Memory instruction pipeline with a pre-read stage for a write operation for reducing power consumption in a memory device that uses dynamic redundancy registers
First Claim
1. A memory pipeline for performing a write operation in a memory device, the memory pipeline comprising:
- an input register operable to receive a first data word and an associated address to be written into a memory bank;
a pre-read register of a first pipe-stage coupled to the input register and operable to receive the first data word and the associated address from the input register and further operable to pre-read a second data word stored in the memory bank at the associated address, and wherein the pre-read register is further operable to store mask bits associated with pre-reading the second data word, wherein the mask bits comprise information regarding a bit-wise comparison between the first data word and the second data word; and
a write register of a second pipe-stage operable to receive the first data word, the associated address and the mask bits from the pre-read register, wherein the write register is further operable to use information from the mask bits to write the first data word into the memory bank by changing those bits in the first data word that differ from the second data word, wherein the second pipe-stage follows the first pipe-stage.
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Abstract
A memory pipeline for performing a write operation in a memory device is disclosed. The memory pipeline comprises an input register operable to receive a first data word and an associated address to be written into a memory bank. The memory pipeline also comprises a pre-read register of the first pipe-stage coupled to the input register and operable to receive the first data word and the associated address from the input register and further operable to pre-read a second data word stored in the memory bank at the associated address. Finally, the memory pipeline comprises a write register of the second pipe-stage operable to receive the first data word, the associated address and mask bits from the pre-read register, wherein the write register is further operable to use information from the mask bits to write the first data word into the memory bank by changing those bits in the first data word that differ from the second data word.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A memory pipeline for performing a write operation in a memory device, the memory pipeline comprising:
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an input register operable to receive a first data word and an associated address to be written into a memory bank; a pre-read register of a first pipe-stage coupled to the input register and operable to receive the first data word and the associated address from the input register and further operable to pre-read a second data word stored in the memory bank at the associated address, and wherein the pre-read register is further operable to store mask bits associated with pre-reading the second data word, wherein the mask bits comprise information regarding a bit-wise comparison between the first data word and the second data word; and a write register of a second pipe-stage operable to receive the first data word, the associated address and the mask bits from the pre-read register, wherein the write register is further operable to use information from the mask bits to write the first data word into the memory bank by changing those bits in the first data word that differ from the second data word, wherein the second pipe-stage follows the first pipe-stage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for performing a write operation in a memory device, the system comprising:
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a memory pipeline; a memory bank coupled to the memory pipeline; and a first level dynamic redundancy register, wherein the memory pipeline comprises; an input register operable to receive a first data word and an associated address to be written into the memory bank; a pre-read register of a first pipe-stage coupled to the input register and operable to receive the first data word and the associated address from the input register and further operable to pre-read a second data word stored in the memory bank at the associated address, and wherein the pre-read register is further operable to store mask bits associated with pre-reading the second data word, wherein the mask bits comprise information regarding a bit-wise comparison between the first data word and the second data word; and a write register of a second pipe-stage operable to receive the first data word, the associated address and the mask bits from the pre-read register, wherein the write register is further operable to use information from the mask bits to write the first data word into the memory bank by changing those bits in the first data word that differ from the second data word, wherein the second pipe-stage follows the first pipe-stage. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A memory pipeline for performing a write operation in a memory device, the memory pipeline comprising:
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an input register operable to receive a first data word and an associated address to be written into a memory bank, wherein the memory bank comprises memory cells that are spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) cells; a pre-read register of a first pipe-stage coupled to the input register and operable to receive the first data word and the associated address from the input register and further operable to pre-read a second data word stored in the memory bank at the associated address, and wherein the pre-read register is further operable to store mask bits associated with pre-reading the second data word, wherein the mask bits comprise information regarding a bit-wise comparison between the first data word and the second data word; and a write register of a second pipe-stage operable to receive the first data word, the associated address and the mask bits from the pre-read register, wherein the write register is further operable to use information from the mask bits to write the first data word into the memory bank by changing those bits in the first data word that differ from the second data word, wherein the second pipe-stage follows the first pipe-stage. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification