Memory controller operating in a system with a variable system clock
US7467277B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 7, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D10/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to memory controllers operating in a system containing a variable system clock. The memory controller may exchange data with a processor operating at a variable processor clock frequency. However the memory controller may perform memory accesses at a constant memory clock frequency. Asynchronous buffers may be provided to transfer data across the variable and constant clock domains. To prevent read buffer overflow while switching to a lower processor clock frequency, the memory controller may quiesce the memory sequencers and pace read data from the sequencers at a slower rate. To prevent write data under runs, the memory controller's data flow logic may perform handshaking to ensure that write data is completely received in the buffer before performing a write access.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.