Controller to detect malfunctioning address of memory device
AssigneeRambus Inc.
InventorsAdrian E. Ong, Fan Ho
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) comprises a plurality of primary data storage elements, a plurality of redundant data storage elements, and circuitry to receive a first register setting command and initiate a repair mode in the DRAM in response to the first register setting command. The circuitry is further to receive an activation command, repair a malfunctioning row address in the DRAM, receive a precharge command, receive a second register setting command, terminate the repair mode in the DRAM in response to the second register setting command, receive a memory access request for data stored at the malfunctioning row address, and redirect the memory access request to a corresponding row address in the plurality of redundant data storage elements.
Claims20
A method of operating a memory controller comprising a non-volatile memory component, the method comprising:
- determining whether the non-volatile memory component stores a malfunctioning memory address to be repaired in a volatile memory device coupled to the memory controller;
- in response to determining that the non-volatile memory component stores the malfunctioning memory address to be repaired, sending an indication of the malfunctioning memory address to a repair circuit of the volatile memory device coupled to the memory controller;
- and
- activating an address matching register of the repair circuit in the volatile memory device, wherein the address matching register corresponds to the malfunctioning memory address.
A memory controller comprising:
- a non-volatile memory component;
- and
- a memory control unit coupled to the non-volatile memory component, the memory control unit to perform operations comprising:
- determining whether the non-volatile memory component stores a malfunctioning memory address to be repaired in a volatile memory device coupled to the memory controller;
- in response to determining that the non-volatile memory component stores the malfunctioning memory address to be repaired, sending an indication of the malfunctioning memory address to a repair circuit of the volatile memory device coupled to the memory controller;
- and
- activating an address matching register of the repair circuit in the volatile memory device, wherein the address matching register corresponds to the malfunctioning memory address.
A system comprising:
- a volatile memory device;
- and
- a memory controller coupled to the volatile memory device, wherein the memory controller comprises
- a non-volatile memory component;
- and
- a memory control unit coupled to the non-volatile memory component, the memory control unit to perform operations comprising:
- determining whether the non-volatile memory component stores a malfunctioning memory address to be repaired in the volatile memory device;
- in response to determining that the non-volatile memory component stores the malfunctioning memory address to be repaired, sending an indication of the malfunctioning memory address to a repair circuit of the volatile memory device;
- and
- activating an address matching register of the repair circuit in the volatile memory device, wherein the address matching register corresponds to the malfunctioning memory address.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.