Memory refresh system and method
AssigneeQimonda North America Corp.
InventorsKlaus Hummler, Jong Hoon Oh, Wayne Frederick Ellis, Jung Pill Kim, Oliver Kiehl, Josef Schnell, Octavian Beldiman, Lee Ward Collins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A refresh scheduler is configured to refresh memory cells of a memory device according to a plurality of refresh intervals. The various refresh intervals are determined in response to refresh errors.
Claims38
An integrated circuit device, comprising:
- an array containing a plurality of memory cells;
- and
- a refresh scheduler configured to refresh the memory cells according to a plurality of refresh intervals.
A refresh scheduler for a memory device, comprising:
- a memory accessible by the refresh scheduler, the memory storing a plurality of refresh intervals associated with memory cells of the memory device;
- the refresh scheduler generating refresh pulses for refreshing the memory cells in accordance with the associated refresh intervals.
A memory system, comprising:
- a memory having an array containing a plurality of memory cells;
- an error detection device;
- and
- a refresh scheduler configured to refresh the memory cells according to a plurality of refresh intervals determined in response to the error detection device.
A system, comprising:
- a host device;
- a memory connected to the host device, the memory having an array containing a plurality of memory cells, an error detection device;
- and a refresh scheduler configured to refresh the memory cells according to a plurality of refresh intervals determined in response to the error correction device.
A memory device, comprising:
- an array containing a plurality of memory pages;
- and
- means for refreshing the memory pages according to a plurality of refresh intervals.
A device for refreshing a memory device, comprising:
- means for refreshing a plurality of pages of a memory array;
- means for determining whether a data error occurred when the memory pages are refreshed;
- means for storing a plurality of refresh intervals corresponding to the plurality of pages, the refresh intervals being determined in response to the means for determining whether a data error occurred.
A method of determining refresh intervals for a memory device, comprising:
- refreshing a first page of a memory array;
- determining whether a data error occurred when the first page was refreshed;
- establishing a first refresh interval for the first page in response to determining whether a data error occurred when the first page was refreshed;
- refreshing a second page of the memory array;
- determining whether a data error occurred in when the second page was refreshed;
- and
- establishing a second refresh interval for the second page in response to determining whether a data error occurred when the second page was refreshed.
A method of refreshing pages of a memory device, comprising:
- establishing a plurality of refresh intervals;
- assigning one of the plurality of refresh intervals to the pages of the memory device;
- refreshing the pages of the memory device according to the assigned refresh intervals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.