Method and system for accessing rows in multiple memory banks within an integrated circuit

Claim 2

A row command unit in an integrated circuit including a plurality of memory banks, comprising; at least one open-row timing circuit generating an open-row control signal responsive to an applied trigger signal and resetting itself responsive to driving the open-row control signal active; at least one close-row timing circuit generating a close-row control signal responsive to an applied trigger signal and resetting itself responsive to driving the close-row control signal active; a selection circuit generating a selection signal responsive to the trigger signals applied to the timing circuits; and a plurality of row control latches coupled to respective memory banks and adapted to receive respective bank access signals, each row control latch selectively coupling itself to and triggering one of the timing circuits responsive to the bank access and selection signals, and thereafter latching the row control signal from the selected timing circuit and applying the latched row control signal to the corresponding memory bank, the row control latch decoupling itself from the selected timing circuit after the row control signal has been latched.

Claim 3

The row command unit of claim 1 wherein the row control signal from each row control latch comprises a row access signal and a sense amplifier control signal.

Claim 4

The row command unit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of row control latches comprises thirty-two row control latches coupled to corresponding memory banks, and two open-row timing circuits, two close-row timing circuits, and the selection circuit generating two selection signals.

Claim 5

The row command unit of claim 1 wherein there is a minimum bank-to-bank access time t 1 between which successive bank access signals go active, a delay-reset time t 2 of each open-row and close-row timing circuit, and the row command unit comprises M open-row timing circuits and M close-row timing circuits where M corresponds to t 2 /t 1 rounded up to nearest integer.

Claim 6

The row command unit of claim 1 wherein each row control latch comprises: a first storage circuit adapted to receive open-bank and close-bank signals on respective terminals, the first storage circuit latching an open output active responsive to the open-bank signal going active and latching the open output inactive responsive to the close-bank signal going active; a pulse generator adapted to receive the open-bank and close-bank signals on respective terminals, and generating a clock pulse responsive to either of the open-bank or close-bank signals going active; a second storage circuit coupled to the pulse generator and adapted to receive selection outputs on respective terminals, the second storage circuit latching a selected one of the selection outputs responsive to clock pulse and the value of the open output, and generating attach signals responsive to the latched selection output; a trigger circuit coupled to the pulse generator and the first and second storage circuits, and including a plurality of trigger outputs, the activation circuit activating a selected trigger output a predetermined time after the pulse generator generates the clock pulse, the trigger output being selected responsive to the values of the open output and the attach signals; a first multiplexer circuit coupled to the first and second storage circuits and having a first group of inputs adapted to receive respective fire row signals and a second group of inputs adapted to receive respective fire sense amp signals, the multiplexer operable when the open output from the first storage circuit is active to couple a selected input from the first group to a first output and a selected input from the second group to a second output responsive to the values of the attach signals, and operable when the open output is inactive to present a high impedance on the first and second outputs; a second multiplexer circuit coupled to the first and second storage circuits and having a first group of inputs adapted to receive respective row reset signals and a second group of inputs adapted to receive respective reset sense amp signals, the multiplexer operable when the open output from the first storage circuit is inactive to couple a selected input from the first group to a first output and a selected input from the second group to a second output responsive to the values of the attach signals, and operable when the open output is active to present a high impedance on the first and second outputs; a row storage circuit coupled to the first outputs from the first and second multiplexers, the row storage circuit latching a row control output active when the applied fire row signals goes active and latching the row control signal inactive when the applied row reset signal goes active; and a sense amplifier storage circuit coupled to the second outputs from the first and second multiplexers, the sense amplifier storage circuit latching a sense amplifier control output active when the applied fire sense amplifiers signal goes active and latching the sense amplifier control signal inactive when the applied reset sense amplifiers signal goes active.

Claim 7

The row command unit of claim 5 wherein each of the storage circuits includes an RS flip-flop.

Claim 8

The row command unit of claim 1 wherein each open-row timing circuit comprises: a model word line delay circuit adapted to receive a set-reset input, the delay circuit generating first and second delayed signals and first and second respective outputs a delay time after the set-reset input goes active, and deactivating the first and second delayed signals responsive to the set-reset input going inactive; a sense amplifier delay circuit coupled to the first output from the model word line delay circuit and generating an sense amplifier activation pulse having a fixed duration a predetermined time after the first delayed signal goes active; a sense amplifier activation latch having respective set and reset inputs coupled to the sense amplifier delay circuit and second output from the model word line delay circuit, and latching a sense amplifier activation output active and inactive responsive to the respective set and reset inputs; a row activation latch having a set input adapted to receive an open bank signal and a reset input coupled to the sense amplifier activation output, the row activation latch latching a row activation signal active responsive to the open bank signal going active and latching the row activation signal inactive responsive to the sense amplifier activation output going active; and a reset circuit coupled between the sense amplifier activation output and the set input of the row activation latch, the reset circuit latching the set input inactive when the sense amplifier activation output goes active.

Claim 9

The row command unit of claim 1 wherein each close-row timing circuit comprises: a model word line delay circuit adapted to receive a set-reset input, the delay circuit generating first and second delayed signals and first and second respective outputs a delay time after the set-reset input goes active, and deactivating the first and second delayed signals responsive to the set-reset input going inactive; a sense amplifier delay circuit coupled to the second output from the model word line delay circuit and generating an sense amplifier reset signal; a sense amplifier activation latch having respective reset and set inputs coupled to the sense amplifier delay circuit and second output from the model word line delay circuit, and latching a sense amplifier reset output active and inactive responsive to the respective set and reset inputs; a row reset latch having a reset input adapted to receive an close bank signal and a set input coupled to the sense amplifier reset output, the row activation latch latching a row reset signal active responsive to the close bank signal going active and latching the row reset signal inactive responsive to the sense amplifier reset output going active; and a reset circuit coupled between the sense amplifier reset output and the set input of the row reset latch, the reset circuit latching the set input inactive when the sense amplifier reset output goes active.

Claim 10

The row command unit of claim 1 wherein the selection circuit comprises: a first logic circuit adapted to receive respective open trigger signals on respective inputs and generating a clock signal on an output; a first register having clock terminals coupled to the output of the first logic circuit and having its output coupled to its input through an inverter, the first register outputting an open selection signal; a second logic circuit adapted to receive respective close trigger signals on respective inputs and generating a clock signal on an output; and a second register having clock terminals coupled to the output of the second logic circuit and having its output coupled to its input through an inverter, the second register outputting a close selection signal.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10 wherein each of the acts of applying the stored row access command applying a row control command and thereafter applying a sense amplifier control command to the corresponding memory bank.

Claim 16

The method of claim 12 wherein applying each of the stored row access commands to a respective one of the memory banks comprises applying a row control command and thereafter applying a sense amplifier control command to the corresponding memory bank.

Claim 19

The method of claim 14 wherein there are two row timing circuits and wherein sequentially selecting respective ones of the row timing circuits comprises alternately selecting the two row timing circuits.