Memory refresh system and method
AssigneeQimonda North America Corp.
InventorThomas Vogelsang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A memory device includes a memory array containing a plurality of memory addresses. An input terminal receives a requested one of the memory addresses and a memory controller is configured to refresh a first refresh address in response to a comparison of the received memory address and the first refresh address. In certain embodiments, the first refresh address is refreshed if it does not conflict with the received memory. If the first refresh address and the received memory address conflict, a second refresh address is refreshed. The received memory address is accessed simultaneously with the refresh in exemplary embodiments.
Claims29
A memory controller, comprising:
- a plurality of refresh addresses;
- a compare circuit receiving a memory address and a first one of the refresh addresses, the compare circuit configured to compare the received memory address and the first refresh address;
- and
- the memory controller being configured to refresh the first refresh address in response to the compare circuit.
A memory device, comprising:
- a memory array containing a plurality of memory addresses;
- an input terminal for receiving a requested one of the memory addresses;
- and
- a memory controller configured to refresh a first refresh address in response to a comparison of the received memory address and the first refresh address.
A memory device, comprising:
- first means for storing data including a plurality of memory addresses;
- second means for comparing a requested one of the memory addresses with a first refresh address;
- and
- third means for refreshing the first refresh address in response to the second means.
A method of refreshing a memory array, comprising:
- receiving a requested memory address;
- determining a first refresh address;
- comparing the memory access address to the first refresh address;
- and
- refreshing the first refresh address in response to the comparison.
A method of accessing a memory array, comprising:
- receiving a requested memory address;
- determining a first refresh address;
- comparing the memory access address to the first refresh address;
- and
- simultaneously accessing the requested memory address and the first refresh address in response to the comparison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.