IP Library Granted Patent US 9,747,957
Granted Patent B1
US 9,747,957 · App. 15/169,075 · Granted Aug 29, 2017

Power delivery circuitry

Inventor: Shaun Alan Stickel (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G11C5/141G11C5/143G11C7/24G11C14/00G11C16/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,747,957
App. No.
15/169,075
Granted
Aug 29, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a system that includes a memory device. The memory device includes a memory system and an energy storage device including a capacitor. The memory storage device includes power delivery circuitry that delivers to the memory system a first power from the energy storage device and a second power from an external power supply coupled to the memory device.

Claims (40)

1. A system, comprising:

a memory device, comprising:

a memory system;

an energy storage device comprising a capacitor; and

power delivery circuitry configured to deliver to the memory system a first power from the energy storage device and a second power from an external power supply coupled to the memory device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory device comprises a solid state drive.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power delivery circuitry is configured to deliver the first power from the energy storage device when the external power supply is removed from the memory device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory device comprises an isolation switch configured to decouple the external power supply from the memory device during a power outage of the external power supply.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a resistor configured to limit in-rush current to the capacitor, and a discharge switch configured to bypass the resistor while the capacitor discharges.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a grounding switch that couples a first end of the capacitor to ground during a charging operation of the energy storage device, and the energy storage device comprises an output switch that couples the first end of the capacitor to an output of the power delivery circuitry during a discharging operation of the energy storage device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power delivery circuitry is configured to step-down a first voltage from the external power supply to a level suitable for the memory system, and the power delivery circuitry is configured to step-down a second voltage from the energy storage device to the level suitable for the memory system when the external power supply is removed from the memory device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device comprises pre-charge circuitry, and wherein the pre-charge circuitry comprises a resistor and a switch coupled in parallel and configured to pre-charge the capacitor upon application of power to the energy storage device from the external power supply.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is configured to provide a greater voltage level to the power delivery circuitry when the external power supply is decoupled from the memory device.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the capacitor comprises a feed-forward capacitor across the power delivery circuitry.

11. A method, comprising:

coupling a first end of an energy storage device disposed within a memory device to ground while an external power supply charges the energy storage device and provides power to the memory device;

receiving a first signal at the energy storage device instructing the energy storage device to enter a discharge mode;

coupling the first end of the energy storage device to an output of a power delivery circuitry of the memory device; and

delivering power from the energy storage device to the power delivery circuitry.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein delivering power from the energy storage device to the power delivery circuitry comprises delivering power to the power delivery circuitry until the energy storage device is discharged completely.

13. The method of claim 11 , comprising:

receiving a second signal at the energy storage device instructing the energy storage device to enter a charge mode; and

upon receiving the second signal, coupling the first end of the energy storage device to ground.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein, upon receiving the first signal, an isolation switch disposed between the external power supply and the memory device opening to isolate the external power supply from the memory device.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a feed-forward capacitor, and the energy storage device is disposed within the memory device in parallel with the power delivery circuitry.

16. A system, comprising:

an external power supply; and

a solid state memory device, comprising:

a memory system;

an energy storage device; and

power delivery circuitry, wherein the power delivery circuitry is configured to receive a first power from the external power supply coupled to the solid state memory device and a second power from the energy storage device when the first power from the external power supply is removed from the power delivery circuitry, and the power delivery circuitry is configured to deliver a third power to the memory system.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the power delivery circuitry comprises a step-down type voltage regulator.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery, a capacitor, a super-capacitor, or any combination thereof.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a feed-forward capacitor, and the energy storage device is coupled in parallel with the power delivery circuitry.

20. A solid state memory device, comprising:

a memory system;

an energy storage device comprising a feed-forward capacitor; and

power delivery circuitry coupled in parallel with the energy storage device, wherein the power delivery circuitry is configured to deliver to the memory system a first power from an external power supply and a second power from the energy storage device when the external power supply is decoupled from the solid state memory device.

21. The solid state memory device of claim 20 , wherein the power delivery circuitry comprises a buck mode DC-to-DC converter.

22. The solid state memory device of claim 20 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a current limiting resistor and a discharge switch coupled in parallel with the current limiting resistor, wherein the discharge switch is configured to open during a charge operation of the energy storage device and close during a discharge operation of the energy storage device.

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 050676/0782 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 046635/0634 →
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 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 26, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039841/0207 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 25, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039824/0681 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2016
From: STICKEL, SHAUN ALAN
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 038753/0114 →