Patent US6446180B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6446180B2
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Memory device with synchronized output path
Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
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Filing: 2001-07-30
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Granted: 2002-09-03
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Expires: 2021-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A memory device includes a data array, array control logic, a delay locked loop circuit, timing control logic, and a first storage device. The array control logic is adapted to receive a read command synchronized with an external clock signal and to read at least a first data element from the data array based on the read command. The delay locked loop circuit is adapted to receive the external clock signal and delay the external clock signal by a programmable amount to generate a delay locked loop clock signal. The timing control logic is adapted to generate a first input enable signal based on the external clock signal and a first output enable signal based on the delay locked loop clock signal. The first storage device adapted to receive the first data element. The first storage device has an input terminal enabled in response to the first input enable signal and an output terminal enabled in response to the first output enable signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Wen Li
- 👤 Christopher K. Morzano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/42; G06F13/4204; G06F13/4234; G06F13/4243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 67
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A memory device, comprising: a data array; array control logic adapted to receive a read command synchronized with an external clock signal and to read at least a first data element from the data array based on the read command; a delay locked loop circuit adapted to receive the external clock signal and delay the external clock signal by a programmable amount to generate a delay locked loop clock signal; timing control logic adapted to generate a first input enable signal based on the external clock signal and a first output enable signal based on the delay locked loop clock signal; and a first storage device adapted to receive the first data element, the first storage device having an input terminal enabled in response to the first input enable signal and an output terminal enabled in response to the first output enable signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A memory device, comprising: a data array; array control logic adapted to receive a read command synchronized with an external clock signal and to read at least a first data element from the data array based on the read command; a delay locked loop circuit adapted to receive the external clock signal and delay the external clock signal by a programmable amount to generate a delay locked loop clock signal; timing control logic adapted to generate a first input enable signal based on the external clock signal and a first output enable signal based on the delay locked loop clock signal; and a first storage device adapted to receive the first data element, the first storage device having an input terminal enabled in response to the first input enable signal and an output terminal enabled in response to the first output enable signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising: an output buffer having a data output terminal and being coupled to the first storage device, the output buffer being adapted to receive the first data element and provide the first data element to the data output terminal synchronized with an edge of the external clock signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the timing control logic is adapted to generate a rising edge signal based on a rising edge of the delay locked loop clock signal and a falling edge signal based on a falling edge of the delay locked loop clock signal, the timing control logic is adapted to generate an output buffer enable signal based on one of the rising edge signal and the falling edge signal, and the output buffer is adapted to receive the output buffer enable signal and enable the data output terminal based in response to the output buffer enable signal being asserted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
The memory device of claim 2 , further comprising a second data array, wherein the array control logic is adapted to read a second data element from the second data array based on the read command, the first storage device is adapted to store the first and second data elements and the output buffer is adapted to provide the first and second data elements to the data output terminal synchronized with subsequent edges of the external clock signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the first storage device includes a rising edge latch adapted to receive one of the first and second data elements and a falling edge latch adapted to receive the other of the first and second data elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The memory device of claim 5 , further comprising an array select latch coupled between the first and second data arrays and the first storage device, the array select latch being adapted to provide one of the first and second data elements to the rising edge latch and the other of the first and second data elements to the falling edge latch based on the read command.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The memory device of claim 6 , wherein the array control logic is adapted to generate a column address signal based on the read command and the array select latch is adapted to direct the first and second data elements to the rising and falling edge latches based on at least a portion of the column address signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
The memory device of claim 5 , further comprising an output latch coupled between the first storage device and the output buffer, wherein the timing control logic is adapted to generate a rising edge signal based on a rising edge of the delay locked loop clock signal and a falling edge signal based on a falling edge of the delay locked loop clock signal, and the output latch is adapted to provide the first data element to the output buffer based on the rising edge signal and the second data element to the output buffer based on the falling edge signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The memory device of claim 8 , wherein the delay locked loop circuit is adapted to receive the rising edge signal and adjust the programmable delay amount to synchronize the rising edge signal with the external clock signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
The memory device of claim 9 , wherein an output delay amount is defined by the time taken to receive the first data element from the first storage device and provide the first data element to the data output terminal, and the memory device further includes: a delay model adapted to receive the rising edge signal, delay the rising edge signal by the output delay amount to generate a delayed rising edge signal, and provide the delayed rising edge signal to the delay locked loop circuit for synchronization with the external clock signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the timing control logic is adapted to generate the first input enable signal a predetermined amount of time after the read command is registered by the array control logic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
The memory device of claim 5 , wherein the timing control logic is adapted to generate a rising edge signal based on a rising edge of the delay locked loop clock signal generate a falling edge signal based on a falling edge of the delay locked loop clock signal, and generate the first output enable signal based on a falling edge of the falling edge signal and a falling edge of the rising edge signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The memory device of claim 12 , wherein the timing signal generator is adapted to generate the first output enable signal based on the rising and falling edge signals and a programmable latency period after the read command.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first storage device includes a first input multiplexer enabled by the input enable signal, a first storage element coupled to the first input multiplexer, and a first output multiplexer enabled by the output enable signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The memory device of claim 14 , wherein the first storage device includes a second storage element coupled to the first output multiplexer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The memory device of claim 14 , wherein the first storage element comprises first and second cross-coupled inverters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the array control logic is further adapted to read a plurality of data elements on subsequent clock cycles of the external clock signal, and the first storage device includes a plurality of stages, each stage being adapted to store one of the plurality of data elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The memory device of claim 17 , wherein the first storage device includes at least three stages.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
177 words
A computer system, comprising: a microprocessor adapted to issue a read request synchronized with an external clock signal; a memory device adapted to receive the external clock signal and the read request, the memory device comprising: a data array; array control logic adapted to receive a read command synchronized with the external clock signal and to read at least a first data element from the data array based on the read command; a delay locked loop circuit adapted to receive the external clock signal and delay the external clock signal by a programmable amount to generate a delay locked loop clock signal; timing control logic adapted to generate a first input enable signal based on the external clock signal and a first output enable signal based on the delay locked loop clock signal; and a first storage device adapted to receive the first data element, the first storage device having a latch input terminal enabled in response to the first input enable signal and a latch output terminal enabled in response to the first output enable signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
177 words
A computer system, comprising: a microprocessor adapted to issue a read request synchronized with an external clock signal; a memory device adapted to receive the external clock signal and the read request, the memory device comprising: a data array; array control logic adapted to receive a read command synchronized with the external clock signal and to read at least a first data element from the data array based on the read command; a delay locked loop circuit adapted to receive the external clock signal and delay the external clock signal by a programmable amount to generate a delay locked loop clock signal; timing control logic adapted to generate a first input enable signal based on the external clock signal and a first output enable signal based on the delay locked loop clock signal; and a first storage device adapted to receive the first data element, the first storage device having a latch input terminal enabled in response to the first input enable signal and a latch output terminal enabled in response to the first output enable signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer system of claim 19 , the memory device further comprising: an output buffer having a data output terminal and being coupled to the first storage device, the output buffer being adapted to receive the first data element and provide the first data element to the data output terminal synchronized with an edge of the external clock signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
81 words
The computer system of claim 20 , the memory device further comprising a second data array, wherein the array control logic is adapted to read a second data element from the second data array based on the read command, the first storage device is adapted to store the first and second data elements, and the output buffer is adapted to provide the first and second data elements to the data output terminal synchronized with subsequent edges of the external clock signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer system of claim 21 , wherein the first storage device includes a rising edge latch adapted to receive one of the first and second data elements and a falling edge latch adapted to receive the other of the first and second data elements.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
70 words
The computer system of claim 22 , the memory device further comprising an array select latch coupled between the first and second data arrays and the first storage device, the array select latch being adapted to provide one of the first and second data elements to the rising edge latch and the other of the first and second data elements to the falling edge latch based on the read command.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
The computer system of claim 23 , wherein the array control logic is adapted to generate a column address signal based on the read command and the array select latch is adapted to direct the first and second data elements to the rising and falling edge latches based on at least a portion of the column address signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
104 words
The computer system of claim 22 , the memory device further comprising an output latch coupled between the first storage device and the output buffer, wherein the timing control logic is adapted to generate a rising edge signal based on a rising edge of the delay locked loop clock signal and a falling edge signal based on a falling edge of the delay locked loop clock signal and the output latch is adapted to provide the first data element to the output buffer based on the rising edge signal and the second data element to the output buffer based on the falling edge signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer system of claim 25 , wherein the delay locked loop circuit is adapted to receive the rising edge signal and adjust the programmable delay amount to synchronize the rising edge signal with the external clock signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
93 words
The computer system of claim 26 , wherein an output delay amount is defined by the time taken to receive the first data element from the first storage device and provide the first data element to the data output terminal, and the memory device further includes: a delay model adapted to receive the rising edge signal, delay the rising edge signal by the output delay amount to generate a delayed rising edge signal, and provide the delayed rising edge signal to the delay locked loop circuit for synchronization with the external clock signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the timing control logic is adapted to generate the first input enable signal a predetermined amount of time after the read command is registered by the array control logic.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
75 words
The computer system of claim 22 , wherein the timing control logic is adapted to generate a rising edge signal based on a rising edge of the delay locked loop clock signal, generate a falling edge signal based on a falling edge of the delay locked loop clock signal, and generate the first output enable signal based on a falling edge of the falling edge signal and a falling edge of the rising edge signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer system of claim 29 , wherein the timing signal generator is adapted to generate the first output enable signal based on the rising and falling edge signals and a programmable latency period after the read command.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the first storage device includes a first input multiplexer enabled by the input enable signal, a first storage element coupled to the first input multiplexer, and a first output multiplexer enabled by the output enable signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 31 , wherein the first storage device includes a second storage element coupled to the first output multiplexer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 31 , wherein the first storage element comprises first and second cross-coupled inverters.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the array control logic is further adapted to read a plurality of data elements on subsequent clock cycles of the external clock signal, and the first storage device includes a plurality of stages, each stage being adapted to tore one of the plurality of data elements.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for accessing a memory device, comprising: receiving a read command synchronized with an external clock signal; accessing a data array to read at least a first data element from the data array based on the read command; delaying the external clock signal by a programmable amount to generate a delay locked loop clock signal; generating a first input enable signal based on the external clock signal and a first output enable signal based on the delay locked loop clock signal; and storing the first data element in a first data storage device in response to the first input enable signal and outputting the first data element from the first data storage device in response to the first output enable signal.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for accessing a memory device, comprising: receiving a read command synchronized with an external clock signal; accessing a data array to read at least a first data element from the data array based on the read command; delaying the external clock signal by a programmable amount to generate a delay locked loop clock signal; generating a first input enable signal based on the external clock signal and a first output enable signal based on the delay locked loop clock signal; and storing the first data element in a first data storage device in response to the first input enable signal and outputting the first data element from the first data storage device in response to the first output enable signal.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 35 , further comprising providing the first data element to a data output terminal synchronized with an edge of the external clock signal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 36 , further comprising: reading a second data element from a second data array based on the read command; storing the first and second data elements in the first data storage device; and providing the first and second data elements to the data output terminal synchronized with subsequent edges of the external clock signal.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein storing the first and second data elements includes: storing one of the first and second data elements in a rising edge latch of the first data storage device; and storing the other of the first and second data elements in a falling edge latch of the first data storage device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 38 , further comprising providing one of the first and second data elements to the rising edge latch and the other of the first and second data elements to the falling edge latch based on the read command.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 39 , further comprising: generating a column address signal based on the read command, and directing the first and second data elements to the rising and falling edge latches based on at least a portion of the column address signal.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 38 , further comprising: generating a rising edge signal based on a rising edge of the delay locked loop clock signal and a falling edge signal based on a falling edge of the delay locked loop clock signal; and providing the first data element to the data output terminal based on the rising edge signal and the second data element to the data output terminal based on the falling edge signal.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 41 , wherein delaying the external clock signal includes: receiving the rising edge signal; and adjusting the programmable delay amount to synchronize the rising edge signal with the external clock signal.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 42 , wherein an output delay amount is defined by the time taken to receive the first data element from the first data storage device and provide the first data element to the data output terminal, and delaying the external clock signal includes: delaying the rising edge signal by the output delay amount to generate a delayed rising edge signal; and adjusting the programmable delay amount to synchronize the delayed rising edge signal with the external clock signal.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 35 , generating the first input enable signal includes generating the first input enable signal a predetermined amount of time after the read command is received.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 36 , wherein generating the output enable signals includes: generating a rising edge signal based on a rising edge of the delay locked loop clock signal; generating a falling edge signal based on a falling edge of the delay locked loop clock signal; and generating the first output enable signal based on a falling edge of the falling edge signal and a falling edge of the rising edge signal.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 45 , wherein generating the first output enable signal includes generating the first output enable signal based on the rising and falling edge signals and a programmable latency period after the read command.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 35 , further comprising: reading a plurality of data elements on subsequent clock cycles of the external clock signal; and storing the plurality of data elements in a plurality of stages in the first data storage element.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for synchronizing a data transfer, comprising: receiving a first data element synchronized with an external clock signal; delaying the external clock signal by a programmable amount to generate a delay locked loop clock signal; generating a first input enable signal based on the external clock signal and a first output enable signal based on the delay locked loop clock signal; and storing the first data element in a first data storage device in response to the first input enable signal and outputting the first data element from the first data storage device in response to the first output enable signal.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for synchronizing a data transfer, comprising: receiving a first data element synchronized with an external clock signal; delaying the external clock signal by a programmable amount to generate a delay locked loop clock signal; generating a first input enable signal based on the external clock signal and a first output enable signal based on the delay locked loop clock signal; and storing the first data element in a first data storage device in response to the first input enable signal and outputting the first data element from the first data storage device in response to the first output enable signal.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 48 , further comprising providing the first data element to a data output terminal synchronized with an edge of the external clock signal.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 49 , further comprising: receiving a second data element in parallel with the first data element; storing the first and second data elements in the first data storage device; and providing the first and second data elements to the data output terminal synchronized with subsequent edges of the external clock signal.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 50 , wherein storing the first and second data elements includes: storing one of the first and second data elements in a rising edge latch of the first data storage device; and storing the other of the first and second data elements in a falling edge latch of the first data storage device.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 51 , further comprising: generating a rising edge signal based on a rising edge of the delay locked loop clock signal and a falling edge signal based on a falling edge of the delay locked loop clock signal; and providing the first data element to the data output terminal based on the rising edge signal and the second data element to the data output terminal based on the falling edge signal.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 52 , wherein delaying the external clock signal includes: receiving the rising edge signal; and adjusting the programmable delay amount to synchronize the rising edge signal with the external clock signal.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 53 , wherein an output delay amount is defined by the time taken to receive the first data element from the first data storage device and provide the first data element to the data output terminal, and delaying the external clock signal includes: delaying the rising edge signal by the output delay amount to generate a delayed rising edge signal; and adjusting the programmable delay amount to synchronize the delayed rising edge signal with the external clock signal.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 48 , generating the first input enable signal includes generating the first input enable signal a predetermined amount of time after the read command is received.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 51 , wherein generating the output enable signals includes: generating a rising edge signal based on a rising edge of the delay locked loop clock signal; generating a falling edge signal based on a falling edge of the delay locked loop clock signal; and generating the first output enable signal based on a falling edge of the falling edge signal and a falling edge of the rising edge signal.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 56 , wherein generating the first output enable signal includes generating the first output enable signal based on the rising and falling edge signals and a programmable latency period after the read command.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 48 , further comprising: receiving a plurality of data elements on subsequent clock cycles of the external clock signal; and storing the plurality of data elements in a plurality of stages in the first data storage element.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
113 words
A memory device, comprising: means for receiving a read command synchronized with an external clock signal; means for receiving at least a first data element based on the read command; means for delaying the external clock signal by a programmable amount to generate a delay locked loop clock signal; means for generating a first input enable signal based on the external clock signal and a first output enable signal based on the delay locked loop clock signal; and means for storing the first data element in response to the first input enable signal and outputting the first data element from the first data storage device in response to the first output enable signal.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
113 words
A memory device, comprising: means for receiving a read command synchronized with an external clock signal; means for receiving at least a first data element based on the read command; means for delaying the external clock signal by a programmable amount to generate a delay locked loop clock signal; means for generating a first input enable signal based on the external clock signal and a first output enable signal based on the delay locked loop clock signal; and means for storing the first data element in response to the first input enable signal and outputting the first data element from the first data storage device in response to the first output enable signal.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
104 words
The computer system of claim 20 , wherein the timing control logic is adapted to generate a rising edge signal based on a rising edge of the delay locked loop clock signal and a falling edge signal based on a falling edge of the delay locked loop clock signal, the timing control logic is adapted to generate an output buffer enable signal based on one of the rising edge signal and the falling edge signal, and the output buffer is adapted to receive the output buffer enable signal and enable the data output terminal in response to the output buffer enable signal being asserted.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 36 , further comprising: generating a rising edge signal based on a rising edge of the delay locked loop clock signal; generating a falling edge signal based on a falling edge of the delay locked loop clock signal; generating an output buffer enable signal based on one of the rising edge signal and the falling edge signal; and enabling the data output terminal in response to the output buffer enable signal being asserted.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 49 , further comprising: generating a rising edge signal based on a rising edge of the delay locked loop clock signal; generating a falling edge signal based on a falling edge of the delay locked loop clock signal; generating an output buffer enable signal ba,ed on one of the rising edge signal and the falling edge signal; and enabling the data output terminal in response to the output buffer enable signal being in asserted.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-02 | 2006-03-04 | 2006-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-02 | 2010-03-04 | 2010-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-02 | 2014-03-04 | 2014-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |