IP Library Granted Patent US 9,437,256
Granted Patent B2
US 9,437,256 · App. 14/660,219 · Granted Sep 6, 2016

Data shifting

Inventors: Timothy B. Cowles (Boise, ID); Steven M. Bodily (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G11C7/06G11C5/06G11C7/08G11C11/4091G11C19/00G11C7/1036G11C2207/002G11C2207/005
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,437,256
App. No.
14/660,219
Granted
Sep 6, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to data shifting. An example apparatus comprises a first memory cell coupled to a first sense line of an array, a first isolation device located between the first memory cell and first sensing circuitry corresponding thereto, and a second isolation device located between the first memory cell and second sensing circuitry corresponding to a second sense line. The first and the second isolation devices are operated to shift data in the array without transferring the data via an input/output line of the array.

Claims (66)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first memory cell and a second memory cell;

a first sense line coupled to the first memory cell;

a second sense line coupled to the second memory cell;

a first transistor device including a first node coupled to the first sense line;

a second transistor including a first node coupled to the second sense line;

a third transistor coupled between the first sense line and the second sense line;

a first sensing circuitry coupled to a second node of the first transistor;

a second sensing circuitry coupled to a second node of the second transistor; and

a fourth transistor coupled between the first node of the first transistor and the second node of the second transistor and including a control node coupled to a second control node supplying a second control signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the third transistor is coupled between the second node of the first transistor and the first node of the second transistor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a control node of the third transistor is coupled to a first control node supplying a first control signal.

4. A method comprising:

reading out data from a first memory cell to a first sense line while disconnecting the first sense line from a second sensing circuitry to which the first sense line is coupled;

connecting the first sense line to a first sensing circuitry so that the first sensing circuitry amplifies the data on the first sense line to produce amplified data;

disconnecting the first sense line from the first sensing circuitry; and

storing the amplified data into a second memory cell through a second sense line coupled to the second memory cell.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the storing the amplified data into the second memory cell includes storing the amplified data into an accumulator.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the amplified data is stored in the second memory cell while the first memory cell is being accessed.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second sensing circuitry is coupled to the first sense line via a first transistor having a first node coupled to the first sense line and a second node coupled to the second sense line.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein disconnecting the first sense line from the first sensing circuitry includes enabling a second transistor having a first node coupled to the first node of the first transistor.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a first word line;

first and second sense lines each intersecting the first word line;

first and second memory cells disposed at an intersection of the first word line and the first sense line and an intersection of the first word line and the second sense line;

first and second sensing circuits;

a first switch coupled between the first sense line and the first sensing circuit;

a second switch coupled between the second sense line and the second sensing circuit; and

a third switch coupled between the first sensing circuit and the second sense line.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the third switch is turned OFF when each of the first and second switches is turned ON, and the third switch is turned ON when each of the first and second switch is turned OFF.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a fourth switch coupled between the first sensing circuit and the second sensing circuit.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each of the third and fourth switches is turned OFF when each of the first and second switches is turned ON, and each of the third and fourth switches is turned ON when each of the first and second switches is turned OFF.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the third switch is coupled to the first sensing line through the first switch.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the fourth switch is coupled to the second sensing line through the second switch.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising first and second accumulators provided for the first and second sensing circuits, respectively.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first and second accumulators are formed on pitch with memory cells of an array comprising the first and second memory cells.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a first memory cell and a second memory cell;

a first sense line coupled to the first memory cell;

a second sense line coupled to the second memory cell;

a first transistor device including a first node coupled to the first sense line;

a second transistor including a first node coupled to the second sense line;

a third transistor coupled between the first sense line and the second sense line;

a first sensing circuitry coupled to a second node of the first transistor;

a second sensing circuitry coupled to a second node of the second transistor; and

wherein a control node of the first transistor and a control node of the second transistor are coupled to a third control node supplying a control signal.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a first memory cell and a second memory cell;

a first sense line coupled to the first memory cell;

a second sense line coupled to the second memory cell;

a first transistor device including a first node coupled to the first sense line;

a second transistor including a first node coupled to the second sense line;

a third transistor coupled between the first sense line and the second sense line;

a first sensing circuitry coupled to a second node of the first transistor;

a second sensing circuitry coupled to a second node of the second transistor; and

wherein the first memory cell and the second memory cell are coupled to a same first word line.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a first memory cell and a second memory cell;

a first sense line coupled to the first memory cell;

a second sense line coupled to the second memory cell;

a first transistor device including a first node coupled to the first sense line;

a second transistor including a first node coupled to the second sense line;

a third transistor coupled between the first sense line and the second sense line;

a first sensing circuitry coupled to a second node of the first transistor;

a second sensing circuitry coupled to a second node of the second transistor; and

a first accumulator coupled to the first sense line to temporarily store a data value on the first sense line.

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 Mar 17, 2015
From: COWLES, TIMOTHY B.; BODILY, STEVEN M.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 035183/0969 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14031432 · Sep 19, 2013
Related Publication 20150187395A1 · Jul 2, 2015