Patent · US Expired

Register read for volatile memory

US7230876B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
3References
35Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 13, 2005
Grant dateJun 12, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 17, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C2211/4061
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Data not stored in the DRAM array of a SDRAM module is read from the SDRAM module in a synchronous data transfer. The data transfer, referred to as register read command/operation, resembles a read command/operation directed to data stored in the DRAM array in timing and operation. The register read command is distinguished by a unique encoding of the SDRAM control signals and bank address bits. In one embodiment, the register read command comprises the same control signal states as a MSR or EMSR command, with the bank address set to a unique value, such as 2'b10. The register read command may read only a single datum, or may utilize the address bus to address a plurality of data not stored in the DRAM array. The register read operation may be a burst read, and the burst length may be defined in a variety of ways.

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