Count unit for nonvolatile memories
AssigneeSGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.A.
InventorsMarco Olivo, Marco Maccarrone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A count unit for performing a number of count operations and wherein, instead of a counter for each count function, provision is made for one counter and a number of registers equal in number to the count functions involved. The registers store the preceding count value and, when their content is to be incremented or in any way altered, load it into the counter which provides for performing the required operation, at the end of which, the content of the counter is stored in the respective register. One of the registers presents a second parallel input for externally loading an initial data which may be transferred to the other registers via the counter.
Claims24
A memory circuit, comprising:
- an array of nonvolatile memory cells;
- an address circuit coupled to said array;
- and
- control logic coupled to said address circuit, said control logic including a count unit for performing a predetermined number of count functions related to operation of said nonvolatile memory cells;
- said count unit including:
- a plurality of registers equal in number to said predetermined number of count functions;
- a shared counter;
- means for connecting said registers to said shared counter;
- and
- control means, connected to said registers and said shared counter, for transferring data stored in a selected one of said registers to said shared counter to be updated by said shared counter according to a predetermined count function, and for transferring updated data from said shared counter to one of said registers.
In a memory circuit having an array of nonvolatile memory cells, an address register coupled to said array, and control logic coupled to said address register, a count method for performing a predetermined number of count functions related to operation of said nonvolatile memory cells by means of a plurality of registers equal in number to said predetermined number of count functions, and by means of a shared counter, the method comprising the steps of:
- loading data stored in a selected one of said registers into said shared counter;
- updating the data loaded into said shared counter;
- and
- transferring the updated data from said shared counter to one of said registers.
A memory circuit, comprising:
- an array of nonvolatile memory cells;
- an address circuit in communication with said array;
- and
- control logic in communication with said address circuit, said control logic including a counter unit for performing a number of count functions related to operation of said nonvolatile memory cells, said counter unit comprising:
- a plurality of registers each associated with a respective one of said count functions and each operable to store a count value;
- a shared counter in communication with each of said plurality of registers and operable to update said count values;
- and
- a controller in communication with said registers and operable to instruct a selected one of said registers to provide said count value stored therein to said shared counter and to transfer an updated count value from said shared counter to one of said registers.
A memory device, comprising:
- an array of nonvolatile memory cells;
- an address circuit in communication with said array;
- and
- control logic in communication with said address circuit, said control logic including a count unit operable to perform a number of count functions related to operation of said nonvolatile memory cells, said count unit including:
- a plurality of registers equal in number to said number of count functions, each operable to store a count value,
- a shared counter in communication with said registers and operable to update said count values stored in said registers, and
- a controller in communication with said registers and operable to instruct each register to provide said corresponding count value stored therein to said shared counter and to store an updated count value updated by said shared counter.
In a memory circuit having an array of nonvolatile memory cells, an address register coupled to said array, and control logic coupled to said address register, said control logic including a plurality of registers, a method for performing a number of count functions related to operation of said nonvolatile memory cells, said method comprising:
- storing in said registers said number of count values that each correspond to one of said number of said count functions;
- loading said count value from a selected one of said registers into a shared counter;
- updating the loaded count value with said shared counter according to a corresponding one of said number of said count functions;
- and
- storing the updated count value in said selected register.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.