Data input/output circuit for performing high speed memory data read operation
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorFrankie F. Roohparvar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A data input/output circuit used to program the cells of a memory array or to determine the state of those cells. The circuit includes a data write path used for programming the memory cells in the array and a data read path for reading data indicative of the state of the cells. The data write path includes switching means for electrically disconnecting the high capacitance elements of the write path from the read path. The switching means is under the control of a control means which acts to enable or disable the switching means. The switching means serves to electrically isolate the high capacitance elements of the write path from the read path, thereby increasing the speed with which a read operation be performed.
Claims14
A method of reading data from a memory device having an array of memory comprising:
- electrically coupling the array of memory to an externally available output via a data read path;
- and
- electrically decoupling the data read path from a data write path to reduce a capacitance between the memory array and the external output.
A method of accessing a memory device having an array of memory connected in parallel with an external communication port by a first data path and a second data path comprising:
- electrically decoupling the array of the memory from the first data path during a memory access operation to reduce a capacitance between the array of memory and the external communication port;
- and
- communicating data between the array of memory and the communication port via the second data path during the memory access operation.
A method of accessing a memory device having an array of memory cells connected to an externally available communication port by a read path and a write path comprising:
- electrically decoupling the array of the memory cells from the read path during a memory write operation, thereby reducing a capacitance between the memory cell and the communication port during the memory write operation;
- and
- electrically decoupling the array of memory cells from the write path during a memory read operation, thereby reducing the capacitance between the memory cell and the communication port during the memory read operation.
A method of reading data from an array of memory connected to an externally available communication port by a data read path and a data write path, wherein the data write path includes a switch electrically coupled between the memory array and the communication port, comprising:
- decoding a memory address with a read address decoder electrically coupled between the memory array and the external communication port along the data read path to select a memory cell of the array of memory;
- generating a control signal as a function of the memory address;
- disabling the switch with the control signal to electrically decouple the read path from the write path;
- generating a data signal based on a sensed voltage of the selected memory cell of the memory array;
- and
- communicating the data signal to the communication port via the data read path.
A method of writing data from an array of memory connected to an externally available communication port by a data read path and a data write path, wherein the data write path includes a decoupler electrically connected between the array memory and the communication port, the method comprising:
- receiving a data signal on the communication port;
- generating a programming voltage as a function of the received data signal;
- decoding a memory address with the decoupler to select a memory cell of the array of memory;
- generating a control signal as a function of the memory address;
- and
- enabling the switch with the control signal to pass the programming voltage to the array along the data write path.
A data processing system comprising:
- a data bus having a plurality of data communication lines;
- a microprocessor coupled to the data bus receiving the data communication lines;
- and
- memory coupled to the data bus, comprising:
- a communication port for reading data from and writing data to the data bus;
- an array of memory cells connected to the communication port by a data read path and a data write path;
- and
- a decoupler electrically connected between the memory array and the communication port along the write path, wherein the decoupler electrically decouples the data read path from a data write path during a memory read operation to reduce a capacitance between the memory array and the external communication port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.