching the second global lines and second internal global lines in response to a second control signal, and a pass circuit suitable for electrically connecting the first internal global lines to word lines and selection lines of the first memory block and electrically connecting the second internal global lines to word lines and selection lines of the second memory block in response to a block selection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Hee Youl Lee
  • Patent number: 9460792
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for segmented SGS lines are described. An example apparatus may include first and second pluralities of memory subblocks of a memory block. The apparatus may include a first select gate control line associated with the first plurality of memory subblocks and a second select gate control line associated with the second plurality of memory subblocks. The first select gate control line may be coupled to a first plurality of select gate switches of the first plurality of memory subblocks. The second select gate control line may be coupled to a second plurality of select gate switches of the second plurality of memory subblocks. The first and second pluralities of select gate switches may be coupled to a source. The apparatus may include a plurality of memory access lines associated with each the first and second pluralities of memory subblocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Pan, Jaekwan Park, Ramin Ghodsi
  • Patent number: 9449663
    Abstract: A circuit includes a supply voltage circuit, a voltage adjustment circuit, and a timing adjustment circuit. The supply voltage circuit is coupled to a memory device configured to provide a voltage level to the memory device during a write data operation. The voltage adjustment circuit is coupled to the supply voltage circuit, and is configured to provide at least one voltage level control signal to control one of a plurality of different voltages. At least one of the plurality of different voltages has a voltage level lower than a specified nominal supply voltage level. The timing adjustment circuit is coupled to the supply voltage circuit, and is configured to provide at least one voltage transition timing control signal to the supply voltage circuit. The supply voltage circuit is configured to provide at least one of the plurality of different voltages to the memory device during the write data operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-Ping Yang, Cheng Hung Lee, Chia-En Huang, Fu-An Wu, Chih-Chieh Chiu
  • Patent number: RE48431
    Abstract: A method of performing a read operation on nonvolatile memory device comprises receiving a read command, receiving addresses, detecting a transition of a read enable signal, generating a strobe signal based on the transition of the read enable signal, reading data corresponding to the received addresses, and outputting the read data after the strobe signal is toggled a predetermined number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chul Bum Kim, Hyung Gon Kim, Chul Ho Lee, Hong Seok Chang
  • Patent number: RE49145
    Abstract: A method of performing a read operation on nonvolatile memory device comprises receiving a read command, receiving addresses, detecting a transition of a read enable signal, generating a strobe signal based on the transition of the read enable signal, reading data corresponding to the received addresses, and outputting the read data after the strobe signal is toggled a predetermined number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chul Bum Kim, Hyung Gon Kim, Chul Ho Lee, Hong Seok Chang