IP Library Granted Patent US 10,068,649
Granted Patent B2
US 10,068,649 · App. 15/598,103 · Granted Sep 4, 2018

Apparatuses and methods for performing multiple memory operations

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,068,649
App. No.
15/598,103
Granted
Sep 4, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosed technology relates to a memory device configured to perform multiple access operations in response to a single command received through a memory controller and a method of performing the multiple access operations. In one aspect, the memory device includes a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells and a memory controller. The memory controller is configured to receive a single command which specifies a plurality of memory access operations to be performed on the memory array. The memory controller is further configured to cause the specified plurality of memory access operations to be performed on the memory array.

Claims (46)

1. A memory device comprising:

a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells; and

a memory controller coupled with the memory array and configured to:

receive a single command indicating a plurality of memory access operations to be performed on respective memory cells of the plurality of memory cells;

perform a single pre-access operation on the memory array based at least in part on the single command; and

perform the plurality of memory access operations on the respective memory cells after performing the single pre-access operation on the memory array.

2. The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a row decoder coupled with the memory controller and a plurality of rows corresponding to at least some memory cells of the plurality of memory cells of the memory array.

3. The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the single pre-access operation comprises pre-charging the plurality of rows from a first voltage to a second voltage greater than the first voltage.

4. The memory device of claim 3 , wherein the memory controller is further configured to:

perform a single post-access operation on the memory array after performing the plurality of memory access operations on the respective memory cells.

5. The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the single post-access operation comprises discharging the plurality of rows to a third voltage lower than the second voltage.

6. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the single command is received via a command protocol.

7. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of memory cells comprises phase change memory (PCM) cells.

8. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of memory access operations comprises a first memory access operation and a second memory access operation, wherein the first and second memory access operations comprise a SET operation or a RESET operation, or a combination thereof.

9. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein each memory access operation of the plurality of memory access operations in the single command comprises a program operation, a read operation, or both.

10. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein at least some memory cells of the plurality of memory cells are connected to a same row of the memory array and are connected to different columns of the memory array.

11. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller is further configured to:

perform first and second memory access operations of the plurality of memory access operations; and

refrain from performing a discharge operation on a plurality of rows of the memory array between the first and second memory access operations.

12. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller is further configured to:

apply, after performing a first memory access operation on a first cell of the plurality of memory cells and before performing a second memory access operation on a second cell of the plurality of memory cells, a first verification pulse to the first cell; and

apply, after performing the second memory access operation on the second cell of the plurality of memory cells, a second verification pulse to the second cell.

13. The memory device of claim 12 , wherein the first cell and the second cell are a same memory cell.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a single command indicating a plurality of memory access operations to be performed on respective memory cells of a plurality of memory cells of a memory array;

performing a single pre-access operation on the memory array based at least in part on the single command; and

performing the plurality of memory access operations on the respective memory cells after performing the single pre-access operation.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein performing the single pre-access operation comprises:

pre-charging at least one row corresponding to at least one respective memory cell from an initial voltage to a pre-charge voltage greater than the initial voltage.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

discharging, after performing the plurality of memory access operations on the respective memory cells, at least one row corresponding to at least one respective memory cell to an initial voltage.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein performing the plurality of memory access operations comprises:

performing a first memory access operation of the plurality of memory access operations;

performing a first verification operation after performing the first memory access operation; and

performing a second memory access operation of the plurality of memory access operations after performing the first verification operation, wherein the second memory access operation is performed before performing a discharge operation on a plurality of rows of the memory array.

18. A memory device comprising:

a memory cell; and

a memory controller coupled with the memory cell and configured to:

receive a single command indicating a plurality of memory access operations to be performed on the memory cell;

perform, before performing the plurality of memory access operations, a single pre-access operation on the memory cell based at least in part on the single command; and

perform the plurality of memory access operations on the memory cell specified by the single command.

19. The memory device of claim 18 , further comprising:

a row decoder coupled with the memory controller and a row corresponding to the memory cell, wherein the single pre-access operation comprises pre-charging the row from an initial voltage to a pre-charge voltage.

20. The memory device of claim 19 , further comprising:

a column decoder coupled with the memory controller and a column corresponding to the memory cell, wherein the single pre-access operation further comprises pre-charging the column from the initial voltage to the pre-charge voltage.

Assignments (6)
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 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050700/0535 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 046597/0393 →
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. 5 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 043482/0776 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 5 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 043483/0686 →