IP Library Granted Patent US 6,867,992
Granted Patent B2
US 6,867,992 · App. 10/342,122 · Granted Mar 15, 2005

Modular memory device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,867,992
App. No.
10/342,122
Granted
Mar 15, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, a modular memory device is presented comprising a substrate, a memory array fabricated above the substrate, and first and second circuitry fabricated on the substrate and under the memory array. The first and second circuitry allow the modular memory device to interface with first and second varieties of host devices, respectively. In another embodiment, a modular memory device is presented comprising a substrate, a memory array fabricated above the substrate, memory array support circuitry fabricated on the substrate, and logic circuitry fabricated on the substrate and under the memory array.

Claims (31)

1. A modular memory device comprising:

a substrate;

a memory array fabricated above the substrate;

first circuitry fabricated on the substrate and under the memory array, the first circuitry allowing the modular memory device to interface with a first variety of host devices; and

second circuitry fabricated on the substrate and under the memory array, the second circuitry allowing the modular memory device to interface with a second variety of host devices.

2. The invention of claim 1 , wherein the memory array comprises a two-dimensional memory array.

3. The invention of claim 1 , wherein the memory array comprises a plurality of layers of memory cells stacked vertically above one another in a single chip.

4. The invention of claim 1 , wherein the memory array comprises a plurality of write-once memory cells.

5. The invention of claim 1 , wherein the memory array comprises a plurality of field-programmable memory cells.

6. The invention of claim 1 further comprising:

a support element carrying the substrate; and

an electrical connector carried by the support element and coupled with the first and second circuitry.

7. The invention of claim 1 , wherein the first variety of host devices operates in accordance with a CompactFlash protocol, and wherein the second variety of host devices operates in accordance with a SmartMedia protocol.

8. The invention of claim 1 , wherein the first circuitry implements an interrupt management function for the first variety of host devices, and wherein the second circuitry implements an interrupt management function for the second variety of host devices.

9. The invention of claim 1 , wherein the first and second circuitry are part of a device interface unit.

10. A modular memory device comprising:

a substrate;

a memory array fabricated above the substrate;

memory array support circuitry fabricated on the substrate; and

logic circuitry fabricated on the substrate and under the memory array;

wherein the modular memory device is free of a memory array between the substrate and the logic circuitry.

11. The invention of claim 10 , wherein the memory array support circuitry comprises row and column decoder circuits.

12. The invention of claim 10 , wherein the memory array support circuitry is under the memory array.

13. The invention of claim 10 , wherein the logic circuitry comprises first circuitry operative to allow the modular memory device to interface with a first variety of host devices.

14. The invention of claim 13 , wherein the logic circuitry additionally comprises second circuitry operative to allow the modular memory device to interface with second variety of host devices.

15. The invention of claim 14 , wherein the first variety of host devices operates in accordance with a CompactFlash protocol, and wherein the second variety of host devices operates in accordance with a SmartMedia protocol.

16. The invention of claim 14 , wherein the first circuitry implements an interrupt management function for the first variety of host devices, and wherein the second circuitry implements an interrupt management function for the second variety of host devices.

17. The invention of claim 10 , wherein the memory array comprises a two-dimensional memory array.

18. The invention of claim 10 , wherein the memory array comprises a plurality of layers of memory cells stacked vertically above one another in a single chip.

19. The invention of claim 10 , wherein the memory array comprises a plurality of write-once memory cells.

20. The invention of claim 10 , wherein the memory array comprises a plurality of field-programmable memory cells.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2021
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: INNOVATIVE MEMORY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058093/0991 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 25, 2016
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES INC
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 038813/0004 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT LISTED PATENT NUMBER 8853569 TO THE CORRECT PATENT NUMBER 8883569 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038300 FRAME 0665. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 25, 2016
From: SANDISK 3D LLC
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 038520/0552 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2016
From: SANDISK 3D LLC.
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 038300/0665 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECTIVE MERGER TO ADD PAGES TO THE MERGER DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 017544 FRAME 0769. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Mar 2, 2007
From: MATRIX SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: SANDISK 3D LLC
Reel/Frame 018950/0686 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 28, 2006
From: MATRIX SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: SANDISK 3D LLC
Reel/Frame 017544/0769 →