IP Library Granted Patent US 9,122,420
Granted Patent B2
US 9,122,420 · App. 14/231,393 · Granted Sep 1, 2015

Memory devices having special mode access

Inventors: Theodore T. Pekny (Sunnyvale, CA); Victor Y. Tsai (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G06F3/0679G06F3/0619G06F3/0629G06F13/1694
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,122,420
App. No.
14/231,393
Granted
Sep 1, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory device includes a memory array, a special mode enable register, and a controller. When the controller receives a register write command to write first data into the special mode enable register and the memory device does so, the memory device operates in a first mode. When the controller receives a register write command to write second data into the special mode enable register and the memory device does so, the memory device operates in a second mode.

Claims (22)

1. A memory device comprising:

a memory array;

a special mode enable register; and

a controller configured to receive, from a host device, a register write command, wherein:

when the register write command instructs the memory device to write a first data into the special mode enable register and the first data is written into the special mode enable register, the memory device is configured to operate in a first mode; and

when the register write command instructs the memory device to write a second data into the special mode enable register and the second data is written into the special mode enable register, the memory device is configured to operate in a second mode.

2. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the special mode enable register comprises a parameter page enable component comprising one or more bits configured to enable or disable access to a parameter page of the memory array.

3. The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the first data is configured to, when written to the special mode enable register, cause the parameter page enable component to contain data that causes the memory device to operate in the first mode, wherein the first mode is configured to cause the memory device to permit access to the parameter page via a first command.

4. The memory device of claim 3 , wherein the second data is configured to, when written to the special mode enable register, cause the parameter page enable component to contain data that causes the memory device to operate in the second mode, wherein the second mode is configured to cause the memory device not to permit access to the parameter page via the first command.

5. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the special mode enable register comprises a parameter page enable bit that is configured to be set by the first data and reset by the second data and that, when set, is configured to cause the memory device to operate in the first mode and, when reset, is configured to cause the memory device to operate in the second mode, wherein:

the first mode is configured to cause the memory device to permit access to the parameter page; and

the second mode is configured to cause the memory device not to permit access to the parameter page.

6. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the special mode enable register comprises a block lock writing register that, when written to with the first data, is configured to cause the memory device to operate in the first mode and, when written to with the second data, is configured to cause the memory device to operate in the second mode, wherein:

the first mode is configured to cause the memory device not to permit access to one or more portions of the memory array; and

the second mode is configured to cause the memory device to permit access to the one or more portions of the memory array.

7. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein:

the memory array comprises a one time programmable (OTP) block;

the special mode enable register comprises an OTP enable component comprising one or more bits configured to enable an OTP operating mode in which the memory device is enabled to access the OTP block.

8. The memory device of claim 7 , wherein the special mode enable register comprises an OTP lock component comprising one or more bits configured to allow or disallow writing to the OTP block.

9. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the register write command via a serial interface.

10. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the special mode enable register is configured to control an output buffer drive strength, a desired number of clock cycles of latency for outputting data, an address cycle format to require whole bytes or to use a minimum number of addresses, whether to enable or disable error correcting codes (ECC), or any combination thereof.

11. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the special mode enable register is configured to enable switching between an SPI NAND and an NAND mode.

Assignments (7)
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 →
Continuity (3)
Division 13357533 · Jan 24, 2012
Division 11873826 · Oct 17, 2007
Related Publication 20140215139A1 · Jul 31, 2014