Method for controlling refresh of a multibank memory device
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorLeonard E. Christenson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is described for controlling refresh of a multibank DRAM. A refresh request and associated address are generated external to the DRAM. DRAM refresh operations are initiated in one bank while data transfer operations are being executed in another bank. The refresh request is handled much like a memory read request, with the associated read data being ignored. In one implementation, the refresh request is given priority over any other pending memory access request. By initiating refresh operations without first waiting for all DRAM banks to be precharged, the significant time penalties associated with the prior art are avoided.
Claims26
A method of refreshing data stored in a multibank memory device, comprising:
- initiating a first data transfer operation to a first bank of the memory device;
- and
- while the first data transfer operation is being executed, providing a refresh address corresponding to a location in a second bank of the memory device and initiating a refresh operation in the second bank of the memory device to refresh the location.
In a memory controller operable to receive data transfer requests directed to a memory having a plurality of banks, a method of controlling memory refresh operations, comprising:
- initiating data transfer operations to a first of the banks;
- and receiving a refresh address corresponding to memory located in a second of the banks and further receiving a refresh request directed to the second of the banks;
- determining whether the second bank is idle;
- and
- if the second bank is idle, then initiating refresh operations during execution of the data transfer operations.
A method of controlling refresh operations in a memory having a plurality of banks, the memory operable to register commands and requiring a minimum command time interval between successive registration of commands addressed to a same one of the banks, the method comprising:
- registering a first command addressed to a first one of the banks;
- and
- prior to elapse of the command time interval, registering a refresh command addressed to a location corresponding to a refresh address within a second one of the banks.
A method of refreshing data stored in a multibank memory device, comprising:
- executing a memory access operation to access a first bank of the memory device;
- while the first data transfer operation is executing, providing a refresh address corresponding to a location in a second bank of the memory device and
- issuing a refresh operation to the second bank of the memory device to refresh the location.
A method of refreshing data stored in a multibank memory device, comprising:
- executing a type of memory access operation to access a first bank of the memory device;
- while the memory access operation to access the first bank is being executed, providing a refresh address corresponding to a location in a second bank of the memory device;
- executing the same type of memory access operation to access the location in the second bank to refresh the location;
- and
- ignoring any data accessed from the location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.