Bus architecture for integrated data and video memory
US5265218A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 19, 1992 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 19, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/1663
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A bus architecture and protocol for integrated data and video memory. A high speed dedicated memory bus is coupled to a memory controller. The memory controller is in turn coupled to a multiple processor bus interconnecting one or more processors. Single in-line memory modules (SIMMs) incorporating dynamic random access memory (DRAM), video RAM (VRAM), and static nonvolatile RAM (SRAM) are coupled to the memory bus. Bus control signals forming a bus protocol, and address and data lines from the memory controller are shared by all memory modules operating on the memory bus. Certain control signals invoke specific operations on memory modules or are ignored, depending on the type of memory module receiving the control signal. The memory modules incorporate the consistent protocol by virtue of a consistent control signal pin out. The SIMMs further incorporate buffering and conversion functions, thereby relieving the memory controller of service overhead associated with these functions. Integrating all forms of memory into a single data and video memory architecture permits a highly functional dedicated memory bus to be connected to the computer system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.