Memory synchronization method and refresh control circuit

A refresh control circuit for synchronizing refresh timing of multiple ranks of mounted memory, comprising:

• a first counter which is initialized by a synchronous reset signal and counts timing for performing refresh;
• refresh interval setting means for setting refresh intervals and outputting a value indicating the intervals;
• first comparison means for outputting an initialization signal for initializing the first counter in the case where a comparison is made between a count value of the first counter and the value outputted from the refresh interval setting means and they match;
• second comparison means for outputting a refresh start signal in the case where the count value of the first counter becomes a predetermined value;
• a second counter which is initialized by a synchronous reset signal and counts up and outputs the count value as a rank number each time the refresh start signal is outputted from the second comparison means;
• memory command generating means for generating a command for refreshing the rank of the rank number outputted from the second counter according to the refresh start signal and outputting a refresh issue notification signal in the case where refresh is issued to the rank;
• and
• refresh rank control means for, in the case where the refresh issue notification signal is outputted from the memory command generating means with the synchronous reset signal as a trigger, incrementing the rank number included in the refresh issue notification signal and outputting the rank number together with a high-speed refresh request signal, and wherein:
• the memory command generating means generates a command for refreshing the rank of the rank number outputted together with the high-speed refresh request signal in the case where the high-speed refresh request signal is outputted from the refresh rank control means.

A refresh control circuit for synchronizing refresh timing of multiple ranks of mounted memory, comprising:

• a first counter which is initialized by a synchronous reset signal and counts timing for performing refresh;
• refresh interval setting means for setting refresh intervals and outputting a value indicating the intervals;
• refresh synchronization control means for setting intervals shorter than the intervals set by the refresh interval setting means and outputting a value indicating the intervals with the synchronous reset signal as a trigger;
• first comparison means for comparing a count value of the first counter with the value outputted from the refresh synchronization control means in the case where the value indicating the intervals is outputted by the refresh synchronization control means and comparing the count value of the first counter with the value outputted from the refresh interval setting means in any other case so as to output an initialization signal for initializing the first counter when they match;
• second comparison means for getting initialized by the synchronous reset signal and outputting a refresh start signal in the case where the count value of the first counter becomes a predetermined value;
• a second counter which counts up and outputs the count value as a rank number each time the refresh start signal is outputted from the second comparison means;
• and
• memory command generating means for generating a command for refreshing the rank of the rank number outputted from the second counter according to the refresh start signal.