First-in, first-out integrated circuit memory device incorporating a retransmit function

Abstract

An integrated circuit first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) memory device comprises an input bus for receiving data, an input buffer coupled to the input bus for storing the data and at least one dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”) array coupled to the input buffer. A write pointer is operative for storing the data in the input buffer to a location within the memory array indicated and an output bus is coupled to the memory array and a read pointer for providing previously written data from the memory array at a location indicated by the read pointer. In a preferred embodiment, the FIFO further comprises at least one static random access memory (“SRAM”) row, or register, interposed between the input and output buses and the memory array having a width corresponding to each row of the memory array. In an alternative embodiment, the FIFO memory device includes a “Retransmit” feature which allows data to be read from the device multiple times as well as the Read Pointer to be selectively placed under user control. In a specific embodiment, the Read or Output bus may also be used as an address bus.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.