US 2019/0172525 A1 · MEMORY WITH EXPANDABLE ROW WIDTH

Abstract

A method for operating a memory device includes initiating an access operation to a corresponding row of an array of bit cells of the memory device. Responsive to an expansion mode signal having a first state, the method further includes dynamically operating each column of a plurality of columns of the array to access each bit cell of a corresponding row within the plurality of columns during the access operation. Alternatively, responsive to the expansion mode state signal having a second state different than the first state, the method includes dynamically operating each column of a first subset of columns of the plurality of columns to access each bit cell of a corresponding row within the first subset of columns during the access operation, and maintaining each column of a second subset of columns of the plurality of columns in a static state during the access operation.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of operating a memory device, the method comprising:

setting the memory device to one of an expansion mode or a non-expansion mode;
responsive to the memory device being set to the expansion mode, accessing each bit cell in a row for a plurality of columns of an array of bit cells of the memory device during an access operation;
and
responsive to the memory device being set to the non-expansion mode, accessing each bit cell in a row for a first subset of the plurality of columns of the array and maintaining the bit cells in the row for columns of a second subset of the plurality of columns in a static state during an access operation.

1 more element

A memory device comprising:

an array of bit cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, the plurality of columns including a first subset of columns and a second subset of columns;
access components configured to control access to the rows and columns of the array;
a mode set component to provide an expansion mode signal configurable to represent one of a non-expansion mode and an expansion mode;
and
an expansion control component configured to:
responsive to the expansion mode signal representing a non-expansion mode, configure the access components to maintain the second subset of columns in a static state while dynamically operating the first subset of columns during an access operation for a row of the array;
and
responsive to the expansion mode signal representing an expansion mode, configure the access components to dynamically operate both the first subset and the second subset of columns during an access operation for a row of the array.

5 more elements

A method for operating a memory device, the method comprising:

initiating an access operation to a corresponding row of an array of bit cells of the memory device;
responsive to an expansion mode signal having a first state, dynamically operating each column of a plurality of columns of the array to access each bit cell of a corresponding row within the plurality of columns during the access operation;
and
responsive to the expansion mode signal having a second state different than the first state:
dynamically operating each column of a first subset of columns of the plurality of columns to access each bit cell of a corresponding row within the first subset of columns during the access operation;
and
maintaining each column of a second subset of columns of the plurality of columns in a static state during the access operation.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Memory with expandable row width

Life of this patent

Memory with expandable row width

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20