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Method and system for minimizing power demands on portable computers and the like by refreshing selected dram cells

  • US 5,148,546 A
  • Filed: 02/19/1992
  • Issued: 09/15/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for conserving power during the operation of a personal computer having a certain amount of random access memory (RAM) therein defined by a predetermined number of rows of memory elements or cells located on a single RAM semiconductor chip, said method comprising the steps of:

  • a. reading a computer program to ascertain how much RAM memory is required thereby, andb. refreshing a selected fraction or subset of the total number of rows in a single RAM memory chip as required by said computer program in above, but less than the total number of rows of elements or cells in one or more RAM memory chips in order to conserve power, andc. refreshing at a controlled refresh frequency corresponding to an operational power level sufficient to prevent any within any of said selected rows in said RAM memory from losing data stored therein.

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