SanDisk Assigned Eight Patents

Non-volatile storage
having connected source and well
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,450,174) developed by Masaaki Higashitani, Cupertino, CA, for a "non-volatile storage having a connected source and well."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A non-volatile storage device is disclosed that includes a set of connected non-volatile storage elements formed on a well, a bit line contact positioned in the well, a source line contact positioned in the well, a bit line that is connected to the bit line contact, and a source line that is connected to the source line contact and the well."

The patent application was filed on June 30, 2011 (13/173,537).

Distributed storage service systems
and architecture
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,452,927) developed by Alain Nochimowski, Tel Aviv, Israel, Itzhak Pomerantz, Kfar Saba, Israel, and Micha Rave, Herzliya, Israel, for a "distributed storage service systems and architecture."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Various methods, devices and systems are described for providing distributed storage services. A storage device is capable of initiating a communication session with an external entity such as a local host computer (and vice versa) coupled directly to the storage device, a remote server computer, or directly with remote storage devices with or without intervention by a local host computer."

The patent application was filed on Jan. 24, 2008 (12/019,573).

Compensation of non-volatile memory chip
non-idealities by program pulse adjustment
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,472,255) developed by four co-inventors for a "compensation of non-volatile memory chip non-idealities by program pulse adjustment."

The co-inventors are Nima Mokhlesi, Los Gatos, CA, Dengtao Zhao, Sunnyvale, CA, Henry Chin, Palo Alto, CA, and Tapan Samaddar, Santa Clara, CA

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "To program a set of non-volatile storage elements, a set of programming pulses are applied to the control gates (or other terminals) of the non-volatile storage elements. The programming pulses have pulse widths that vary as a function of simulated pulse magnitude data. The programming pulses can also have pulse magnitudes that vary based on measurements taken while testing the set of non-volatile storage elements. In one embodiment, the pulse widths are determined after simulation performed prior to fabrication of the non-volatile storage elements. In another embodiment, the pulse magnitudes are calculated after fabrication of the non-volatile storage elements."

The patent application was filed on Sept. 6, 2012 (13/605,714).

Decoding data in non-volatile storage
using reliability metrics based on multiple reads
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,468,424) developed by Nima Mokhlesi, Los Gatos, CA, Henry Chin, Palo Alto, CA, and Dengtao Zhao, Sunnyvale, CA, for a "method for decoding data in non-volatile storage using reliability metrics based on multiple reads."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Data stored in non-volatile storage is decoded using iterative probabilistic decoding and multiple read operations to achieve greater reliability. An error correcting code such as a low density parity check code may be used. In one approach, initial reliability metrics, such as logarithmic likelihood ratios, are used in decoding read data of a set of non-volatile storage element. The decoding attempts to converge by adjusting the reliability metrics for bits in code words which represent the sensed state. If convergence does not occur, e.g., within a set time period, the state of the non-volatile storage element is sensed again, current values of the reliability metrics in the decoder are adjusted, and the decoding again attempts to converge."

The patent application was filed on Feb. 10, 2011 (13/024,676).

Intelligent shifting of read pass voltages
for non-volatile storage
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,456,911) developed by Jiahui Yuan, Milpitas, CA, Yingda Dong, San Jose, CA, and Charles Kwong, Redwood City, CA, for an "intelligent shifting of read pass voltages for non-volatile storage."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A first read pass voltage is determined and optimized for cycled memory. One or more starting read pass voltages are determined for one or more dies. The system dynamically calculates a current read pass voltage based on the number of program/erase erase cycles, the first read pass voltage and the respective starting read pass voltage. Data is read from one or more non-volatile storage elements using the calculated current read pass voltage."

The patent application was filed on June 7, 2011 (13/155,323).

Program code execution
with memory storage controller participation
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,484,632) developed by Fabrice Jogand-Coulomb, San Carlos, CA, for a "system for program code execution with memory storage controller participation."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "System for application program code execution is provided. The system includes, a host system having a processor for executing a first segment of the application program code; and a memory storage device that stores application program code, such that the first segment of the application program code is loaded to a host system memory from the memory storage device and then executed by the host system processor, and the memory storage device executes a second segment of the application program code to participate in application program code execution."

The patent application was filed on Dec. 22, 2005 (11/315,113).

Programming non-volatile storage
with fast bit detection and verify skip
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,456,915) developed by four co-inventors for a "programming non-volatile storage with fast bit detection and verify skip."

The co-inventors are Changyuan Chen, Sunnyvale, CA, Jeffrey Lutze, Yingda Dong, San Jose, CA, and Hua-Ling Hsu, Milpitas, CA

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. Non-volatile storage elements being programmed to a first set of one or more targets are verified to determine whether they have reached their target and are locked out of further programming if it is determined that they have reached their target. Non-volatile storage elements being programmed to the second set of one or more targets are tested to determine the number of fast programming bits. When the number of fast bits for a particular target is greater than a threshold, then programming stops for the non-volatile storage elements being programmed to the particular target."

The patent application was filed on March 30, 2012 (13/436,805).

Synchronized maintenance operations
in multi-bank storage system
SanDisk Technologies, Inc., Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,452,911) developed by four co-inventors for a "synchronized maintenance operations in a multi-bank storage system."

The co-inventors are Sergey Anatolievich Gorobets, Edinburgh, Alan David Bennett, Edinburgh, UK, Charles Michael Schroter, Los Gatos, CA, and Eugene Zilberman, Richmond Hill, Canada.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A method and system for managing maintenance operations in a multi-bank non-volatile storage device is disclosed. The method includes receiving a data write command and associated data from a host system for storage in the non-volatile storage device and directing a head of the data write command to a first bank in the and a tail of the data write command to a second bank, where the head of the data write command only includes data having logical block addresses preceding logical block addresses of data in the tail of the data write command. When a status of the first bank delays execution of the data write command the controller executes a second bank maintenance procedure in the second bank while the data write command directed to the first and second banks is pending. The system includes a plurality of banks, where each bank may be associated with the same or different controllers, and the one or more controllers are adapted to execute the method noted above."

The patent application was filed on Sept. 30, 2010 (12/895,383).