Nonvolatile memory interface protocol which selects a memory device, transmits an address, deselects the device, subsequently reselects the device and accesses data
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a plurality of non-volatile memory devices comprising the steps of:
- selecting a first non-volatile memory device to initiate a selected state of said first non-volatile memory device;
during said selected state, transmitting information identifying a location to be accessed at said first non-volatile memory device;
thereaftercausing said location identifying information to be stored in a location register of said first non-volatile memory device;
after transmitting said location identifying information, terminating said selected state of said first non-volatile memory device;
reselecting said first non-volatile memory device to again initiate said selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; and
thereafteraccessing a data word from said first non-volatile memory device, said data word being stored at a location determined by said location identifying information.
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Abstract
A non-volatile memory access protocol that facilitates concurrent accessing operations to multiple non-volatile memory components. This approach provides significant speed advantages over prior art non-volatile protocols. Also, power consumption is reduced in comparison to prior art synchronous protocols used for volatile memory because each memory component need not be continuously selected.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of operating a plurality of non-volatile memory devices comprising the steps of:
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selecting a first non-volatile memory device to initiate a selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; during said selected state, transmitting information identifying a location to be accessed at said first non-volatile memory device;
thereaftercausing said location identifying information to be stored in a location register of said first non-volatile memory device; after transmitting said location identifying information, terminating said selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; reselecting said first non-volatile memory device to again initiate said selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; and
thereafteraccessing a data word from said first non-volatile memory device, said data word being stored at a location determined by said location identifying information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a plurality of non-volatile memory devices comprising the steps of:
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selecting a first non-volatile memory device to initiate a selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; during said selected state, transmitting information identifying a location to be accessed at said first non-volatile memory device;
thereafterafter transmitting said location identifying information, terminating said selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; reselecting said first non-volatile memory device to again initiate said selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; and
thereafteraccessing a data word from said first non-volatile memory device, said data word being stored at a location determined by said location identifying information.
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17. A non-volatile memory system comprising:
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a plurality of non-volatile memory devices, each non-volatile memory device being driven into a selected state by a particular pattern of selection line input states; a memory interface system that performs the steps of; activating selection line input states of a first non-volatile memory device to initiate a selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; during said selected state, transmitting information identifying a location to be accessed at said first non-volatile memory device;
thereafterterminating said selected state of said first non-volatile memory device after transmitting said location identifying information; reselecting said first non-volatile memory device to again initiate said selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; and
thereafteraccessing a data word from said first non-volatile memory device, said data word being stored at a location determined by said location identifying information. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A computer system comprising:
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a central processing unit; a host bus coupled to said central processing unit; and a non-volatile memory system coupled to said host bus for storing information accessible by said central processing unit; said non-volatile memory system comprising; a plurality of non-volatile memory devices, each non-volatile memory device being driven into a selected state by a particular pattern of selection line input states; a memory interface system that performs the steps of; activating selection line input states of a first non-volatile memory device to initiate a selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; during said selected state, transmitting information identifying a location to be accessed at said first non-volatile memory device;
thereafterterminating said selected state of said first non-volatile memory device after transmitting said location identifying information; reselecting said first non-volatile memory device to again initiate said selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; and
thereafteraccessing a data word from said first non-volatile memory device, said data word being stored at a location determined by said location identifying information; a translator within said memory interface system that receives disk-drive protocol commands from said host bus and controls said selecting and transmitting steps to fulfill said disk-drive protocol commands.
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36. A non-volatile memory interface comprising:
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a selection circuit that selects a first non-volatile memory device to initiate a selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; a location transmitting circuit that, during said selected state, transmitting information identifying a location to be accessed at said first non-volatile memory device; a selected state terminating circuit that, after transmission of said location identifying information, terminates said selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; a reselection circuit that reselects said first non-volatile memory device to again initiate said selected state of said first non-volatile memory device; and an access circuit that accesses a data word from said first non-volatile memory device, said data word being stored at a location determined by said location identifying information.
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Specification