Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for performing maskable multiple color block writes

US5764963A · kind A · utility

73Cited by
12References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 1995
Grant dateJun 9, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 20, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C7/1015
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Circuitry for performing a memory block write is described. The memory block includes b block words, each block word having t block bytes. Each block byte has s bits of memory. Each block byte is associated with at least two associated mask value bits. A constant register has at least s.times.t bits of memory arranged as t constant bytes, each constant byte storing a constant value, each constant byte associated with one block of every block word. The block write circuitry includes control circuitry for selecting one of a normal write function and a block write function in accordance with a block write signal. When the block write function is selected, the control circuitry stores the associated constant value in every nonmasked block byte substantially simultaneously in accordance with a value of the associated mask value bits.

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