IP Library Granted Patent US 10,607,664
Granted Patent B2
US 10,607,664 · App. 15/928,831 · Granted Mar 31, 2020

Sub-threshold voltage leakage current tracking

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,607,664
App. No.
15/928,831
Granted
Mar 31, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus has an array of memory cells and a controller coupled to the array. The controller is configured to track a sub-threshold leakage current through a number of memory cells of the array and determine a threshold voltage based on the sub-threshold leakage current.

Claims (40)

1. A method, comprising:

determining a sub-threshold leakage current through a first number of memory cells, wherein the first number of memory cells comprises a first page of memory cells of a wear leveled group of pages of memory cells;

determining a threshold voltage based on the sub-threshold leakage current; and

reading at least a second number of memory cells using the threshold voltage, the second number of memory cells comprises a number of second pages of memory cells of the wear leveled group of pages of memory cells.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reading the first number of memory cells using the threshold voltage.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sub-threshold leakage current is a sum of sub-threshold leakage currents through each of the first number of memory cells.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the threshold voltage based on the sub-threshold leakage current, comprises determining a threshold voltage of the first number of memory cells based on the current and adding a particular voltage to threshold voltage.

5. A method, comprising:

determining a sub-threshold leakage current through a first number of memory cells;

determining a threshold voltage based on the sub-threshold leakage current;

reading at least a second number of memory cells using the threshold voltage; and

storing the threshold voltage in volatile memory.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising reading the threshold voltage from volatile memory before reading at least the second number of memory cells.

7. A method, comprising:

determining a sub-threshold leakage current through a first number of memory cells;

determining a threshold voltage based on the sub-threshold leakage current;

reading at least a second number of memory cells using the threshold voltage; and

storing the threshold voltage in non-volatile memory.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising reading the threshold voltage from the non-volatile memory using a ramp voltage before reading at least the second number of memory cells.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein reading the threshold voltage from the non-volatile memory using the ramp voltage comprises determining a configuration pattern based on which memory cells of a number of memory cells in the non-volatile memory experiences a switching event in response to the ramp voltage.

10. A method, comprising:

determining a sub-threshold leakage current through a first number of memory cells,

wherein the first number of memory cells are all programmed to a set state;

determining a threshold voltage based on the sub-threshold leakage current; and

reading at least a second number of memory cells using the threshold voltage.

11. A method, comprising:

determining a sub-threshold leakage current through a first number of memory cells;

determining a threshold voltage based on the sub-threshold leakage current; and

reading at least a second number of memory cells using the threshold voltage, wherein:

the first number of memory cells are a portion of a group of tracking memory cells comprising a third number of memory cells; and

the first number of memory cells are programmed to a set state and the third number of memory cells are programmed to a reset state.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

programming the first number of memory cells to the reset state;

programming the third number of memory cells to the set state; and

reading at least the second number of memory cells using a sensing voltage determined from sub-threshold leakage current through the third number of memory cells.

13. A method, comprising:

determining a sub-threshold leakage current through a first number of memory cells;

determining a threshold voltage based on the sub-threshold leakage current;

reading at least a second number of memory cells using the threshold voltage; and

writing the first number of memory cells each time the second number of memory cells are written.

Assignments (5)
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 11, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050713/0001 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 9 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 9, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047282/0463 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2018
From: FANTINI, PAOLO; AMATO, PAOLO; SFORZIN, MARCO
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 045319/0203 →