Minoru Ohkawa

Title: Minoru Ohkawa: Innovator in Nonvolatile Semiconductor Memory Technology

Introduction

Minoru Ohkawa is a distinguished inventor based in Hyogo-ken, Japan. He has made significant contributions to the field of semiconductor technology, particularly in nonvolatile memory devices. With a total of 3 patents to his name, Ohkawa's work has had a profound impact on the efficiency and reliability of memory storage solutions.

Latest Patents

Ohkawa's latest patents include innovative designs for nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices. One notable invention is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device with a row redundancy circuit. This device allows for the use of a redundant structure to word lines, enabling a collective erasure type memory device. The design features a row address buffer that can simultaneously select multiple physically adjacent word lines from a memory array during programming before erasure. This capability ensures that even if adjacent word lines are short-circuited, programming high voltage can still be transmitted to the defective word lines, allowing for effective programming before erasure.

Another significant patent is related to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of erasing stored data. In this invention, a source line of a memory array in flash memory is set to a 3V potential, while a power supply voltage of 6V is applied to a sense amplifier. This setup allows for efficient reading of the memory array, ensuring that memory cells are properly verified and erased as needed.

Career Highlights

Minoru Ohkawa is currently employed at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, where he continues to advance semiconductor technology. His work has been instrumental in developing more reliable and efficient memory devices that are crucial for modern electronic applications.

Collaborations

Ohkawa has collaborated with notable colleagues in his field, including Masaaki Mihara and Takeshi Nakayama. Their combined expertise has contributed to the successful development of innovative memory solutions.

Conclusion

Minoru Ohkawa's contributions to nonvolatile semiconductor memory technology highlight his role as a leading inventor in the field. His innovative patents and ongoing work at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation continue to shape the future of memory storage solutions.