SanDisk Assigned Four Patents

Embodiment of non-volatile memory storage system
comprises memory controller, and flash memory module
SanDisk Technologies, Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,504,784) developed by Shai Traister, Sunnyvale, CA, for “scheduling methods of phased garbage collection and housekeeping operations in a flash memory system.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An embodiment of a non-volatile memory storage system comprises a memory controller, and a flash memory module. The memory controller manages the storage operations of the flash memory module. The memory controller is configured to assign a priority level to one or more types of house keeping operations that may be higher than a priority level of one or more types of commands received by a host coupled to the storage system, and to service all operations required of the flash memory module according to priority.”

The patent application was filed on June 27, 2007 (11/769,033).

P-/Metal floating gate non-volatile storage element
SanDisk Technologies, Plano, TX, has been assigned a patent (8,503,229) developed by five co-inventors for a “P-/Metal floating gate non-volatile storage element.”

The co-inventors are Sanghyun Lee, Davis, CA, Mohan Dunga, Santa Clara, CA, Masaaki Higashitani, Cupertino, CA, Tuan Pham, San Jose, CA, and Franz Kreupl, Munich, Germany.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Non-volatile storage elements having a P-/metal floating gate are disclosed herein. The floating gate may have a P- region near the tunnel oxide, and may have a metal region near the control gate. A P- region near the tunnel oxide helps provide good data retention. A metal region near the control gate helps to achieve a good coupling ratio between the control gate and floating gate. Therefore, programming of non-volatile storage elements is efficient. Also, erasing the non-volatile storage elements may be efficient. In some embodiments, having a P- region near the tunnel oxide (as opposed to a strongly doped p-type semiconductor) may improve erase efficiency relative to P+.”

The patent application was filed on June 6, 2011 (13/153,964).

Simultaneous multi-state read or verify in non-volatile storage
SanDisk IL, Kfar Saba, Israel, has been assigned a patent (8,509,000) developed by Eran Sharon, Rishon Lezion, Israel, Yan Li, Milpitas, CA, and Nima Mokhlesi, Los Gatos, CA, for a “simultaneous multi-state read or verify in non-volatile storage.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Methods and devices for simultaneously verifying or reading multiple states in non-volatile storage are disclosed. Methods and devices for efficiently reducing or eliminating cross-coupling effects in non-volatile storage are disclosed. Methods and devices for efficiently performing reads at a number of voltages to search for the threshold voltage of a memory cell are disclosed. Memory cells on different NAND strings that are read at the same time may be tested for different threshold voltage levels. Memory cells may be tested for different threshold voltages by applying different gate-to-source voltages to memory cells being tested for different threshold voltages. Memory cells may be tested for different threshold voltages by applying different drain to source voltages to the memory cells. Different amounts of compensation for cross-coupling affects may be applied to memory cells on different NAND strings that are read or programmed at the same time.”

The patent application was filed on June 7, 2012 (13/491,166).

Managing upload of files in shared cache storage system
SanDisk IL, Kfar Saba, Israel, has been assigned a patent (8,549,229) developed by four co-inventors for “systems and methods for managing an upload of files in a shared cache storage system.”

The co-inventors are Joseph R. Meza, Aliso Viejo, CA, Judah Gamliel Hahn, Ofra, Israel, Henry Hutton, Tracy, CA, and Leah Sherry, Milpitas, CA.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Systems and methods for managing a storage device are disclosed. Generally, in a host to which a storage device is operatively coupled, wherein the storage device includes a cache for storing one or more discardable files, a file is identified to be uploaded to an external location. A determination is made whether sufficient free space exists in the cache to pre-stage the file for upload to the external location and the file is stored in the cache upon determining that sufficient free space exists in the cache to pre-stage the file for upload to the external location, wherein pre-stating prepares a file for opportunistically uploading such file in accordance with an uploading policy.”

The patent application was filed on Sept. 30, 2010 (12/895,397).