Back to results
US 2012/0233380 A1Published application
Systems, devices, memory controllers, and methods for controlling memory
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorJeremy W. Butterfield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, devices, memory controllers, and methods for controlling memory are described. One such method includes activating a memory unit of a memory device; after activating the memory unit, providing a command to the memory device; and returning the memory unit to a previous state if the command does not indicate a target memory volume, wherein the memory unit remains active if the command indicates a target memory volume associated with the memory unit.
Claims40
A method for controlling memory, comprising:
- activating a memory unit of a memory device;
- after activating the memory unit, providing a command to the memory device;
- and
- returning the memory unit to a previous state if the command does not indicate a target memory volume, wherein the memory unit remains active if the command indicates a target memory volume associated with the memory unit.
1 more element
A method for controlling memory, comprising:
- activating a number of memory volumes by switching an enable signal provided to a number of memory devices from a first state to a second state;
- providing a command to the activated number of memory devices;
- responsive to the command being a command other than a volume select command, a memory volume of the number of memory volumes that was previously active prior to switching the signal remains active;
- and
- responsive to the command being a volume select command, the memory volume indicated by the volume select command remains active.
2 more elements
A method for operating a number of memory devices each including one or more target memory volumes therein, the method comprising:
- activating a number of memory volumes of the number of memory devices responsive to detecting a switching of a signal from a first state to a second state;
- subsequently receiving a command with the number of memory devices;
- wherein, responsive to the command indicating a target memory volume within a particular one of the number of memory devices, the particular one of the number of memory devices executes a subsequent command received thereto;
- and
- wherein, responsive to the command not indicating a target memory volume within a particular one of the number of memory devices, each of the number of memory devices returns to a previous device state.
2 more elements
A method for controlling memory, comprising:
- activating a number of memory volumes each having a previous state associated therewith;
- and
- subsequently providing a select command to the activated number of memory volumes, the select command indicating an address of a selected one of the number of memory volumes to receive a subsequent command for execution;
- wherein at least one of the memory volumes indicated by the select command returns to its respective previous state.
1 more element
A memory controller, comprising:
- a first interface for coupling to a host;
- and
- a second interface for coupling to a number of memory devices, and wherein the memory controller is configured to:
- activate a number of memory volumes of the number of memory devices by switching a shared signal provided thereto from a first state to a second state;
- and
- subsequently provide a command to the number of memory devices;
- wherein, responsive to the command indicating one of the memory volumes, the one of the memory volumes remains active and executes a subsequent command received from the memory controller;
- and
- wherein, responsive to the command not indicating any of the number of memory volumes, each of the number of memory volumes returns to its respective state prior to detecting the switching.
- wherein a state of one of the memory devices prior to detecting the switching is an active state and a state of the remaining memory devices prior to detecting the switching is an inactive state
- until the memory system controller subsequently switches the shared enable signal to the first state
8 more elements
A method for controlling memory, comprising:
- activating a number of memory volumes sharing a bus by switching a signal provided to the number of memory volumes from a first state to a second state;
- responsive to a first command provided to the activated number of memory volumes subsequent to the switching of the signal being a command other than a volume select command, reselecting a volume of the number of volumes that was selected prior to the switching the signal;
- and
- responsive to the first command provided to the activated number of memory volumes subsequent to the switching of the signal being a volume select command, selecting a volume of the number of volumes indicated by the volume select command.
1 more element
A memory system comprising a memory unit configured to:
- activate responsive to detection of a switching of a signal from a first state to a second state;
- receive a command and execute a subsequent command responsive to the command indicating an address of a volume associated with the memory unit;
- and
- return to a previous state responsive to the command not indicating an address of a target volume, the previous state being a state of the memory unit prior to detection of the switching of the signal.
1 more element
A memory system comprising a memory volume configured to:
- activate responsive to detection of a switching of a signal from a first state to a second state;
- receive a command and execute a subsequent command responsive to the command indicating the volume;
- and
- return, to a previous state responsive to the command not indicating the volume.
1 more element
A method for controlling memory, comprising:
- activating a number of memory devices each including a number of memory volumes;
- providing a command to the activated number of memory devices;
- and
- responsive to the command indicating a memory volume of the number of memory volumes within one of the number of memory devices, the memory volume indicated by the command remains active and the remaining target memory volumes are placed in an unselected state.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.