Dynamic control of power consumption based on memory device activity
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsBarak Rotbard, Assaf Shappir
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A memory controller includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to communicate with one or more memory devices that require an operation voltage. The memory devices are capable of obtaining the operation voltage either from a power supply external to the memory device or from respective charge pumps internal to the memory devices. The processor is configured to predict storage activity in the memory devices, and to cause the memory devices to select a source for the operation voltage between the power supply and the respective charge pumps in accordance with the predicted storage activity.
Claims18
A memory device, comprising:
- a memory array;
- a charge pump coupled to an external power supply;
- and
- a switch coupled to the charge pump and the external power supply, the switch receiving a power control signal that controls the switch to output a first voltage provided by the external power supply or a second voltage provided by the charge pump, the first voltage or the second voltage providing an operation voltage for the memory device for reading from or writing to the memory array,
- wherein the power control signal controls the switch to output the first voltage or the second voltage based on a predicted storage activity of the memory device.
A method, comprising:
- in a memory device, which comprises a memory array, a charge pump coupled to an external power supply, and a switch coupled to the charge pump and the external power supply, receiving at the switch a power control signal;
- and
- controlling the switch, depending on the power control signal, to output a first voltage provided by the external power supply or a second voltage provided by the charge pump, the first voltage or the second voltage providing an operation voltage for the memory device for reading from or writing to the memory array, wherein the power control signal controls the switch to output the first voltage or the second voltage based on a predicted storage activity of the memory device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.