IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,254,174
Granted Patent B2
US 8,254,174 · App. 12/365,533 · Granted Aug 28, 2012

Memory segment accessing in a memory device

Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,254,174
App. No.
12/365,533
Granted
Aug 28, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods for programming memory devices, a memory device, and memory systems are provided. According to at least one such method, bit lines a memory segment are read at substantially the same time by coupling a selected memory segment, and at some of the data lines of any intervening segments, to respective data caches. The bit lines of the unselected memory segments that are not used to couple the selected segment to the data caches can be coupled to their respective source lines. Other methods, devices, and systems are also provided.

Claims (24)

1. A method for accessing a memory segment of a plurality of memory segments, the method comprising:

switching data lines of a selected memory segment to a plurality of data caches, each switched data line switched to a different, respective one of the plurality of data caches;

switchably uncoupling at least one data line of at least one unselected memory segment from a respective one of at least one of the data caches, wherein the at least one segment includes at least one data line coupled to at least one of the data caches and at least one data line that is not coupled to one of the data caches;

switching the at least one data line of the at least one unselected memory segment to a source line; and

biasing each of the data lines of the selected memory segment with a respective voltage that is responsive to a distance of the respective data line from its respective data cache.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein coupling the selected memory segment comprises coupling each of the data lines of the selected memory segment to data caches.

3. The method of claim 2 and further comprising adjusting a voltage applied to each coupled data line in response to which of the memory segments is selected.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the source line is at ground potential.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each memory segment is comprised of a plurality of data lines organized as odd data lines and even data lines.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein both odd and even data lines of the selected memory segment are accessed substantially simultaneously and the at least one data line of the at least one unselected memory segment act as a shield for the data lines of the selected memory segment.

7. A method for accessing data lines of a selected memory segment of a plurality of memory segments, the method comprising:

connecting the data lines of the selected memory segment, to their respective data caches of a plurality of data caches wherein each connected data line is connected to a different one of the plurality of data caches;

connecting at least one data line of at least one unselected memory segment that is not located between the selected memory segment and a respective one of the data caches to a source line; and

biasing each of the data lines of the selected memory segment with a respective voltage that is responsive to a distance of the respective data line from its respective data cache.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein each memory segment is associated with a different source line.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein connecting the data lines of the selected memory segment comprises switching the data lines of the selected memory segment to their respective data caches.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein connecting the at least one data line of the at least one unselected memory segment comprises switching the at least one data line of the at least one unselected memory segment to the source line.

11. A method for accessing data lines of a selected memory segment of a plurality of memory segments, the method comprising:

switching data lines of the selected memory segment to their respective data caches substantially simultaneously wherein each data line is switched to a different one of the data caches;

switching, to their respective source lines, data lines of unselected memory segments not used to couple the selected memory segment to the data caches; and

biasing each of the data lines of the selected memory segment with a respective voltage that is responsive to a distance of the respective data line from its respective data cache.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein odd data lines are switched to odd data caches and even data lines are switched to even data caches.

13. The method of claim 11 and further including using at least one data line of at least one unselected memory segment, that is located between the selected memory segment and the at least one of the data caches, to couple the selected memory segment to the at least one of the data caches.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the voltage is adjusted by its respective data cache.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: TANAKA, TOMOHARU
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 022205/0905 →
Continuity (1)
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