Patent · US Expired

Non-DRAM indicator and method of accessing data not stored in DRAM array

US7640392B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
12References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 23, 2005
Grant dateDec 29, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 29, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Data not stored in the DRAM array of a SDRAM module, such as the output of a temperature sensor, are read from the SDRAM in a synchronous read cycle that is seamlessly interspersed with SDRAM read and write cycles directed to data in the DRAM array. Control information, including a non-DRAM indicator in the case of data not stored in a DRAM array, are maintained for all read cycles. Returned data stored in a DRAM array and data not stored in a DRAM array are buffered together. When extracting read data from the buffer, data not stored in a DRAM array are identified by the non-DRAM indicator and directed to circuits within the controller. When data not stored in the DRAM array indicates the temperature of the SDRAM die, the controller may adjust the refresh rate in response to the temperature.

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