Sequential Patents (Class 365/239)
  • Patent number: 11860885
    Abstract: An associative memory array includes a plurality of associative memory cells arranged in rows and columns where each first cell in a first row and in a first column has access to a content of a second cell in a second row in an adjacent column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: GSI Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe Lazer, Eli Ehrman
  • Patent number: 10802717
    Abstract: A firmware inventory system for efficient firmware inventory of storage devices in an information handling system may include a first storage subsystem. The first storage subsystem may include a first set of storage devices, a first inventory information table, and a first expander. The expander may include a first memory, a first processor, and a first virtual SEP device stored in the first memory and executable by the first processor. The first virtual SEP device may, when a device change event is received from a first storage device of the first set of storage devices, send a device information request to the first storage device, receive a device information response including device information of the first storage device from the first storage device in response to the device information request and update the first inventory information table with the device information of the first storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Samir Paitod, Santosh Gore, Raveendra Babu Madala, Chandrashekar Nelogal
  • Patent number: 10381066
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a data input and output circuit (I/O) configured to selectively or simultaneously drive input and output lines according to a burst length and a location of a memory area selected by an address to allow the semiconductor device to receive or output data regardless of the burst length being changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Daesuk Kim, Jaeil Kim
  • Patent number: 10340011
    Abstract: Three-dimensional addressing for erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) can include a number of EPROM banks, a number of shift registers, a row select data signal, a column select data signal, and a bank select data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Inventors: Boon Bing Ng, Hang Ru Goy
  • Patent number: 10313880
    Abstract: A reference picture buffer may supply an asymmetric macroblock to a video encoder to improve the bandwidth between the encoder and buffer. The macroblock width may be sized to match the minimum burst width of the buffer. The size of the macroblock may be kept unchanged by reducing the macroblock height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Michael L. Coulter
  • Patent number: 9443281
    Abstract: Technologies are presented that allow efficient pixel-based image and/or video warping and scaling. An image processing system may include a memory and an accelerator unit communicatively coupled with the memory. The accelerator unit may, based on configuration settings, receive, from a memory, at least a portion of an input image as an array of neighboring four-cornered shapes; and process each shape by: determining locations of an array of output pixels delineated by four corner locations of the shape via linearization; interpolating a value of each pixel of the array of output pixels; and storing the interpolated pixel values in the memory. For warping, the array of neighboring four-cornered shapes may include an array of neighboring distorted tetragons that approximate distortion of the input image, and the interpolated pixel values may represent a warped output image. For scaling, the array of neighboring four-cornered shapes may include an array of neighboring rectangles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Dmitar Redzic, Aleksandar Beric, Edwin Van Dalen
  • Patent number: 9348759
    Abstract: DMA translation table entries include a consecutive count (CC) field that indicates how many subsequent translation table entries point to successive real page numbers. A DMA address translation mechanism stores a value in the CC field when a translation table entry is stored, and updates the CC field in other affected translation table entries as well. When a translation table entry is read, and the CC field is non-zero, the DMA controller can use multiple RPNs from the access to the single translation table entry. Thus, if a translation table entry has a value of 2 in the CC field, the DMA address translation mechanism knows it can access the real page number (RPN) corresponding to the translation table entry, and also knows it can access the two subsequent RPNs without the need of reading the next two subsequent translation table entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse P. Arroyo, Gregory M. Nordstrom, Srinivas Kotta, Eric N. Lais
  • Patent number: 9343142
    Abstract: A floating gate transistor, memory cell, and method of fabricating a device. The floating gate transistor includes one or more gated wires substantially cylindrical in form. The floating gate transistor includes a first gate dielectric layer at least partially covering the gated wires. The floating gate transistor further includes a plurality of gate crystals discontinuously arranged upon the first gate dielectric layer. The floating gate transistor also includes a second gate dielectric layer covering the plurality of gate crystals and the first gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries Inc.
    Inventors: Sarunya Bangsaruntip, Guy Cohen, Amlan Majumdar, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 9317442
    Abstract: DMA translation table entries include a consecutive count (CC) field that indicates how many subsequent translation table entries point to successive real page numbers. A DMA address translation mechanism stores a value in the CC field when a translation table entry is stored, and updates the CC field in other affected translation table entries as well. When a translation table entry is read, and the CC field is non-zero, the DMA controller can use multiple RPNs from the access to the single translation table entry. Thus, if a translation table entry has a value of 2 in the CC field, the DMA address translation mechanism knows it can access the real page number (RPN) corresponding to the translation table entry, and also knows it can access the two subsequent RPNs without the need of reading the next two subsequent translation table entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse P. Arroyo, Gregory M. Nordstrom, Srinivas Kotta, Eric N. Lais
  • Patent number: 9266342
    Abstract: A storage device includes a control unit that performs a process of communicating with a host apparatus which is connected to the storage device through a bus, a storage unit into which data transmitted from the host apparatus are written, and a storage control unit that performs access control on the storage unit. The control unit receives an ID information item from the host apparatus after the end of a period of writing data from the host apparatus to m (m is an integer equal to or greater than 1) storage devices of a plurality of the storage devices connected to the bus, and returns an acknowledgement to the host apparatus if the data transmitted from the host apparatus have been successfully written to the storage unit of the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Sato
  • Patent number: 9042194
    Abstract: A refresh method for a volatile memory device includes refreshing memory cells of a first set of rows of an array at a first refresh rate having a first refresh period, the first refresh rate being a lower rate having a longer refresh period than a second refresh rate having a second refresh period, wherein each memory cell in the first set of rows of the array has a retention time longer than the first refresh period; and refreshing memory cells of a second set of rows of the array at a third refresh rate having a third refresh period, the third refresh rate being a higher rate having a shorter refresh period than the second refresh rate having the second refresh period, wherein at least one memory cell of each row of the second set of rows has a retention time longer than the third refresh period and shorter than the first refresh period. The second refresh period corresponds to a refresh period defined in a standard for the volatile memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chul-Woo Park, Joo-Sun Choi, Hong-Sun Hwang
  • Patent number: 9025400
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of memory units respectively comprising a plurality of memory cells. A data bus is shared by the memory units and transfers data from the memory units or to the memory units. A timing controller includes a delay time unit shared by the memory units sharing the data bus. The timing controller is configured to output a control signal for driving the memory units after a predetermined delay time elapses since receiving an input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Fujita, Katsuhiko Hoya
  • Patent number: 8995174
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes NAND gates and switches to form a circuit to hold data, and a capacitor electrically connected to the circuit via a transistor to store the data held in the circuit. The transistor has a channel formation region including an oxide semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Koyama
  • Patent number: 8924661
    Abstract: A data storage system includes a plurality of non-volatile memory devices arranged in one or more sets, a main controller and one or more processors. The main controller is configured to accept commands from a host and to convert the commands into recipes. Each recipe includes a list of multiple memory operations to be performed sequentially in the non-volatile memory devices belonging to one of the sets. Each of the processors is associated with a respective set of the non-volatile memory devices, and is configured to receive one or more of the recipes from the main controller and to execute the memory operations specified in the received recipes in the non-volatile memory devices belonging to the respective set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Shachar, Barak Rotbard, Oren Golov, Uri Perlmutter, Dotan Sokolov, Julian Vlaiko, Yair Schwartz
  • Patent number: 8923051
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory apparatus includes: a memory block including first and second planes; and a reset signal generator configured to generate a first reset signal by logically combining a first plane selection signal and a control pulse signal which pulses after a first programming setup pulse signal pulses during a first programming command cycle, and generate a second reset signal by logically combining a second plane selection signal and the control pulse signal which again pulses after a second programming setup pulse signal pulses during a second programming command cycle after the first programming command cycle. A plurality of first page buffers allocated to the first plane are reset in response to the first reset signal, and a plurality of second page buffers allocated to the second plane are reset in response to the second reset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Ho Youb Cho
  • Publication number: 20140362657
    Abstract: A shared-signaling multi-device memory system is capable of changing between addressing modes without the multi-device memory being required to undergo a power cycle. First and second registers of a memory device are set to both contain first address-identification information in response a first address-assignment command that is received a power cycle. The first register is set to contain second address-identification information in response a second address-assignment command that is received subsequently to the first address assignment command. Depending on the value of the second address-identification information, the memory device is configured in an individual-device-addressing mode or a parallel addressing mode without a power cycle. The first register can be reset to the first address-identification information contained in the second register in response to an address-restore command without a power cycle. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Julie M. Walker, Doyle Rivers
  • Patent number: 8873326
    Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of memory blocks configured to be refreshed in response to respective refresh signals; a command decoder configured to decode an external input command to generate an internal refresh command; a refresh control unit configured to activate a first number of refresh signals corresponding to the first number of memory blocks when the internal refresh command is activated and a first mode is set, and to activate a second number of refresh signals corresponding to the second number of memory blocks when the internal refresh command is activated and a second mode is set, the second number being smaller than the first number; and an address counter configured to change the row address transferred to the memory blocks when a predetermined one of the refresh signals is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Yo-Sep Lee
  • Patent number: 8867573
    Abstract: A device comprises an integrated circuit having first and second domains, the first domain having a first clock boundary module; and the second domain having a second clock boundary module. The first clock boundary module comprises: a buffer, for storing data for transfer to the second domain; and a first controller operable to send a first control signal to the second clock boundary module via a first synchronizer, the first control signal indicating the presence of a packet of data in a first storage location of the buffer. One of the first and second clock boundary modules comprises a multiplexer having an input connected to an output of the buffer and an output connected to circuitry forming part of the second domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Pasi Kolinummi, Mika Koikkalainen, Juhani Vehvilainen
  • Patent number: 8854895
    Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit is divided into a plurality of sense amplifier groups. The plurality of sense amplifier groups are each further divided into a plurality of sense units. A sense amplifier control circuit is configured to sequentially select the plurality of sense amplifier groups according to a physical address, and to sequentially select the plurality of sense units included in a selected sense amplifier group. The sense amplifier control circuit is configured to, when there is a defect related to a selected sense unit in a selected first sense amplifier group, select, in place of the first sense amplifier group, a sense unit included in a second sense amplifier group selected following after the first sense amplifier group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Komai
  • Patent number: 8797808
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a non-volatile memory unit; a data bus configured to transfer data outputted from the non-volatile memory unit; a selection signal generation unit configured to generate a plurality of selection signals based on a clock; and a plurality of latch sets configured to each be enabled in response to a selection signal that corresponds to the latch set among the selection signals and store the data transferred through the data bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jeongsu Jeong
  • Patent number: 8750068
    Abstract: A memory system and a refresh control method thereof are provided. The memory system includes a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cells and a memory controller configured to generate a special command for searching for refresh information stored in the semiconductor memory device and to control a refresh operation of the semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device is configured to output the refresh information to the memory controller in response to the special command generated by the memory controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Geun Hee Cho
  • Patent number: 8705285
    Abstract: A system including a read module and a sequence detector module. The read module is configured to read a plurality of memory cells located along a bit line or a word line of a memory array and to generate a plurality of read signals. The sequence detector module is configured to detect a sequence of data stored in the plurality of memory cells based on (i) the plurality of read signals and (ii) a plurality of reference signals associated with the plurality of memory cells. One of the plurality of reference signals associated with a first memory cell of the plurality of memory cells includes (i) a first signal and (ii) a second signal. The first signal is free of interference from a second memory cell adjacent to the first memory cell along the bit line or the word line. The second signal includes interference from the second memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Xueshi Yang, Zining Wu
  • Patent number: 8687454
    Abstract: In a semiconductor storage apparatus, an internal address generation unit generates, when receiving successive first and second external addresses, from the second external address an internal address for selecting any of the memory cells connected to bit lines and word lines except the bit line and word line connected to a memory cell to be selected according to the first external address. When receiving the successive external addresses, a memory cell connected to the same bit line and word line is not continuously selected, and erroneous readout due to rewriting of a value of the memory cell in a non-selected state is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Jin Abe, Osamu Ishibashi, Masahiro Ise
  • Patent number: 8687450
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device which performs a refresh operation by sequentially counting a refresh address including a main word line address, a mat address, and a sub word line address in order of the main word line address, the mat address, and the sub word line address. The semiconductor device includes a control signal generation unit configured to activate, latch, and output a toggle control signal when a delayed refresh signal is inputted at the initial stage, deactivate and output the toggle control signal after additionally counting a redundancy word line address when counting of the main word line address with respect to the mat address is completed, and then activate, latch, and output the toggle control signal when the delayed refresh signal is inputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Sik Yun, Kang Seol Lee
  • Patent number: 8659973
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to assertion of a write-enable signal at a memory array that comprises a plurality of words, sequentially and at a first clock frequency writing data to the memory array starting at a beginning of the memory array until the memory array is full. The method includes, independent of the writing of data to the memory array, asynchronously and at a second clock frequency that is slower than the first clock frequency reading data from the memory array based on read addresses received at the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Scott McLeod, William W. Walker
  • Patent number: 8611177
    Abstract: For example, a semiconductor device includes a first latency counter, which selects whether to give an odd-cycle latency to an internal command signal; and a second latency counter, which gives a latency to an internal command signal at intervals of two cycles. The latency counters are connected in series. Since the number of bits in control information, which is used to set a latency, is smaller than the types of settable latency as a result, it is possible to reduce wiring density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroki Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8576656
    Abstract: A latency counter includes an input selecting circuit that selects one of a plurality of signal paths and supplies an internal command to the selected signal path, a shift circuit that switches a correspondence relation between the signal paths and a latch circuit, and an output selecting circuit that causes the internal command taken in the latch circuit to be output. The input selection circuit includes a timing control circuit allocated to each of the signal paths. The timing control circuit includes an SR latch circuit that is set by the internal command and is reset in response to deactivation of a corresponding count value. Therefore, it becomes possible to suppress shortening of an active period of the internal command that is output from the input selecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroki Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8437217
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, devices, modules, and systems for storing operational information in an array of memory cells. One method embodiment includes storing data units of operational information in memory cells of at least one row of a first block of memory cells. The method also includes using a column scramble to shift the order of the data units. The method includes storing the data units in memory cells of at least one row of a second block of memory cells, wherein an order of the data units stored in the at least one row of the second block is different than an order of the data units stored in memory cells of the at least one row of the first block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore T. Pekny
  • Patent number: 8432763
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a plurality of data lines on which data aligned by a plurality of pulse signals are loaded, a plurality of transfer lines, a data transfer unit configured to transfer the data of the plurality of data lines to the plurality of transfer lines in response to a correlation signal, a data output unit configured to output the data of the transfer line corresponding to a transmission signal activated among a plurality of transmission signals, a correlation signal generation unit configured to generate the correlation signal using a latency value and a logic value of one of the plurality of transmission signals when a command is inputted to the correlation signal generation unit, and a pulse signal generation unit configured to sequentially activate the plurality of pulse signals when the command is inputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jinyeong Moon
  • Patent number: 8416639
    Abstract: A multi-chip package includes a plurality of memory chips for performing a content addressable memory (CAM) read operation in response to a command signal for the CAM read operation and an address signal for selecting the memory chips and a controller for outputting the command signal and the address signal to the memory chips and controlling the sequence of the CAM read operations for the memory chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Won Kyung Kang
  • Patent number: 8406077
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a method includes discharging a first dynamic node at a first discharge circuit of a first dynamic circuit structure in response to receiving an asserted discharge signal. The first dynamic circuit structure includes the first dynamic node at a first voltage level and a first keeper circuit that is disabled when the asserted discharge signal is received. The asserted discharge signal has a second voltage level that is different from the first voltage level. A second keeper circuit of a second dynamic circuit structure is enabled responsive to discharging the first dynamic node to maintain a second dynamic node of the second dynamic circuit structure at the first voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Jentsung Ken Lin
  • Patent number: 8400869
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of semiconductor memories, a clock signal synchronization circuit, and a first circuit. The clock signal synchronization circuit is electrically coupled to the plurality of semiconductor memories. The first circuit is electrically coupled to the plurality of semiconductor memories. The first circuit changes a bit width of data. The data is transferred between the first circuit and the plurality of semiconductor memories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Tatsunori Musha
  • Patent number: 8379819
    Abstract: Improved indexing of telephony sessions is achieved by: (a) receiving, during the recording of the telephony session or during a playback of the recording, an indication including parameters which identify a discrete segment of the recording as being of interest; and (b) storing, in an index associated with the recording of the session, an identifier which identifies that discrete segment of the recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Avaya Inc
    Inventors: Alan Diskin, Tony McCormack, John Yoakum, Neil O'Connor
  • Patent number: 8358557
    Abstract: A method of accessing a memory device multiple times in a same time period can include, in a first sequence of accesses, starting an access operation to one of a plurality of banks in synchronism with a first part of a first clock cycle and starting an access operation to another of the plurality of banks in synchronism with a second part of the first clock cycle, each bank having separate access circuits; and the time between consecutive accesses is faster than an access speed for back-to-back accesses to a same one of the banks; wherein during the access operations, storage locations of each bank are accessed in a same time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Tzou, Thinh Tran, Jun Li
  • Patent number: 8358549
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: a plurality of RAM macros; and a test control circuit configured to correlate the plurality of RAM macros with a plurality of memory test execution periods. The test control circuit outputs control signals to the plurality of RAM macros such that one RAM macro of the plurality of RAM macros is tested during one memory test execution period of the plurality of memory test execution periods, the one RAM macro being correlated with the one memory test execution period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tomiyama
  • Patent number: 8339887
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a write data buffer circuit, a memory, and a read data buffer circuit. The write data circuit may be configured to present data in a second format in response to data received in a first format. The memory may be configured to (i) receive the data in the second format and (ii) present the data in the second format. The read data buffer circuit may be configured to (i) receive data in the second format and (ii) present data in a third format. The memory may be configured to allow two reads or two writes during a single clock cycle of reference clock without encountering a data overflow condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Nahum N. Vishne, Lior L. Bandel, Nimrod Alexandron
  • Patent number: 8339874
    Abstract: A memory integrated circuit (IC) includes a read module and a sequence detector module. The read module reads S memory cells (cells) located along one of a bit line and a word line and generates S read signals, where S is an integer greater than 1. The sequence detector module detects a data sequence based on the S read signals and reference signals. The data sequence includes data stored in the S cells. Each of the reference signals includes an interference-free signal associated with one of the S cells and an interference signal associated with another of the S cells that is adjacent to the one of the S cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Xueshi Yang, Zining Wu
  • Patent number: 8325556
    Abstract: A memory-array decoder operably coupled to a memory array comprising a sequence of rows and receiving as input a plurality of address bits includes first and second decoder stages. The first decoder stage selects one or more first rows by decoding a first subset of the address bits, and the second decoder stage selects one or more second rows based on locations, within the sequence, of one or more third rows different from the one or more second rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Contour Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 8289802
    Abstract: A system and method for performing memory operations in a multi-plane flash memory. Commands and addresses are sequentially provided to the memory for memory operations in memory planes. The memory operations are sequentially initiated and the memory operation for at least one of the memory planes is initiated during the memory operation for another memory plane. In one embodiment, each of a plurality of programming circuits is associated with a respective memory plane and is operable to program data to the respective memory plane in response to programming signals and when it is enabled. Control logic coupled to the plurality of programming circuits generates programming signals in response to the memory receiving program commands and further generates programming enable signals to individually enable each of the programming circuits to respond to the programming signals and stagger programming of data to each of the memory planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventor: June Lee
  • Patent number: 8254204
    Abstract: A burst address generator includes a burst bit counter for receiving at least one burst bit, and increasing or decreasing the at least one burst bit, a burst bit splitter for receiving the increased or decreased at least one burst bit from the burst bit counter, and dividing the increased or decreased at least one burst bit into an X burst bit and a Y burst bit, and a selector for receiving an X address, a Y address, the X burst bit, and the Y burst bit, and generating an X burst address based on the X address and the X burst bit and a Y burst address based on the Y address and the Y burst bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Je-young Park, Jae-young Choi, Hyoung-soon Km
  • Patent number: 8238148
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having an architecture for reducing an area is provided. The semiconductor device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, a plurality of registers each configured to store pre-fetch unit data, and a write driver circuit configured to write pre-fetch unit data sequentially output from the plurality of registers to the memory cell array during a write operation. The semiconductor device also includes a sense amplifier circuit configured to sense and amplify pre-fetch unit data sequentially output from the memory cell array and to sequentially store the amplified pre-fetch unit data in the plurality of registers, respectively, during a read operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho Jung Kim, Chul Woo Park, Sang Beom Kang, Jung Min Lee, Hyun Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 8208322
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in a memory system having a non-volatile memory and a controller for limiting the number of non-volatile memory arrays from a plurality of available arrays accessed at one time are useful in the control of concurrent access of memory arrays. One method includes implementing a pipelining sequence for transferring data to and from the non-volatile memory arrays and limiting the number of active arrays operating at one time. The controller is configured to wait for the at least one of the arrays to complete before initiating a transfer to and from a further array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Sergey Anatolievich Gorobets
  • Patent number: 8199604
    Abstract: A flash memory device includes a plurality of memory blocks and a plurality of block selection circuits corresponding to the plurality of memory blocks. All of the block selection circuits are sequentially operated in response to block control signals, or two or more of the block selection circuits are operated in response to the block control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jong-Hyun Wang
  • Patent number: 8184493
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including primary word lines and one or more redundant word lines, a timing signal generating circuit configured to generate a refresh timing signal comprised of a series of pulses arranged at constant intervals, and a refresh-target selecting circuit configured to successively select all the primary word lines and all the one or more redundant word lines one by one in response to the respective pulses of the refresh timing signal, wherein a refresh operation is performed with respect to the word lines that are successively selected by the refresh-target selecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8149643
    Abstract: A memory device and method may include separating alternating read and write accesses to different banks of a memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Tzou, Thinh Tran, Jun Li
  • Patent number: 8135923
    Abstract: In a method for enabling a root device to access a plurality of memory locations in an address space in an endpoint device, a first access is sent to the endpoint device by transmitting a first header and a first address. The header includes a continue bit that is set at a first state that indicates that the first access is accessing a selected first memory location that the address is being sent. A first memory location is accessed when the continue bit is in the first state. A second access, which accesses accessing a second memory location that is contiguous to an immediately previously accessed memory location, is sent to the endpoint device by transmitting a header that includes a continue bit set to a second state and not sending an address. The second memory location corresponds to the first address plus a predetermined address offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan S. Haraden, Adalberto G. Yanes
  • Patent number: 8107294
    Abstract: A method for reading a nonvolatile memory array including an array of memory cells, each memory cell including a substrate, a control gate, a charge storage element, a source region and a drain region, includes receiving, at an address register, a read command including an address for a memory cell in the array of memory cells and an indication regarding whether the read command is a full page read command or a partial page read command. A starting address for a page including the received address is identified, wherein the page includes multiple rows of memory cells in the array of memory cells. The address register is reset to the starting address for the page. It is determined whether all memory cells in the page are non-programmed. Data indicative of a non-programmed state of the page is output if it is determined that all memory cells in the page are non-programmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Hounien Chen, Nancy S. Leong
  • Patent number: 8085605
    Abstract: A memory integrated circuit (IC) includes a read module and a sequence detector module. The read module reads S memory cells (cells) located along one of a bit line and a word line and generates S read signals, where S is an integer greater than 1. The sequence detector module detects a data sequence based on the S read signals and reference signals. The data sequence includes data stored in the S cells. Each of the reference signals includes an interference-free signal associated with one of the S cells and an interference signal associated with another of the S cells that is adjacent to the one of the S cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Xueshi Yang, Zining Wu
  • Publication number: 20110310692
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to assertion of a write-enable signal at a memory array that comprises a plurality of words, sequentially and at a first clock frequency writing data to the memory array starting at a beginning of the memory array until the memory array is full. The method includes, independent of the writing of data to the memory array, asynchronously and at a second clock frequency that is slower than the first clock frequency reading data from the memory array based on read addresses received at the memory array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Scott McLeod, William W. Walker
  • Publication number: 20110292743
    Abstract: Integrated circuits with sequential access memory cells are provided. A sequential access memory cell may include an inverter-like circuit, an inverter, a preset transistor, an access transistor, and a read circuit. The inverter-like circuit and the inverter are cross-coupled to form a bi-stable latch that is powered by a positive power supply line and that has first and second storage nodes. The preset transistor may be connected between the positive power supply line and the first storage node. The inverter-like circuit may include a transistor in its pull-down path. The preset transistor is enabled while the transistor is disabled to write a “1” at the first storage node. The access transistor may be used to write a “0” into the cell. The read circuit may be connected to the second storage node to read data from the cell without inducing a voltage rise at the second storage node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: Randy Zimmerman