Patent · US Active

Arbitration unit for memory system

US8533403B1 · kind B1 · utility

23Cited by
6References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 30, 2010
Grant dateSep 10, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 5, 2031

Classification

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

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed relating to maximizing utilization of memory systems within power constraints of the memory systems. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit may include multiple memory controllers and an arbitration unit. Each memory controller may be configured to generate requests to perform memory operations on one or more portions of memory. The arbitration unit may be configured to grant no more than a specified number of requests during a time window TW. In some embodiments, a voltage converter that supplies power to the memory system may be configured to supply power to perform no more than the specified number of requests during the time window TW. The arbitration unit may thus be used, in some embodiments, to ensure that the greatest possible number of the specified number of memory requests are granted during a given time window TW (without exceeding the specified number).

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