Write data masking for higher speed drams
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsKevin J. Ryan, Christopher K. Morzano, Wen Li
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for masking data written to a memory device that reduces the effective write cycle time of the memory device is disclosed. Firing of the column selects is pre-empted, thereby masking data to be written to a memory device. By pre-empting the column selects, the margin required for disabling a write driver can be eliminated, thereby reducing the effective write cycle. Additionally, data masking can be performed on a per-byte basis by associating independent column selects with each data byte on multi-byte wide devices, e.g., x16 or x32.
Claims3
A method of writing data to a memory device comprising the steps of:
- receiving an address of said memory device into which said data is to be written;
- decoding said address to determine a location of said memory device associated with said address;
- receiving said data, wherein the data comprises a plurality of bytes received in synchronization with a synchronization edge of an external clock signal;
- receiving a data mask signal for at least a portion of said data;
- activating a column line for each location of said memory device associated with an address for said data for which a data mask signal is not received to write said data for which a data mask signal is not received into said memory device;
- and
- not activating a column line for each location of said memory device associated with an address for said at least a portion of said data for which said data mask signal is received to prevent said at least a portion of said data for which said data mask signal is received from being written to said memory device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.