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Patent US5958065A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5958065A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Content addressable bit replacement memory
Assignee: Micron Technology Inc
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Filing: 1997-02-18
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Granted: 1999-09-28
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Expires: 2017-02-18
Abstract
Abstract A method of storing data to a defective memory device includes first receiving a memory address and a plurality of data bits. Next, a content addressable memory is interrogated with the memory address. Then, at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits is stored in the defective memory device. If the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits is stored in the content addressable memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Dean A. Klein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:50
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C29/00; G11C29/70; G11C29/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of storing data to a defective memory device comprising: (a) receiving at least a portion of a memory address; (b) receiving a plurality of data bits; (c) interrogating a content addressable memory with the at least a portion of the memory address; (d) storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the defective memory device; and (e) if the at least a portion of the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the content addressable memory.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of storing data to a defective memory device comprising: (a) receiving at least a portion of a memory address; (b) receiving a plurality of data bits; (c) interrogating a content addressable memory with the at least a portion of the memory address; (d) storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the defective memory device; and (e) if the at least a portion of the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the content addressable memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the act of storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the content addressable memory includes storing two data bits of the plurality of data bits in the content addressable memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the act of storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the content addressable memory includes storing four data bits of the plurality of data bits in the content addressable memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the act of storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the defective memory device includes storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in a DRAM device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the act of storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the defective memory device includes storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in an EDO DRAM device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the act of storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the defective memory device includes storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in a SRAM device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the act of storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the defective memory device includes storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in a VRAM device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one data bit stored in the content addressable memory is stored for merger with the remaining plurality of data bits in a subsequent read from the defective memory device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of storing data to a defective memory device comprising: (a) receiving at least a portion of a memory address; (b) receiving a plurality of data bits; (c) interrogating a content addressable memory with the at least a portion of the memory address; (d) storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the defective memory device; and (e) if the at least a portion of the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then (i) retrieving a bit location value from the content addressable memory, (ii) selecting at least one data bit, referred to as a selected data bit, of the plurality of data bits based on the retrieved bit location value, and (iii) storing at least the selected data bit in the content addressable memory.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of storing data to a defective memory device comprising: (a) receiving at least a portion of a memory address; (b) receiving a plurality of data bits; (c) interrogating a content addressable memory with the at least a portion of the memory address; (d) storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the defective memory device; and (e) if the at least a portion of the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then (i) retrieving a bit location value from the content addressable memory, (ii) selecting at least one data bit, referred to as a selected data bit, of the plurality of data bits based on the retrieved bit location value, and (iii) storing at least the selected data bit in the content addressable memory.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the act of storing at least the selected data bit in the content addressable memory includes storing two data bits in the content addressable memory.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the act of storing at least the selected data bit in the content addressable memory includes storing four data bits in the content addressable memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the act of storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the defective memory device includes storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in a DRAM device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the act of storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the defective memory device includes storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in an EDO DRAM device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the act of storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the defective memory device includes storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in a SRAM device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the act of storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in the defective memory device includes storing at least one data bit of the plurality of data bits in a VRAM device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one data bit stored in the content addressable memory is stored for merger with the remaining plurality of data bits in a subsequent read from the defective memory device.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of reading data from a defective memory device comprising: (a) receiving at least a portion of a memory address; (b) reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device; (c) interrogating a content addressable memory with the at least a portion of the memory address; and (d) if the at least a portion of the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then retrieving at least one data bit, referred to as a retrieved data bit, from the content addressable memory.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of reading data from a defective memory device comprising: (a) receiving at least a portion of a memory address; (b) reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device; (c) interrogating a content addressable memory with the at least a portion of the memory address; and (d) if the at least a portion of the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then retrieving at least one data bit, referred to as a retrieved data bit, from the content addressable memory.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 17 further including: (e) if the at least a portion of the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then merging the retrieved data bit with at least one of the plurality of data bits.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 18 further including: (f) outputting the retrieved data bit and at least one of the plurality of data bits.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the act of reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device includes reading a plurality of data bits from a DRAM device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the act of reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device includes reading a plurality of data bits from an EDO DRAM device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the act of reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device includes reading a plurality of data bits from a SRAM device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the act of reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device includes reading a plurality of data bits from a VRAM device.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of reading data from a defective memory device comprising: (a) receiving at least a portion of the memory address; (b) reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device; (c) interrogating a content addressable memory with the at least a portion of the memory address; and (d) if the at least a portion of the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then (i) retrieving a bit location value from the content addressable memory, (ii) retrieving at least one data bit, referred to as a retrieved data bit, from the content addressable memory, and (iii) merging the retrieved data bit with at least one of the plurality of data bits.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of reading data from a defective memory device comprising: (a) receiving at least a portion of the memory address; (b) reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device; (c) interrogating a content addressable memory with the at least a portion of the memory address; and (d) if the at least a portion of the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then (i) retrieving a bit location value from the content addressable memory, (ii) retrieving at least one data bit, referred to as a retrieved data bit, from the content addressable memory, and (iii) merging the retrieved data bit with at least one of the plurality of data bits.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 22 further including: (e) outputting the retrieved data bit and at least one of the plurality of data bits.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the act of reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device includes reading a plurality of data bits from a DRAM device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the act of reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device includes reading a plurality of data bits from an EDO DRAM device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the act of reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device includes reading a plurality of data bits from a SRAM device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the act of reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device includes reading a plurality of data bits from a VRAM device.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of reading data from a defective memory device comprising: (a) receiving at least a portion of a memory address; (b) reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device; (c) interrogating a content addressable memory with the at least a portion of the memory address; (d) if the at least a portion of the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then retrieving at least one data bit, referred to as a retrieved data bit, from the content addressable memory; and (e) if the at least a portion of the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then merging the retrieved data bit with at least one of the plurality of data bits.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of reading data from a defective memory device comprising: (a) receiving at least a portion of a memory address; (b) reading a plurality of data bits from the defective memory device; (c) interrogating a content addressable memory with the at least a portion of the memory address; (d) if the at least a portion of the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then retrieving at least one data bit, referred to as a retrieved data bit, from the content addressable memory; and (e) if the at least a portion of the memory address is found in the content addressable memory, then merging the retrieved data bit with at least one of the plurality of data bits.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 30, further including: (f) outputting the retrieved data bit and at least one of the plurality of data bits.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-27 | 2003-03-29 | 2003-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-27 | 2007-03-29 | 2007-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-27 | 2011-03-29 | 2011-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |