RAM based FIFO memory half-full detection apparatus and method
US5490257A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 24, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 6, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 24, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2205/126
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for detecting a half-full condition of a first-in, first-out memory array. The method of the invention includes the steps of a) moving a write pointer through the array to write data to alternating rows of the memory array; b) moving a read pointer through the array to read data from the alternating rows of the memory array in first-in, first-out order; and c) providing a half-full indication when the read pointer and the write pointer point to adjacent rows in the memory array. This method eliminates the need to route lines across the array to detect a half-full condition, thereby reducing die and power requirements and offering an increase in speed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.