# US 12,001,358 B2 · Status check using signaling from a memory device

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,001,358 B2
- Document ID: US12001358B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/114,617
- Filed: 2023-02-27
- Published: 2023-09-07
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-11-25
- Assignees: Micron Technology, Inc.
- Applicants: Micron Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: Reshmi Basu; Jonathan S. Parry
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12001358B2

## CPC

- G06F 13/1689: {Synchronisation and timing concerns (synchronisation on a memory bus G06F13/4234)}
- G06F 1/12: Synchronisation of different clock signals {provided by a plurality of clock generators}
- G11C 7/1063: {Control signal output circuits, e.g. status or busy flags, feedback command signals}
- G11C 29/022: {in I/O circuitry}
- G11C 29/028: {with adaption or trimming of parameters}
- G11C 2029/4402: {Internal storage of test result, quality data, chip identification, repair information}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G11C: STATIC STORES (semiconductor memory devices H10B)

## Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for status check using signaling are described. A memory system may receive ready signals from memory dies. The ready signal may indicate whether a memory die is available to receive a command. The memory system may generate an indicator of whether the memory die is available based on values of ready signals. The memory system may output the indicator to a controller over one or more pins based on generating the indicator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
a memory device comprising a plurality of memory dies, each memory die of the plurality of memory dies configured to output a ready signal that indicates whether a memory die is available to receive a command;
an output circuit coupled with each memory die of the plurality of memory dies and configured to receive a plurality of ready signals associated with the plurality of memory dies via a corresponding latch and generate an indicator corresponding to a selected memory die of the plurality of memory dies based at least in part on receiving the plurality of ready signals; and
a first pin coupled with the output circuit and configured to output the indicator to a controller over an input/output (I/O) channel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of channels for respectively coupling each memory die of the plurality of memory dies with the output circuit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes a bit that indicates whether a particular memory die is available to receive the command.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output circuit communicates the indicator for one of the plurality of memory dies at every clock cycle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller identifies the ready signal associated with each memory die of the plurality of memory dies based at least in part on an initialization operation for the output circuit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output circuit synchronizes the indicator corresponding to the selected memory die based at least in part on a clock rate associated with the controller.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output circuit includes a shift register that receives the ready signal from each of the plurality of memory dies.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the shift register outputs the indicator for each of the plurality of memory dies in a rotating manner.

### Claim 9

An apparatus, comprising:
a memory device comprising a plurality of memory dies, each memory die of the plurality of memory dies configured to output a ready signal that indicates whether a memory die is available to receive a command;
an output circuit coupled with each memory die of the plurality of memory dies and configured to receive a plurality of ready signals associated with the plurality of memory dies and generate an indicator configured to indicate whether the memory die is available based at least in part on values of the plurality of ready signals;
a plurality of first pins coupled with the output circuit and configured to output a first portion of the indicator to a controller over a first input/output (I/O) channel, wherein the plurality of memory dies comprises 2n memory dies, where n is a number of the plurality of first pins; and
a second pin coupled with the output circuit and configured to output a second portion of the indicator to the controller over a second I/O channel, wherein the second portion of the indicator is configured to indicate whether the controller may access the first portion of the indicator over the first I/O channel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes information indicative of one or more of a plane, block, or page associated with each of the plurality of memory dies.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the output circuit includes an encoder for receiving the plurality of ready signals and encoding the first portion of the indicator and the second portion of the indicator.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indicator includes an address of the memory die that is available.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the indicator includes an indication of an index or address of the memory die that is available.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of ready signals each includes a time stamp which provides an indication of an order in which the plurality of memory dies may receive the command.

### Claim 15

An apparatus, comprising:
a memory device; and
a control circuit coupled with the memory device and configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive a plurality of ready signals from a plurality of memory dies, a ready signal of the plurality of ready signals configured to indicate whether a memory die of the plurality of memory dies is available to receive a command;
generate an indicator of whether the memory die is available based at least in part on values of the plurality of ready signals; and
output the indicator to a controller, wherein the indicator includes an indication of the memory die of the plurality of memory dies that is available.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control circuit includes an encoder for receiving the plurality of ready signals and encoding the indicator.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the indicator includes an address of the memory die that is available.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the indicator includes a second indication of an index of the memory die that is available.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of ready signals each includes a time stamp that provides an order in which the plurality of memory dies may receive the command.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive an enable signal configured to activate an output circuit to output the indicator, wherein outputting the indicator is based at least in part on receiving the enable signal.
