Powering Patents (Class 365/226)
  • Patent number: 11398257
    Abstract: Header circuitry for a memory device includes multiple backside power rails that form distinct voltage sources for a plurality of switching devices in the header circuitry. The header circuitry includes at least one region of a first conductivity type. A first section in the first region includes one backside power rail (BPR) that forms a first voltage source that provides a first voltage. A second section in the same first region includes another BPR that forms a second voltage source that provides a second voltage that is different from the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Haruki Mori, Chien-Chi Tien, Chia-En Huang, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Yen-Huei Chen, Feng-Lun Chen
  • Patent number: 11393511
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for limiting regulator overshoot during power up are described. In some examples, a memory device may generate a first voltage at a first input node of an amplifier of a memory device based on an application, by an external supply, of a second voltage to a terminal of the memory device. The memory device may generate a third voltage at a second node of the amplifier at an amplifier at an offset to the first voltage, where the second node is coupled with a first gate of a first cascode transistor and a second gate of a second cascode transistor. The memory device may activate the amplifier based on generating the third voltage at the second node of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Xu, Dong Pan, Wei Lu Chu
  • Patent number: 11393542
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for reduced-voltage operation of a memory device are described. A memory device may operate in different operational modes based on a value of a supply voltage fir the memory device. For example, when the value of the supply voltage exceeds both a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage, the memory device may be operated in a normal operation mode. When the value of the supply voltage is between the first threshold voltage and the second threshold voltage, the memory device may be operated in a low voltage operation mode, which may be a reduced performance mode relative to the normal operation mode. When the value of the supply voltage is below the second threshold voltage, the memory device may be deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ezra E. Hartz, Vipul Patel
  • Patent number: 11373710
    Abstract: Time division peak power management in non-volatile memory systems is disclosed. The memory system has a memory controller and a number of semiconductor dies. Each die is assigned a time slot in which to perform high current portions of memory operations. The memory controller provides an external clock to each die. Each die tracks repeating time slots based on the external clock. The memory controller may synchronize this tracking. If a die is about to perform a high current portion of a memory operation, the die checks to determine if its allocated slot has been reached. If not, the die halts the memory operation until its allocated time slot is reached. When the allocated time slot is reached, the halted memory operation is resumed at the high current portion. Therefore, the high current portion of the memory operation occurs during the allocated time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Hua-Ling Cynthia Hsu, Yu-Chung Lien, Mark Murin, Mark Shlick
  • Patent number: 11335384
    Abstract: A method of operating a memory sub-system includes receiving an input voltage at a power management (PM) component of a memory sub-system, where the PM component includes a capacitive voltage divider (CVD), a linear voltage regulator (LVR), and a switching voltage regulator (SVR). The method includes determining whether the input voltage corresponds to a low power mode of the memory sub-system and that the input voltage is higher than an uppermost supply voltage at which a memory component of the memory sub-system is configured to operate. The method further includes selectably coupling, responsive to a determination of the low power mode, the CVD and the LVR and sequentially reducing the input voltage by the CVD and the LVR to a supply voltage for the memory component, where the supply voltage is not higher than the uppermost supply voltage at which the memory component is configured to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew D. Rowley
  • Patent number: 11301026
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus that is capable of securing electric power needed to complete data writing to a nonvolatile memory even if supplied voltage drops. The information processing apparatus includes a nonvolatile memory, a volatile memory that caches write data to the nonvolatile memory. A first power supply unit generates electric power supplied to the nonvolatile memory and the volatile memory by a switching operation. A power source controller lowers a switching frequency of the first power supply unit and controls the first power supply unit to supply the electric power to the nonvolatile memory and the volatile memory in a case where voltage supplied to the information processing apparatus drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsutomu Kubota
  • Patent number: 11264077
    Abstract: A memory subsystem is disclosed comprising at least one memory module, the memory module having a substrate to which a plurality of memory chips is mounted and a voltage regulator, the voltage regulator receiving a power supply signal from a system power supply and outputting two or more power signals, each power signal providing a different, regulated voltage, which regulated voltages are each routed to each of the memory chips; and a redundant voltage regulator external to and not mounted on the memory module and configured to output two or more power signals, providing external different, regulated voltages which are the same voltages as the voltages output by the voltage regulator on the memory module, and supplying the two or more signals to the memory module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Connolly, Kyu-Hyoun Kim, Warren E. Maule
  • Patent number: 11257549
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for sequential voltage control for a memory device are described. A memory device may have various voltage sources that support different voltage levels used in various operations of the memory device. Voltage sources of a memory device may be disabled under some circumstances, such as when the memory device is idled, or operated in a low-power or powered-down mode, among other circumstances. In accordance with examples as disclosed herein, voltage sources of a memory device or memory die may be sequentially enabled or sequentially disabled. For example, voltage sources may be enabled in an order from voltage sources having relatively higher nominal voltages to voltage sources having relatively lower voltages, or disabled in an order from voltage sources having relatively lower nominal voltages to voltage sources having relatively higher voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ki-Jun Nam, Takamasa Suzuki, Yantao Ma, Yasushi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 11257542
    Abstract: A memory driving device, comprising a switch, a voltage setting circuit, and a bias control circuit. The switch is coupled to a memory at a node. The voltage setting circuit is coupled to the switch and configured to provide a set signal during a first period to turn on the switch, so as to generate current flowing through the switch to the memory unit. The bias control circuit is respectively coupled to the switch and the node, and, during a second period, continuously provides a bias signal to control the switch so as to adaptively adjust a value of the setting current of the switch. The configuration setting terminal is coupled to the voltage setting circuit and the bias control circuit to control the first and the second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: JIANGSU ADVANCED MEMORY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., JIANGSU ADVANCED MEMORY SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD., ALTO MEMORY TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jui-Jen Wu
  • Patent number: 11237580
    Abstract: A system includes: a first power supply; a second power supply; a headswitch disposed between the first power supply and logic circuitry; an enable driver coupling the second power supply to a control terminal of the headswitch; and a voltage generator operable to adjust a control voltage from the second power supply to the control terminal of the headswitch in response to a first voltage level of the first power supply exceeding a reference voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Giby Samson, Foua Vang, Ramaprasath Vilangudipitchai, Seung Hyuk Kang, Venugopal Boynapalli
  • Patent number: 11227649
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for staggering the timing of targeted refresh operations. A memory device may include a number of memory banks, at least some of which may be simultaneously entered into a refresh mode. A given memory bank may perform an auto-refresh operation or a targeted refresh operation, which may draw less power than the auto-refresh operation. The timing of the targeted refresh operations may be staggered between the refreshing memory banks, such that a portion of the refreshing memory banks are performing a targeted refresh operation simultaneously with a portion of the refreshing memory banks performing an auto-refresh operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel J. Meier, James S. Rehmeyer
  • Patent number: 11223280
    Abstract: A voltage regulator dynamically adjusts the voltage distribution on a voltage rail based on multiple feedback measurements. The voltage regulator provides electrical power to a voltage rail at multiple power supply locations along the voltage rail. The voltage regulator obtains voltage measurements from multiple voltage sensing locations on the voltage rail and detects a spatially unequal voltage deviation in the voltage rail. The voltage regulator adjusts the electrical power provided to the voltage rail at each of the power supply locations to compensate for the spatially unequal voltage deviation in the voltage rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Yang Sun, Zomin Gan, Min Wang, Yepeng Chen
  • Patent number: 11217291
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for circuitry borrowing in memory arrays are described. In one example, a host device may transmit an access command associated with data for a first memory section to a memory device. The first memory section may be located between a second memory section and a third memory section. A first set of circuitry shared by the first memory section and the second memory section may be operated using drivers associated with the first memory section and drivers associated with the second memory section. A second set of circuitry shared by the first memory section and the third memory section may be operated using drivers associated with the first memory section and drivers associated with the third memory section. An access operation may be performed based on operating the first set of circuitry and the second set of circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Martinelli, Francesco Mastroianni, Kiyoshi Nakai
  • Patent number: 11216323
    Abstract: A solid state memory system includes: an interface circuit; a device processor configured to receive a dynamic power limit command through the interface circuit and update a metadata log based on the dynamic power limit command; a non-volatile memory array coupled to the interface circuit; and a power manager unit, coupled to the device processor, configured by the device processor, the power manager unit configured to adjust voltages for read, write, erase, and monitoring a voltage feedback in order to verify the dynamic power limit command is not exceeded; and a data error detection-and-correction unit, coupled to the power manager unit, configured to pause correction of error data, select a low power error correction code unit, enable a reduced ECC array, switch from error detection-and-correction to error detection, or a combination thereof in response to the dynamic power limit command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yang Seok Ki
  • Patent number: 11216367
    Abstract: A power-supply device and an electronic device including the relate to technology for a data storage device. The electronic device includes a power-supply device and a controller. The power-supply device generates a sudden power loss (SPL) detection signal in a sudden power off (SPO) state by detecting a level of an external power, generates a charging sense signal indicative of a charging capacity of an auxiliary power-supply circuit, divides the charging capacity into a plurality of charging levels, detects a level of the charging capacity, and generates a charging sense signal indicating a charging level of the auxiliary power-supply circuit in response to the detected charging level. The controller stores flushing information in at least one non-volatile memory device when the SPL detection signal is activated, and variably adjust an amount of storage in the non-volatile memory device in response to the charging sense signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jeong Su Park, Yong Seok Oh, Joo Il Lee
  • Patent number: 11211116
    Abstract: A static random-access memory (SRAM) semiconductor device including a memory unit is provided. The memory unit includes a bit array arranged in rows and columns. The columns are defined by a plurality of bit line pairs connecting to a plurality of memory cells in the column. The memory unit also includes an edge area adjacent an edge row of the bit array, wherein the edge row includes a plurality of dummy memory cells. The memory unit further includes a plurality of bit line drivers adjacent the bit array and opposite the edge area. The bit line drivers are for driving the bit lines with data to the memory cells during a write operation. The dummy memory cells include a write assist circuit for each bit line pair. The write assist circuit is used for facilitating the writing of the data on the bit line pairs to the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Chuan Yang, Kian-Long Lim, Feng-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 11194382
    Abstract: A processing system includes a memory controller that preemptively exits a dynamic random access (DRAM) integrated circuit rank from a low power mode such as power down mode based on a predicted time when the memory controller will receive a request to access the DRAM rank. The memory controller tracks how long after a DRAM rank enters the low power mode before a request to access the DRAM rank is received by the memory controller. Based on a history of the timing of access requests, the memory controller predicts for each DRAM rank a predicted time reflecting how long after entering low power mode a request to access each DRAM rank is expected to be received. The memory controller speculatively exits the DRAM rank from the low power mode based on the predicted time and prior to receiving a request to access the DRAM IC rank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Kedarnath Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11189325
    Abstract: A device includes several first switching units and several second switching units. Each of the first switching units transmits in response to a first select signal, an auxiliary signal. Each of the second switching units is coupled to a corresponding one of the first switching units and transmits in response to a second select signal, a write voltage to a corresponding one of multiple circuit cells. The second switching units are coupled with each other in a node which receives the write voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Hao Lee, Yi-Chun Shih
  • Patent number: 11176972
    Abstract: A memory device includes an array of memory cells, such as SRAM cells, and a plurality of peripheral circuits operably coupled to the memory array. A power control circuit is configured to individually control an application of power to each of the plurality of peripheral circuits and the array of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Sanjeev Kumar Jain, Jaspal Singh Shah
  • Patent number: 11177007
    Abstract: A memory device may include a pin for receiving a direct current (DC) voltage indicating an operating configuration setting of the memory device and for communicating an alternating current (AC) voltage signal that provides feedback to a power management component. The memory device may determine that a supply voltage is outside of a target range, and may drive the AC signal onto the pin based on determining that the supply voltage is outside the range. The pin may be coupled with a capacitive component the passes the AC signal and blocks the DC signal. The power management component may receive the capacitively coupled AC signal and may maintain or adjust the supply voltage based on the received AC signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Baekkyu Choi, Fuad Badrieh, Thomas H. Kinsley
  • Patent number: 11150821
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses related to memory operation with multiple sets of latencies are disclosed. A memory device or system that includes a memory device may be operable with one or several sets of latencies (e.g., read, write, or write recovery latencies), and the memory device or system may apply a set of latencies depending on which features of the memory device are enabled. For example, control circuitry may be configured to enable one or more features during operations on a memory array, and the control circuitry may apply a set of latency values based on a number or type of features that are enabled. The sets of latency values may depend, for example, on whether various control features (e.g., dynamic voltage frequency scaling) are enabled, and a device may operate within certain frequency ranges irrespective of other characteristics (e.g., mode register values) or latencies applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean D. Gans, Yoshiro Riho, Shunichi Saito, Osamu Nagashima
  • Patent number: 11152902
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor device comprising a first differential amplifier circuit. The first differential amplifier circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, a fifth transistor, and a sixth transistor. The second transistor's gate and drain are connected to the first transistor. The third transistor is diode-connected through the first transistor or diode-connected without passing through the first transistor. Thea fourth transistor is diode-connected through the second transistor or diode-connected without passing through the second transistor. The fifth transistor forms a first current mirror circuit with the third transistor. The sixth transistor is connected to a drain of the first transistor in parallel with the third transistor and forms a second current mirror circuit with the fifth transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yohei Yasuda
  • Patent number: 11137785
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a voltage regulation circuit includes a regulation circuit with a voltage regulator that provides an output voltage and a control circuit, coupled to the voltage regulator. The control circuit pulls up the output voltage to a reference voltage responsive to the control circuit detecting that a first voltage level of the output voltage is lower than a predefined voltage level. The control circuit decouples the output voltage from the reference voltage responsive to the control circuit detecting that the first voltage level of the output voltage is higher than the predefined voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yen-An Chang, Chieh-Pu Lo, Yi-Chun Shih, Chia-Fu Lee, Yu-Der Chih
  • Patent number: 11139856
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of transmitting series of data between electronic circuits, and more specifically a method and a system for transmitting series of data, from a first electronic circuit to at least one second electronic circuit, via an electrical connection line between the first circuit and the second circuit, in reference to a ground line common to the circuits, of at least one series of data pulses. Each data pulse makes it possible to both electrically supply the second circuit and to transmit an item of data which can be interpreted by the second circuit. The supplying of the second circuit by the first circuit is cut between two successive pulses. For each data pulse and before the second circuit is switched off, because of failure in supply, the item of data transmitted by the pulse is stored on a non-volatile memory support of the second circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: PARAGON ID
    Inventors: Guillaume Brandin, Claude Gire, Eric Gerbault
  • Patent number: 11139017
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device is provided. The integrated circuit device includes: a functional device including a selection device; and a bias generator circuit coupled to the selection device and configured to detect a leakage current of the functional device and generate a bias voltage based on the detected leakage current. The bias voltage is provided to the selection device to control the selection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-An Chang, Po-Hao Lee, Chia-Fu Lee, Yi-Chun Shih, Yu-Der Chih
  • Patent number: 11133039
    Abstract: A power switch control circuit includes a supply rail configured to supply power to a memory array. A first header switch couples the supply rail to a first power supply that corresponds to a first power domain. A second header switch couples the supply rail to a second power supply that corresponds to a second power domain. A control circuit is configured to receive a select signal and a shutdown signal, and to output control signals to the first and second header switches to selectively couple the first and second header switches to the first and second power supplies, respectively, in response to the select signal and the shutdown signal. The control circuit is configured to output the control signals to the first and second header switches to disconnect both the first and second header switches from the first and second power supplies in response to the shutdown signal and irrespective of the select signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hao-I Yang, Cheng Hung Lee, Chen-Lin Yang, Yu-Hao Hsu
  • Patent number: 11100961
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device includes a first word line electrically connected to a first memory cell, a second word line electrically connected to a second memory cell, and a voltage generation circuit configured to supply a first voltage to a first line electrically connected to the first word line and a second voltage to a second line electrically connected to the second word line. The voltage generation circuit includes a first regulator configured to output the first voltage to the first line and output a first signal according to the first voltage, a second regulator configured to output the second voltage to the second line and output a second signal according to the second voltage, and a switch circuit configured to open or close an electrically conductive path between the first line and the second line, based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshihara, Tetsuya Amano
  • Patent number: 11086345
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including: an oscillator configured to generate an oscillating voltage with a predetermined oscillation frequency in an oscillation period; a voltage regulator configured to generate an output voltage for driving the oscillator and provide the output voltage to the oscillator; and a current injection circuit configured to provide an oscillation current to the oscillator, in response to an oscillation enable signal in the oscillation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok-won Lee, Nam-seog Kim
  • Patent number: 11081169
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a first memory circuit comprising a first memory cell comprising a first field effect transistor, a second memory circuit comprising a second memory cell comprising a second field effect transistor, and a regulator for converting the first power supply potential to a second voltage value lower than the voltage value of the first power supply potential. The second gate length of the second field effect transistor is longer than the first gate length of the first field effect transistor, the first memory cell is supplied with a second power supply potential through regulator, and the second memory cell is supplied with a first power supply potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakamura, Yoshisato Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11061646
    Abstract: Compute-in memory circuits and techniques are described. In one example, a memory device includes an array of memory cells, the array including multiple sub-arrays. Each of the sub-arrays receives a different voltage. The memory device also includes capacitors coupled with conductive access lines of each of the multiple sub-arrays and circuitry coupled with the capacitors, to share charge between the capacitors in response to a signal. In one example, computing device, such as a machine learning accelerator, includes a first memory array and a second memory array. The computing device also includes an analog processor circuit coupled with the first and second memory arrays to receive first analog input voltages from the first memory array and second analog input voltages from the second memory array and perform one or more operations on the first and second analog input voltages, and output an analog output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Huseyin Ekin Sumbul, Phil Knag, Gregory K. Chen, Raghavan Kumar, Abhishek Sharma, Sasikanth Manipatruni, Amrita Mathuriya, Ram Krishnamurthy, Ian A. Young
  • Patent number: 11056210
    Abstract: A method of producing an apparatus comprising an electrical circuit that has one or more characteristics that meet a design specification is presented. The method includes designing the electrical circuit with a trim circuit having a trim value that is variable, The electrical circuit is adjustable based on the trim value of the trim circuit. There is encoding of the functional circuit information and/or trim circuit information in a tag, The method has a reading of the functional circuit information and/or the trim circuit information stored in the tag and the determining of the trim value for the trim circuit that results in the characteristic of the electrical circuit meeting the design specification using the functional circuit information and/or the trim circuit information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Michael Laisne, Vivek Bhan, Hans Martin von Staudt
  • Patent number: 11037605
    Abstract: A memory system may include memory circuitry and power circuitry, which may include a power storage device. The memory system may also include a controller to determine a power demand of the memory circuitry. In response to determining that the power demand is less than an incoming supply power, the controller may generate a first mode signal to induce a charging state of the power storage device. Additionally, in response to determining that the power demand is greater than the incoming supply power, the controller may generate a second mode signal to cause the power storage device to provide a secondary power to the memory circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shaun Alan Stickel
  • Patent number: 11004482
    Abstract: Memory circuits used in computer systems may have different operating modes. In a retention mode, a voltage level of an array power supply node coupled to memory cells included in the memory circuit is reduced to a level sufficient to retain data, but not to perform read and write operations to the memory cells. A power converter circuit may be configured to generate the retention voltage level, and adjust the retention voltage level using a leakage current of dummy memory cells included in the memory circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jaemyung Lim, Jiangyi Li, Mohamed H. Abu-Rahma, Shahzad Nazar, Jaroslav Raszka
  • Patent number: 11003238
    Abstract: A hierarchy of interconnected memory retention (MR) circuits detect a clock gating mode being entered at any level of an integrated circuit. In response, the hierarchy automatically transitions memory at the clock gated level and all levels below the clock-gated level from a normal operating state to a memory retention state. When a memory transitions from a normal operating state to a memory retention state, the memory transitions from a higher power state (corresponding to the normal operating state) to a lower power state (corresponding to the memory retention state). Thus, in addition to the dynamic power savings caused by the clock gating mode, the hierarchy of MR circuits automatically transitions the memory modules at the clock gated level and all levels below the clock gated level to a lower power state. As a result, the leakage power consumption of the corresponding memory modules is reduced relative to prior approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Anand Shanmugam Sundararajan, Ramachandiran V, Abhijeet Chandratre, Lordson Yue, Archana Srinivasaiah, Sachin Idgunji
  • Patent number: 11003392
    Abstract: Provided herein may be a memory controller configured to control a memory device for storing data. The memory controller may include: a voltage sensor configured to detect whether a level of a power supply voltage to be applied to the memory device and the memory controller is equal to or less than a reference level, and generate detect information; and a power controller configured to receive the detect information and output, to the memory device, a power supply voltage reset command for resetting the power supply voltage to be applied to the memory device, wherein the reference level is greater than the voltage level for initiating reset of the memory device and the memory controller and less than the voltage level required for the memory device and the memory controller to perform an operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Young Chan Oh
  • Patent number: 10998076
    Abstract: A signal calibration method that includes the steps outlined below is provided. A phase of an under-test signal generated by a memory controller is set to initiate a calibration process. A low-power status control command is issued by transmitting signals that include the under-test signal generated by the memory controller to a memory unit to switch the memory unit to a low power status, the low-power status control command forcing the under-test signal to toggle. A read command is issued by the memory controller to the memory unit for reading data. When the responded data does not match the predetermined data, the phase of the under-test signal is determined to be within a timing margin by the memory controller. When the responded data matches the predetermined data, the phase of the under-test signal is determined to be not within the timing margin by the memory controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ching-Sheng Cheng
  • Patent number: 10992226
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for controlling the startup of multiple parallel power converters that avoid in-rush current and/or switch over-stress in an added power converter or a power converter having one or more fault conditions. Embodiments include node status detectors coupled to selected nodes within parallel-connected power converters to monitor voltage and/or current, and configured in some embodiments to work in parallel with an output status detector measuring the output voltage of an associated power converter during startup. With charge pump-based power converters, the node status detectors ensure that the pump capacitors of each power converter are adequately charged while the output capacitor is charged as well. For such embodiments, a soft-start period of startup may be considered finished if both the shared output capacitors and the pump capacitors of each power converter are charged to selected target values. Embodiments may also be used for fault detection during steady-state operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventors: Walid Aboueldahab, Aichen Low
  • Patent number: 10984855
    Abstract: Methods and systems to provide a multi-Vcc environment, such as to selectively boost an operating voltage of a logic block and/or provide a level-shifted control to the logic block. A multi-Vcc environment may be implemented to isolate a Vmin-limiting logic block from a single-Vcc environment, such as to reduce Vmin and/or improve energy efficiency in the single-Vcc environment. The logic block may include bit cells of a register file, a low-level processor cache, and/or other memory system. A cell Vcc may be boosted during a read mode and/or write wordlines (WWLs) and/or read wordlines (RWLs) may be asserted with boost. A wordline decoder may include a voltage level shifter with differential split-level logic, and a dynamic NAND, which may include NAND logic, a keeper circuit, and logic to delay a keeper control based on a delay of the level shifter to reduce contention during an initial NAND evaluation phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jaydeep P. Kulkarni, Bibiche M. Geuskens, James Tschanz, Vivek K. De, Muhammed M. Khellah
  • Patent number: 10976945
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses related to memory operation with multiple sets of latencies are disclosed. A memory device or system that includes a memory device may be operable with one or several sets of latencies (e.g., read, write, or write recovery latencies), and the memory device or system may apply a set of latencies depending on which features of the memory device are enabled. For example, control circuitry may be configured to enable one or more features during operations on a memory array, and the control circuitry may apply a set of latency values based on a number or type of features that are enabled. The sets of latency values may depend, for example, on whether various control features (e.g., dynamic voltage frequency scaling) are enabled, and a device may operate within certain frequency ranges irrespective of other characteristics (e.g., mode register values) or latencies applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean D. Gans, Yoshiro Riho, Shunichi Saito, Osamu Nagashima
  • Patent number: 10978144
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and an operating method thereof are provided. The integrated circuit includes memory cells, at least one first word line, second word lines, bit lines and write-assist bit lines. The at least one first word line is electrically connected to at least one row of the memory cells. The second word lines are electrically connected to other rows of the memory cells. Two bit lines are located between a column of the memory cells and two write-assist bit lines. The bit lines and the write-assist bit lines are configured to be electrically disconnected with each other when at least one of the memory cells electrically connected with the at least one first word line is configured to be written, and electrically connected with each other when at least one of the memory cells electrically connected to the second word lines is configured to be written.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-En Huang, Hidehiro Fujiwara, Jui-Che Tsai, Yen-Huei Chen, Yih Wang
  • Patent number: 10971209
    Abstract: A memory device is provided including physical block circuitry including a first lateral network arrangement and a second lateral network arrangement. Each of the first and second lateral network arrangements includes a single generator configured to output both a sense amplifier voltage VHSA and a data latch voltage VDDSA, in each of a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, during which read and program verify and other operations may occur, the generator receives VHSA as a feedback signal and in the second mode, during which programming, POR, and EVFY operations may occur, the generator receives VDDSA as a feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ohwon Kwon, Kou Tei, VSNK Chaitanya G
  • Patent number: 10964394
    Abstract: A communication line is connected to first and second chips, and held at a first signal level. A monitor circuit changes a signal level of the communication line from the first signal to a second signal level while one of the first and second chips uses a current larger than a reference current. When the signal level of the communication line is the second signal level, the other of the first and second chips is controlled to a wait state that does not transfer to an operating state of using a current larger than the reference current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noboru Shibata, Hiroshi Sukegawa
  • Patent number: 10943626
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a data input/output control block including a first power gating circuit coupled to a supply terminal of a first voltage and a second power gating circuit coupled to a supply terminal of a second voltage, the data input/output control block suitable for generating a control signal using the first and second voltages, a data input/output block including a third power gating circuit coupled to any one of the supply terminal of the first voltage and the supply terminal of the second voltage, the data input/output block suitable for inputting and outputting a data signal using the first and second voltages based on the control signal, and a memory block, coupled to the data input/output block, suitable for writing or reading the data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Woongrae Kim, Yoo-Jong Lee, A-Ram Rim
  • Patent number: 10937907
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a MOS transistor having a thinned channel region is described. The channel region is etched following removal of a dummy gate. The source and drain regions have relatively low resistance with the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Justin K. Brask, Robert S. Chau, Suman Datta, Mark L. Doczy, Brian S. Doyle, Jack T. Kavalieros, Amlan Majumdar, Matthew V. Metz, Marko Radosavljevic
  • Patent number: 10936536
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide a memory system comprising a plurality of stacked memory layers, each memory layer divided into memory sections, wherein each memory section connects to a neighboring memory section in an adjacent memory layer, and a logic layer stacked among the plurality of memory layers, the logic layer divided into logic sections, each logic section including a memory processing core, wherein each logic section connects to a neighboring memory section in an adjacent memory layer to form a memory vault of connected logic and memory sections, and wherein each logic section is configured to communicate directly or indirectly with a host processor. Accordingly, each memory processing core may be configured to respond to a procedure call from the host processor by processing data stored in its respective memory vault and providing a result to the host processor. As a result, increased performance may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Karthikeyan Sankaralingam, Jaikrishnan Menon, Lorenzo De Carli
  • Patent number: 10923196
    Abstract: An apparatus for erasing non-volatile storage elements in a non-volatile memory system is disclosed. The apparatus has consistent speed in gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) erase across the operating temperature of the memory system. In one aspect, a voltage source outputs an erase voltage to NAND strings. The NAND strings may draw a GIDL erase current in response to the erase voltage. The amount of GIDL erase current for a given erase voltage is highly temperature dependent. The GIDL erase current may be sampled, and the erase voltage regulated based on the GIDL erase current. Therefore, the GIDL erase current, as well as erase speed, may be kept uniform across operating temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Peter Rabkin, Kwang-Ho Kim, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Patent number: 10903740
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to charge pump devices, systems, and methods in which a first plurality of series-connected charge-pump stages is connected between a supply voltage node and a first circuit node, wherein the first plurality of charge-pump stages are operable to produce a first electrical charge at the first circuit node, the first electrical charge having a first polarity; and a second plurality of series-connected charge-pump stages is connected between the supply voltage node and a second circuit node, wherein the second plurality of charge-pump stages are operable to produce a second electrical charge at the second circuit node, the second electrical charge having a second polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: WISPRY, INC.
    Inventors: Arthur S. Morris, III, Vincent Cheung, David Zimlich
  • Patent number: 10896707
    Abstract: Briefly, embodiments of claimed subject matter relate to adjusting, such as extending, a clock signal to permit completion of a write operations to a first memory type and/or to permit completion of read operations from a second memory type, wherein the first memory type and the second memory type are dissimilar from each other. In certain embodiments, the first memory type may comprise a magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) cell array, and the second memory type may comprise a static random-access memory (SRAM) cell array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Arm Limited
    Inventors: Andy Wangkun Chen, Rahul Mathur, Cyrille Nicolas Dray, Yann Sarrazin, Julien Vincent Poitrat, Yannis Jallamion-Grive, Pranay Prabhat, James Edward Myers, Graham Peter Knight, Jonas {hacek over (S)}vedas
  • Patent number: 10896733
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises: a memory transistor; a first wiring connected to a gate electrode of the memory transistor; and a control device that executes a read operation to read data of the memory transistor and a write operation to write data in the memory transistor. In the read operation or the write operation, the control device: increases a voltage of the first wiring to a first voltage from a first timing to a second timing; and adjusts a length from the first timing to the second timing corresponding to at least one of a voltage of the first wiring, a current of the first wiring, and an amount of charge flowed through the first wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventors: Keita Kimura, Hidehiro Shiga
  • Patent number: 10896718
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a first wiring layer including a first power line extending in a first direction, a second wiring layer including second and third power lines extending in a second direction, a third wiring layer including power electrode patterns arranged in the second direction, and a fourth wiring layer including a fourth power line extending in the second direction. The first and second power lines are connected by a first via electrode. The first and third power lines are connected by a second via electrode. The second power line and each of the power electrode patterns are connected by a third via electrode. The third power line and each of the power electrode patterns are connected by a fourth via electrode. The fourth power line and each of the power electrode patterns are connected by a fifth via electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mamoru Nishizaki