公开(公告)号：US20210280223A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-09

申请号：US17075502

申请日：2020-10-20

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Riccardo Muzzetto ,  Ferdinando Bedeschi ,  Umberto Di Vincenzo

IPC: G11C7/10 ,  G11C7/06 ,  G11C16/10 ,  G11C16/26 ,  G11C29/42

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of operating memory cells, comprising reading a previous user data from the memory cells; writing a new user data and merging the new user data with the previous user data into write registers; generating mask register information, and wherein the mask register information indicates bits of the previous user data stored in the memory cells to be switched or not to be switched in their logic values; counting numbers of a first logic value and a second logic value to be written using the mask register information, respectively; storing the numbers of the first logic value and the second logic value into a first counter and a second counter, respectively; and applying a programming pulse to the memory cells according to the mask register information.

公开(公告)号：US11114147B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-07

申请号：US17118035

申请日：2020-12-10

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Ferdinando Bedeschi ,  Umberto Di Vincenzo

IPC: G11C11/22 ,  G11C11/404 ,  G11C11/409 ,  G11C11/408 ,  G11C7/10 ,  G11C11/4091 ,  G11C7/06 ,  G11C5/14 ,  G11C27/02

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a memory cell or cells are described. A capacitor coupled with an access line may be precharged and then boosted such that the charge stored in the capacitor is elevated to a higher voltage with respect to a memory cell. The boosted charge in the capacitor may support sensing operations that would otherwise require a relatively higher voltage. Some embodiments may employ charge amplification between an access line and a sense component, which may amplify signals between the memory cell and the sense component, and reduce charge sharing between these components. Some embodiments may employ “sample-and-hold” operations, which may re-use certain components of a sense component to separately generate a signal and a reference, reducing sensitivity to manufacturing and/or operational tolerances. In some embodiments, sensing may be further improved by employing “self-reference” operations that use a memory cell to generate its own reference.

公开(公告)号：US20210233578A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-29

申请号：US17165529

申请日：2021-02-02

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Umberto Di Vincenzo ,  Efrem Bolandrina ,  Riccardo Muzzetto ,  Ferdinando Bedeschi

IPC: G11C11/22

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for sensing techniques for a memory cell are described to enable a latch to sense a logic state of a memory cell. A transistor coupled with a memory cell may boost a first voltage associated with the memory cell to a second voltage via one or more parasitic capacitances of the transistor. The second voltage may be developed on a first node of a sense component, and the second voltage may be shifted to a third voltage at a first node of the sense component by applying a voltage to a shift node coupled with a capacitor of the sense component. Similar boosting and shifting operations may be performed to develop a reference voltage on a second node of the sense component. The sense component may sense the state of the memory cell by comparing with the reference voltage.

公开(公告)号：US20210217471A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-15

申请号：US16771657

申请日：2019-12-03

Applicant: Micron Technology , Inc.

Inventor： Umberto Di Vincenzo ,  Riccardo Muzzetto ,  Ferdinando Bedeschi

IPC: G11C13/00

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for reading memory cells, comprising the steps of applying a first read voltage to a plurality of memory cells, detecting first threshold voltages exhibited by the plurality of memory cells in response to application of the first read voltage, based on the first threshold voltages, associating a first logic state to one or more cells of the plurality of memory cells, applying a second read voltage to the plurality of memory cells, wherein the second read voltage has the same polarity of the first read voltage and a higher magnitude than an expected highest threshold voltage of memory cells in the first logic state, detecting second threshold voltages exhibited by the plurality of memory cells in response to application of the second read voltage, based on the second threshold voltages, associating a second logic state to one or more cells of the plurality of memory cells, applying a third read voltage to the plurality of memory cells, wherein the third read voltage has the same polarity of the first and second read voltages and is applied at least to a group of memory cells that, during the application the second read voltage, have been reprogrammed to an opposite logic state, detecting third threshold voltages exhibited by the plurality of memory cells in response to application of the third read voltage, and based on the third threshold voltages, associating one of the first or second logic state to one or more of the cells of the of the plurality of memory cells. A related circuit, a related memory device and a related system are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20210217470A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-15

申请号：US16771177

申请日：2019-12-03

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Umberto Di Vincenzo ,  Riccardo Muzzetto ,  Ferdinando Bedeschi

IPC: G11C13/00

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method, a circuit, and a system for reading memory cells. The method comprises: applying a first voltage with a first polarity to a plurality of the memory cells; applying a second voltage with a second polarity to one or more of said plurality of the memory cells; applying at least a third voltage with the first polarity to one or more of said plurality of the memory cells; detecting electrical responses of memory cells to the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage; and determining a logic state of respective memory cells based on the electrical responses of the memory cells to the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage.

公开(公告)号：US11056178B1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-06

申请号：US16933829

申请日：2020-07-20

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Ferdinando Bedeschi ,  Umberto Di Vincenzo ,  Riccardo Muzzetto ,  Angelo Visconti

IPC: G11C7/06 ,  G11C11/4091 ,  G11C11/4074 ,  G11C11/404 ,  G11C11/4099 ,  G11C11/22 ,  G11C11/24

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for read operations based on a dynamic reference are described. A memory device may include a set of memory cells each associated with a capacitive circuit including a first and second capacitor. After receiving a read command, the memory device may couple each capacitive circuit with a respective memory cell (e.g., to transfer a charge stored by each respective memory cell to a capacitive circuit) and may couple the second capacitor of each capacitive circuit to a reference voltage bus. Thus, a reference voltage on the reference voltage bus may be based on an average charge across the second capacitors of each capacitive circuit. The memory device may then compare a charge stored by the first and second capacitors of each capacitive circuit with the reference voltage bus and may output a set of values stored by the set of memory cells based on the comparing.

公开(公告)号：US20210125655A1

公开(公告)日：2021-04-29

申请号：US17091580

申请日：2020-11-06

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Umberto Di Vincenzo ,  Ferdinando Bedeschi

IPC: G11C11/22

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for full bias sensing in a memory array are described. Various embodiments of an access operation of a cell in a array may be timed to allow residual charge of a middle electrode between the cell and a selection component to discharge. Access operations may also be timed to allow residual charge of middle electrodes associated with other cells to be discharged. In conjunction with an access operation for a target cell, a residual charge of a middle electrode of another cell may be discharged, and the target cell may then be accessed. A capacitor in electronic communication with a cell may be charged and a logic state of the cell determined based on the charge of the capacitor. The timing for charging the capacitor may be related to the time for discharging a middle electrode of the cell or another cell.

公开(公告)号：US20210065763A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-04

申请号：US16552984

申请日：2019-08-27

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Umberto Di Vincenzo ,  Ferdinando Bedeschi ,  Riccardo Muzzetto

IPC: G11C11/22

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for word line timing management are described. In some examples, a digit line may be precharged as part of accessing a memory cell. The memory cell may include a storage component and a selection component. A word line may be coupled with the selection component, and the word line may be selected in order to couple the storage component with the digit line, by way of the selection component. The word line may be selected while the digit line is still being precharged, and the storage component may become coupled with the digit line with reduced delay after the end of precharging of the digit line, concurrent with the end of the precharging of the digit line, or while the digit line is still being charged. Related techniques for sensing a logic state stored by the memory cell are also described.

公开(公告)号：US10896710B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-19

申请号：US16592630

申请日：2019-10-03

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Ferdinando Bedeschi ,  Umberto Di Vincenzo

IPC: G11C11/22 ,  G11C11/404 ,  G11C11/409 ,  G11C11/408 ,  G11C7/10 ,  G11C11/4091 ,  G11C7/06 ,  G11C5/14 ,  G11C27/02

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating a memory cell or cells are described. A capacitor coupled with an access line may be precharged and then boosted such that the charge stored in the capacitor is elevated to a higher voltage with respect to a memory cell. The boosted charge in the capacitor may support sensing operations that would otherwise require a relatively higher voltage. Some embodiments may employ charge amplification between an access line and a sense component, which may amplify signals between the memory cell and the sense component, and reduce charge sharing between these components. Some embodiments may employ “sample-and-hold” operations, which may re-use certain components of a sense component to separately generate a signal and a reference, reducing sensitivity to manufacturing and/or operational tolerances. In some embodiments, sensing may be further improved by employing “self-reference” operations that use a memory cell to generate its own reference.

公开(公告)号：US10854266B1

公开(公告)日：2020-12-01

申请号：US16523404

申请日：2019-07-26

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Umberto Di Vincenzo ,  Ferdinando Bedeschi

IPC: G11C11/22

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for full bias sensing in a memory array are described. Various embodiments of an access operation of a cell in a array may be timed to allow residual charge of a middle electrode between the cell and a selection component to discharge. Access operations may also be timed to allow residual charge of middle electrodes associated with other cells to be discharged. In conjunction with an access operation for a target cell, a residual charge of a middle electrode of another cell may be discharged, and the target cell may then be accessed. A capacitor in electronic communication with a cell may be charged and a logic state of the cell determined based on the charge of the capacitor. The timing for charging the capacitor may be related to the time for discharging a middle electrode of the cell or another cell.