Memory repair method and apparatus based on error code tracking
AssigneeRambus Inc.
InventorsFrederick A. Ware, Ely Tsern
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A memory module is disclosed that includes a substrate, a memory device that outputs read data, and a buffer. The buffer has a primary interface for transferring the read data to a memory controller and a secondary interface coupled to the memory device to receive the read data. The buffer includes error logic to identify an error in the received read data and to identify a storage cell location in the memory device associated with the error. Repair logic maps a replacement storage element as a substitute storage element for the storage cell location associated with the error.
Claims18
A memory module comprising:
- a substrate;
- a memory device disposed on the substrate, the memory device including a failure location storing a known error data bit;
- redundant storage having a redundant location to store a valid data bit corresponding to the known error data bit;
- and
- repair circuitry, in response to a read command for accessing read data including the known error data bit, to substitute the valid data bit for the known error data bit to generate corrected read data.
A method of operation in a memory module, comprising:
- storing a known error data bit in a storage location of a memory device;
- storing a valid data bit corresponding to the known error data bit in redundant storage;
- and
- repairing the known error data bit, in response to a read command for accessing read data including the known error data bit, by substituting the valid data bit for the known error data bit to generate corrected read data.
A memory circuit, comprising:
- a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device, the DRAM device including a failure location storing a known error data bit;
- redundant storage having a redundant location to store a valid data bit corresponding to the known error data bit;
- buffer circuitry to buffer data transfers between the DRAM device and a memory controller;
- and
- repair circuitry, in response to a read command for accessing read data including the known error data bit, to substitute the valid data bit for the known error data bit to generate corrected read data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.