Status register to improve initialization of a synchronous memory
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorFrankie F. Roohparvar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A synchronous flash memory includes an array of non-volatile memory cells. The memory device has a package configuration that is compatible with an SDRAM. The memory device in one embodiment can comprise control circuitry to perform an initialization operation on the synchronous memory, and a status register having at least one data bit that can be programmed to indicate if the initialization is being performed. A method of operating a memory system includes initiating an initialization operation on a memory device, and monitoring a memory status register to determine when the initialization operation is completed.
Claims19
A method for performing an initialization operation of a flash memory device, the method comprising:
- setting a content of a status register to a first state while the initialization operation is being performed;
- performing the initialization operation on the flash memory, the initialization operation including:
- reading from non-volatile fuse elements locations of at least one redundant memory element;
- and
- storing the locations of the at least one redundant memory element that was read from the non-volatile elements in a status register;
- setting the content of the status register to a second state when the initialization operation is complete.
A method for performing an initialization operation in a flash memory system having a memory controller coupled to a flash memory device, the method comprising:
- the memory controller initiating the initialization operation on the flash memory device in response to a VCC level of the system;
- setting a first bit of a status register of the flash memory device to a first state when the initialization operation is initiated, the initialization operation including:
- reading data stored in non-volatile fuse elements in the flash memory device;
- and
- storing the data read from the non-volatile fuse elements into the status register;
- setting the first bit of the status register to a second state when the initialization operation is complete;
- the memory controller generating a status register read command to the flash memory device;
- and
- the flash memory device outputting the contents of the status register on an external connection in response to the status register read command.
A method for performing an initialization operation in a flash memory system having a memory controller coupled to a flash memory array, the method comprising:
- the memory controller initiating the initialization operation for the flash memory system in response to a reset connection input signal;
- setting a first bit of a status register of the flash memory system to a first state when the initialization operation is initiated, the initialization operation including:
- reading data stored in non-volatile fuse elements in the flash memory system;
- and
- storing the data read from the non-volatile fuse elements into the status register;
- setting the first bit of the status register to a second state when the initialization operation is complete;
- the memory controller generating a status register read command to the flash memory system;
- and
- the flash memory system outputting the contents of the status register on an external connection in response to the status register read command.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.