Methods and apparatus for bypassing refreshing of selected portions of DRAM devices

A method of controlling refreshing operations of a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) device, the controlling method comprising the step of:

• always bypassing refreshing of a portion of the DRAM device when carrying out a DRAM refreshing operation on the DRAM device.

A graphics memory apparatus comprising:

• a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) device that is divided into a frame buffer zone that supplies pixel data for a display and at least one other zone;
• and
• a refreshing controller that bypasses refreshing of the frame buffer zone when carrying out a refreshing operation on the DRAM device.

A memory apparatus comprising:

• a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) device;
• and
• a refreshing controller that always bypasses refreshing of a portion of the DRAM device when carrying out a DRAM refreshing operation on the DRAM device.

A graphic memory apparatus comprising:

• a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) device that is divided into a frame buffer zone that supplies pixel data for a display and at least one other zone;
• and
• means for bypassing refreshing of the frame buffer zone when carrying out a refreshing operation on the DRAM device.

A method of controlling refreshing operations of a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) device, the DRAM device being divided into a first and a second portion, the controlling method comprising the step of:

• always bypassing refreshing of the first portion when carrying out a DRAM refreshing operation on the DRAM device.

A graphics memory apparatus comprising:

• a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) device that is divided into a first zone and a second zone;
• and
• a refreshing controller that always bypasses refreshing of the first zone when carrying out a DRAM refreshing operation on the DRAM device.

A graphics memory apparatus comprising:

• a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) device that is divided into a frame buffer zone that supplies pixel data for a display and a second zone;
• and
• a refreshing controller that bypasses refreshing of the frame buffer zone when carrying out a refreshing operation on the DRAM device.