Method and apparatus to reduce power consumption by transferring functionality from memory components to a memory interface

A synchronous memory system, comprising:

• a system clock generator circuit;
• a memory controller operative to issue a synchronous read request;
• a plurality of memory components, each having a functioning Delay Locked Loop (DLL) circuit and a functioning voltage generator circuit both of which are disabled or bypassed;
• a memory interface interposed between the memory controller and the plurality of memory components, the memory interface receiving the system clock signal and operative to receive the synchronous read request from the memory controller;
• perform a read operation on a memory component;
• receive data and a data strobe signal from the memory component, the data aligned to the data strobe signal;
• and
• synchronously transfer the received data to the memory controller;
• and
• a voltage generating circuit associated with the memory interface and connected to the plurality of memory components, the voltage generating circuit operative to generate two or more voltages.

A synchronous memory system, comprising:

• means for outputting a system clock signal;
• means for issuing a synchronous read request;
• storage means for storing data, the storage means having thereon a Delay Locked Loop (DLL) circuit and a functioning voltage generator circuit both of which are disabled or bypassed during read operations;
• means for interfacing the read request means to the storage means, the interface means receiving the system clock signal and operative to receive the synchronous read request from the read request means;
• perform a read operation on the storage means;
• receive data and a data strobe signal from the storage means, the data aligned to the data strobe signal;
• and
• synchronously transfer the received data to the read request means;
• means for generating two or more voltages,
• wherein a memory clock signal is passed directly through each of the disabled DLL circuits or is redirected around each of the bypassed DLL circuits.