Memory subsystem voltage control and method
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorRandy L. Schnepper
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing a preferred operating voltage to a memory device as specified by a stored configuration parameter. The apparatus includes a nonvolatile memory configured to store a preferred memory device voltage configuration corresponding to a preferred operating voltage of the memory device. The preferred memory device voltage configuration is readable by a host and the circuit is responsive to a command to modify the voltage to the memory device in accordance with the preferred memory device configuration. The voltage to the memory device is modified for improved performance and compatibility of the memory device with a host system.
Claims45
A memory module, comprising:
- at least one memory device configured to operate at a preferred operating voltage;
- and
- a nonvolatile memory configured to store a preferred memory device voltage configuration designating said preferred operating voltage of said at least one memory device.
An electronic system, comprising:
- a processor;
- at least one of an input device and an output device operably coupled to said processor;
- and
- a memory module operably coupled to said processor, said memory module including:
- at least one memory device configured to operate at a preferred operating voltage;
- and
- a nonvolatile memory configured to store a preferred memory device voltage configuration designating said preferred operating voltage of said at least one memory device.
A computer system, comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory module including at least one memory device configured to retain information as directed by said processor and to operate at a preferred operating voltage, said memory module further configured to store both a preferred memory device voltage configuration designating said preferred operating voltage of said at least one memory device and at least one additional memory device configuration parameter;
- and
- a memory controller operably coupled between said processor and said memory module and configured for operably interfacing said at least one memory device with said processor according to said at least one additional memory device configuration parameter.
A circuit, comprising:
- a nonvolatile memory configured to store a preferred voltage configuration readable and interpretable by a processor;
- at least one memory device having a preferred operating voltage as designated by said preferred voltage configuration, said at least one memory device further configured to operably couple with said processor;
- and
- a power converter operably coupled to said at least one memory device to provide said preferred operating voltage to said at least one memory device in response to said processor and said preferred voltage configuration.
A method for providing a preferred operating voltage to a memory module having at least one memory device thereon, comprising:
- reading a preferred memory device voltage configuration from said memory module, said preferred memory device voltage configuration identifying a preferred operating voltage of said at least one memory device;
- and
- generating, in response to said preferred memory device voltage configuration, a voltage bias to adjust voltage provided to said memory module to said preferred operating voltage.
A method for testing an operational range of a memory module, comprising:
- storing a first memory device voltage configuration within a nonvolatile memory device on said memory module, said first memory device voltage configuration identifying a first testing voltage of at least one memory device resident on said memory module;
- reading said first memory device voltage configuration from said nonvolatile memory;
- and
- generating, in response to said first memory device voltage configuration, a power bias to adjust voltage provided to said memory module to said first testing voltage.
A computer-readable media including computer-executable instructions for providing a preferred operating voltage to a memory module having at least one memory device thereon, the computer-executable instructions comprising:
- reading a preferred memory device voltage configuration from said memory module, said preferred memory device voltage configuration identifying a preferred operating voltage of said at least one memory device;
- and
- generating, in response to said preferred memory device voltage configuration, a power bias to adjust voltage provided to said memory module to said preferred operating voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.