Patent · US Expired

Method for refreshing storage contents of MOS memories

US4112513A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
6References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 27, 1973
Grant dateSep 5, 1978
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 27, 1993

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C11/406
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for periodically refreshing dynamic MOS memories is provided in which the memory is divided into a number of separate memory sections, each containing a plurality of refresh locations, and the locations in one section are refreshed each time another of the sections is accessed for reading or writing. The refreshment of the refresh locations in each section is accomplished sequentially, and an index is maintained of which refresh locations have been refreshed during a refreshment period. At the conclusion of each such period, the remainder of the refresh locations in each section are refreshed. It is therefore unnecessary to restrict normal access to the memory for reading and writing during set periods which are set aside for the sole purpose of refreshing the memory contents, since refreshment occurs simultaneously with normal accessing. The mean access time is thereby decreased.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.