System and method for detecting the DRAM architecture in a computer
AssigneeNational Semiconductor Corporation
InventorIan E. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method cause the computer to automatically detect whether the computer implements a DRAM, and, if so, the architecture of the DRAM. More particularly, the system and method determine the requisite READ protocol for implementing the DRAM, and thus determine whether the DRAM implements a fast page (FP) architecture, an extended data out (EDO) architecture, or a burst extended data out (BEDO) architecture, since each architecture implements a unique READ protocol. From the analysis, the system and method determine if the DRAM is faulty, nonexistent, or of an unknown type. If the DRAM is faulty or of an unknown type, the system and method disable the DRAM.
Claims24
A method of determining an architecture of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) bank from a set of architectures including fast page (FP) architecture, extended data out (EDO) architecture, and burst extended data out (BEDO) architecture, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a DRAM bank to examine;
- writing a first predetermined word to a first memory location in the DRAM bank, and a second predetermined word to a second memory location which is sequential to the first memory location;
- reading from the first and separately reading from the second memory locations to obtain a first read word and a second read word respectively;
- and
- comparing the second read word with the first predetermined word, and if the second read word matches the first predetermined word, then indicating that the architecture of the selected DRAM bank is a BEDO architecture.
A system for determining an architecture of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) bank from a set of architectures including fast page (FP) architecture, extended data out (EDO) architecture, and burst extended data out (BEDO) architecture, comprising:
- test data writing means for writing first and second predetermined words respectively to first and second locations in the DRAM;
- reading means for reading a first and separately reading a second read word respectively from the first and second locations in the DRAM;
- and
- comparator means for comparing the second read word with the first predetermined word, and if the second read word matches the first predetermined word, then indicating that the DRAM bank architecture is a BEDO architecture.
A program storage device having a computer program stored therein for causing a computer to perform the steps of:
- selecting a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) bank to examine;
- writing a first predetermined word to a first memory location in the DRAM bank, and a second predetermined word to a second memory location which is sequential to the first memory location;
- reading from the first and separately reading from the second memory locations to obtain a first read word and a second read word respectively;
- and
- comparing the second read word with the first predetermined word, and if the second read word is the same as the first predetermined word, then concluding that an architecture of the selected DRAM bank is a burst extended data out (BEDO) architecture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.