US6373768B2 — Apparatus and method for thermal regulation in me…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 115 words

A memory system comprising: a memory controller coupled to a bus; a memory module comprising N memory devices coupled to the bus, each one of the N memory devices operable to receive data from the bus during a write operation and to transmit data onto the bus during a read operation; wherein the memory controller comprises: a tracking circuit operable to track a number of memory device operations in M of the N memory devices during a period of time, where M is less than or equal to N; and a control circuit operable to manipulate operation of the memory system in response to a comparison of the number of memory operations and a reference.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 115 words

A memory system comprising: a memory controller coupled to a bus; a memory module comprising N memory devices coupled to the bus, each one of the N memory devices operable to receive data from the bus during a write operation and to transmit data onto the bus during a read operation; wherein the memory controller comprises: a tracking circuit operable to track a number of memory device operations in M of the N memory devices during a period of time, where M is less than or equal to N; and a control circuit operable to manipulate operation of the memory system in response to a comparison of the number of memory operations and a reference.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The memory system of claim 1 , wherein the tracking circuit comprises at least one counter.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

The memory system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one counter comprises: a first counter incremented by each read operation during the period of time; and a second counter incremented by each write operation during the period of time.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

The memory system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one counter comprises a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) buffer.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The memory system of claim 1 , wherein the reference comprises power value data relating a number of memory device operations with an estimated operating temperature for the M memory devices.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The memory system of claim 5 , wherein the power value data is stored in the memory controller.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The memory system of claim 5 , wherein the power value data is stored in one or more registers on the N memory devices.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The memory system of claim 5 , wherein the memory module further comprises a data storage element storing the power value data for the M memory devices.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 64 words

The memory system of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller further comprises: a delay circuit operable to select a first delay between successive read operations to the M memory devices and to select a second delay between successive write operations to the M memory devices on the basis of a control circuit comparison indicating that the number of memory operations exceeds the reference.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 80 words

The memory system of claim 5 , wherein each of the N memory devices is operable in first and second modes of operation, wherein each of the N memory devices consumes less power in the second mode of operation as compared with the first mode of operation; and wherein the memory controller is operable to select between the first and second modes of operation for each one of the M memory devices on the basis of the control circuit comparison.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 95 words

A method of regulating the operating temperature of memory devices in a memory system comprising; a memory controller and a memory module comprising a plurality of memory devices, the method comprising: determining a number of operations involving one or more memory devices on the memory module during a time period; comparing the number of operations to reference data corresponding to an estimated operating temperature the one or more memory devices; determining whether to manipulate the operation of the memory system on the basis of the comparison between the number of operations and the reference data.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 95 words

A method of regulating the operating temperature of memory devices in a memory system comprising; a memory controller and a memory module comprising a plurality of memory devices, the method comprising: determining a number of operations involving one or more memory devices on the memory module during a time period; comparing the number of operations to reference data corresponding to an estimated operating temperature the one or more memory devices; determining whether to manipulate the operation of the memory system on the basis of the comparison between the number of operations and the reference data.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 11 , wherein the number of operations comprises at least one of a number of read operations involving the one or more memory devices, a number of write operations involving the one or more memory devices, and a number of refresh operations involving the one or more memory devices.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 11 , further comprising: upon determining to manipulate the operation of the memory system, introducing delays between successive read operations and successive write operations to the one or memory devices.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 11 , further comprising: upon determining to manipulate the operation of the memory system, placing the one or more memory devices in a mode of operation requiring less power.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 11 , further comprising: upon determining to manipulate the operation of the memory system, increasing the refresh rate for the one or more memory device.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 148 words

A memory system comprising: a memory module comprising N memory devices coupled to a bus, each one of the N memory devices being operable in at least a first power mode and a second power mode, and having a maximum threshold temperature; at least one temperature sensors measuring actual operating temperature for a group M of the N memory devices, where M is less than or equal to N; a memory controller coupled to the bus, the memory controller selecting the first power mode for each memory device in the group M having an actual operating temperature below the maximum threshold temperature, and selecting the second power mode for each memory device in the group M having an actual operating temperature above the maximum threshold temperature; wherein each one of the N memory device consumes less power in the second power mode than in the first power mode.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 148 words

A memory system comprising: a memory module comprising N memory devices coupled to a bus, each one of the N memory devices being operable in at least a first power mode and a second power mode, and having a maximum threshold temperature; at least one temperature sensors measuring actual operating temperature for a group M of the N memory devices, where M is less than or equal to N; a memory controller coupled to the bus, the memory controller selecting the first power mode for each memory device in the group M having an actual operating temperature below the maximum threshold temperature, and selecting the second power mode for each memory device in the group M having an actual operating temperature above the maximum threshold temperature; wherein each one of the N memory device consumes less power in the second power mode than in the first power mode.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

The memory system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor generates temperature data communicated to the memory controller via the bus.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 56 words

The memory system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor generates temperature data, and wherein the memory system further comprises a signal line outside the bus connecting the at least one temperature sensor and the memory controller, such that the temperature data is communicated to the memory controller via the signal line.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

The memory system of claim 18 , wherein the temperature data comprises a digital flag and wherein the memory controller further comprises a data register connected to the signal line and storing a value associated with the digital flag.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 168 words

A method of regulating the operating temperature of memory devices in a memory system comprising a memory controller and a memory module comprising N memory devices, the method comprising: storing power value data indicative of a maximum threshold temperature for at least one of the N memory devices in a data storage element associated with the memory module; tracking a number of memory system operations involving M of the N memory devices during a time period, where M is less than or equal to N and where the number of operations is indicative of an estimated operating temperature for the M memory devices; comparing the number of memory system operations to the power value data; and upon determining based on the comparison of the number of memory system operations to the power value data that the estimated operating temperature for the M memory devices is greater than the maximum threshold temperature, manipulating the operation of the memory system to reduce the operating temperature of the M memory devices.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 168 words

A method of regulating the operating temperature of memory devices in a memory system comprising a memory controller and a memory module comprising N memory devices, the method comprising: storing power value data indicative of a maximum threshold temperature for at least one of the N memory devices in a data storage element associated with the memory module; tracking a number of memory system operations involving M of the N memory devices during a time period, where M is less than or equal to N and where the number of operations is indicative of an estimated operating temperature for the M memory devices; comparing the number of memory system operations to the power value data; and upon determining based on the comparison of the number of memory system operations to the power value data that the estimated operating temperature for the M memory devices is greater than the maximum threshold temperature, manipulating the operation of the memory system to reduce the operating temperature of the M memory devices.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 20 , further comprising: reading the power value data from the data storage element during memory system initialization.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 20 , wherein the data storage element is a serial presence detect device.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 106 words

A memory system controller operating in a memory system, the memory system comprising one or more memory devices coupled to the memory system controller via a bus, and memory system controller comprising: a first circuit adapted to count a number of memory system operations; and a second circuit adapted to modify an operating parameter of the memory system in relation to a comparison of the number of memory system operations counted by the first circuit and power value data, wherein the operating parameter comprises at lease one selected from a group consisting of: memory device refresh rate, memory device power mode, or memory system timing parameter.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 106 words

A memory system controller operating in a memory system, the memory system comprising one or more memory devices coupled to the memory system controller via a bus, and memory system controller comprising: a first circuit adapted to count a number of memory system operations; and a second circuit adapted to modify an operating parameter of the memory system in relation to a comparison of the number of memory system operations counted by the first circuit and power value data, wherein the operating parameter comprises at lease one selected from a group consisting of: memory device refresh rate, memory device power mode, or memory system timing parameter.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The memory system controller of claim 23 , further comprising a third circuit storing the power value data.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 31 words

The memory system controller of claim 24 , wherein the third circuit receives the power value data from at least one of the one or more memory devices via the bus.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 31 words

The memory system controller of claim 25 , wherein the one or more memory devices are configured on a memory module comprising a serial-presence-detect (SPD) device storing the power value data.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 99 words

The memory system controller of claim 24 , wherein the second circuit further comprises: an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) estimating a memory device temperature value on the basis of the power value data stored in the third circuit and the number of a counted number of memory system operations derived from the first circuit; a fourth circuit storing temperature threshold data related to the one or more memory devices; and, a comparator circuit comparing the memory device temperature value with the temperature threshold data and generating a control signal used to modify an operating parameter of the memory system.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 39 words

The memory system controller of claim 27 , further comprising: a sequencer circuit receiving a series of memory system instructions and outputting the series of memory system instructions in accordance with the control signal generated by the comparator circuit.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 35 words

The memory system controller of claim 23 , wherein the first circuit comprises a plurality of counters, each counter in the plurality of counters being adapted to count a different type of memory system operation.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 22 words

The memory system controller of claim 29 , wherein each counter in the plurality of counters comprises a first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer circuit.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-04-15	2005-10-15	2006-04-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-04-15	2009-10-15	2010-04-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-04-15	2013-10-15	2014-04-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus and method for thermal regulation in memory subsystems

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