SanDisk Assigned Ten Patents

Chip dynamic read for non-volatile storage
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,406,053) developed by Deepanshu Dutta, San Jose, CA, Dana Lee, Saratoga, CA, and Jeffrey Lutze, San Jose, CA, for a "on chip dynamic read for non-volatile storage."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Dynamically determining read levels on chip (e.g., memory die) is disclosed herein. One method comprises reading a group of non-volatile storage elements on a memory die at a first set of read levels. Results of the two most recent of the read levels are stored on the memory die. A count of how many of the non-volatile storage elements in the group showed a different result between the reads for the two most recent read levels is determined. The determining is performed on the memory die using the results stored on the memory die. A dynamic read level is determined for distinguishing between a first pair of adjacent data states of the plurality of data states based on the read level when the count reaches a pre-determined criterion. Note that the read level may be dynamically determined on the memory die."

The patent application was filed on Sept. 21, 2011 (13/239,194).

Metal control gate formation in non-volatile storage
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,409,951) developed by Jarrett Jun Liang, San Francisco, CA, Vinod Robert Purayath, Santa Clara, CA, and Takashi Whitney Orimoto, Sunnyvale, CA, for a "metal control gate formation in non-volatile storage."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Methods for fabricating control gates in non-volatile storage are disclosed. When forming stacks for floating gate memory cells and transistor control gates, a sacrificial material may be formed at the top of the stacks. After insulation is formed between the stacks, the sacrificial material may be removed to reveal openings. In some embodiments, cutouts are then formed in regions in which control gates of transistors are to be formed. Metal is then formed in the openings, which may include the cutout regions. Therefore, floating gate memory cells having at least partially metal control gates and transistors having at least partially metal control gates may be formed in the same process. A barrier layer may be formed prior to depositing the metal in order to prevent silicidation of polysilicon in the control gates."

The patent application was filed on April 4, 2012 (13/439,260).

Detecting completion of programming
for non-volatile storage
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,416,626) developed by Gerrit Jan Hemink, Yokohama, Japan, for a "detecting the completion of programming for non-volatile storage."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A set of non-volatile storage elements are subjected to a programming process in order to store data. During the programming process, one or more verification operations are performed to determine whether the non-volatile storage elements have reached their target condition to store the appropriate data. Programming can be stopped when all non-volatile storage elements have reached their target level or when the number of non-volatile storage elements that have not reached their target level is less than a number or memory cells that can be corrected using an error correction process during a read operation (or other operation). The number of non-volatile storage elements that have not reached their target level can be estimated by counting the number of non-volatile storage elements that have not reached a condition that is different (e.g., lower) than the target level."

The patent application was filed on Sept. 20, 2011 (13/237,814).

Accessing storage system with multiple file systems
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,423,592) developed by seven co-inventors for a "method and system for accessing a storage system with multiple file systems."

The co-inventors are Junzhi Wang, San Jose, CA, Alon Marcu, Tel Mond, Israel, Ori Stern, Modeen, Israel, Susan A. Cannon, Santa Cruz, CA, Xian Jun Liu, San Jose, CA, Chieh-Hao Yang, Sunnyvale, CA, and Po Yuan, Milpitas, CA.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "In order to write data to a storage system accessible with a first and second file system, a manager receives a data write request associated with a file. The manager determines if a function supported by the second file system is needed to complete the write request. If so, the file is opened and extended with the first file system. The file is then opened and written to by the second file system. The file is truncated by the first file system, and closed by both file systems. If the second file system function is not needed, the file is opened, written, and closed by the first file system. In order to read data from a storage system using a function supported by the second file system, the second file system’s cached storage system index is updated, and then the file is opened, read, and closed by the second file system."

The patent application was filed on April 11, 2008 (12/101,569).

Read operation for non-volatile storage
with compensation for coupling
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,427,873) developed by Nima Mokhlesi, Los Gatos, CA, for a "read operation for non-volatile storage with compensation for coupling."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Shifts in the apparent charge stored on a floating gate (or other charge storing element) of a non-volatile memory cell can occur because of the coupling of an electric field based on the charge stored in adjacent floating gates (or other adjacent charge storing elements). The problem occurs most pronouncedly between sets of adjacent memory cells that have been programmed at different times. To account for this coupling, the read process for a particular memory cell will provide compensation to an adjacent memory cell in order to reduce the coupling effect that the adjacent memory cell has on the particular memory cell."

The patent application was filed on May 23, 2011 (13/113,312).

Communicating with non-volatile memory storage device
Sandisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,433,842) developed by Haluk Kent Tanik, Mountain View, CA, for a "method for communicating with a non-volatile memory storage device."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Method for a storage device is provided. The method includes interpreting a command from a host system, wherein a command parser module for a storage device interprets the command; and extracting information regarding an operation from the command, wherein the command parser module extracts the information and interfaces with the host system."

The patent application was filed on June 29, 2007 (11/771,165).

System for communicating
with non-volatile memory storage device
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,429,328) developed by Haluk Kent Tanik, Mountain View, CA, for a "system for communicating with a non-volatile memory storage device."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A storage device is provided. The storage device includes a command parser module for interpreting a command from a host system in a platform independent format; and for extracting information regarding an operation from the command, wherein the command parser module interfaces with the host system."

The patent application was filed on June 29, 2007 (11/771,203).

Identifying at-risk data in non-volatile storage
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,400,854) developed by six co-inventors for an "identifying at-risk data in non-volatile storage."

The co-inventors are Gen Pei, Sunnyvale, CA, Lanlan Gu, San Jose, CA, Nima Mokhlesi, Los Gatos, CA, Idan Alrod, Herzliya, Israel, Eran Sharon, Rishon Lezion, Israel, and Itshak Afriat, Tel-Mond, Israel.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The non-volatile storage system predicts which blocks (or other units of storage) will become bad based on performance data. User data in those blocks predicted to become bad can be re-programmed to other blocks, and the blocks predicted to become bad can be removed from further use."

The patent application was filed on Jan. 26, 2010 (12/694,118).

Removable storage device with interface
to receive image content from camera
Sandisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,436,916) developed by Jason Patrick Hanlon, Scotts Valley, CA, and Fabrice Jogand-Coulomb, San Carlos, CA, for a "removable data storage device with interface to receive image content from a camera."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A data storage device includes an interface removably connectable to a camera to receive from the camera image content in a first format, where the image content is received at the interface from the camera when the camera is operating in a print mode. The data storage device also includes a processor coupled to the interface. The processor processes the received image content in the first format to generate converted image content in a second format. The data storage device also includes a non-volatile memory to store the converted image content in the second format. The data storage device also includes a second interface to a second electronic device. The second interface selectively outputs the image content in the second format to the second electronic device. The data storage device emulates a printer via the interface."

The patent application was filed on Sept. 13, 2012 (13/614,801).

Methods, systems, and computer readable media
for advanced power management
for ATA-based storage devices
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,443,221) developed by Yishai Kagan, Sunnyvale, CA, and Ilya Shlimenzon, San Jose, CA, for "methods, systems, and computer readable media for advanced power management for serial advanced technology attachment (SATA)-based storage devices."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable media for advanced power management for serial advanced technology attachment (SATA)-based storage devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for advanced power management of SATA-based storage devices. The method includes, at a SATA-based storage device having a controller, a non-volatile memory for storing data, and a communication interface for communicating with a host, receiving from the host a command to enter a quiescent mode. In response to receiving the command to enter a quiescent mode, the storage device enters a quiescent mode. The storage device receives from the host an indication that the storage device should enter a low power mode. In response to this indication, the storage device puts at least a portion of the non-volatile memory into a low power mode while maintaining at least a portion of the controller in normal power mode. The storage device optionally puts a physical layer interface of the storage device into a low power mode for additional power savings."

The patent application was filed on March 4, 2011 (13/040,519).