Data communication for memory
First Claim
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1. A memory module comprising:
- a plurality of synchronous memories;
a trigger circuit configured to receive a clock input signal on a clock signal input, the trigger circuit having an output for providing a pulsed signal which is generated in response to the clock input signal, the pulsed signal being delayed from the clock input signal and associated with data output from the memory module, andan output driver circuit adapted to receive the pulsed signal and provide an output data strobe signal indicating when valid data is available from the memory module on data communication lines.
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Abstract
A memory circuit is described which has an output data strobe signal that indicates when valid data is available on the output lines. Several alternate signals and circuits are described which can be used for the output strobe signal. An echo clock signal is described which selectively follows an input clock signal in a synchronous memory system and indicated when valid output data is available. The output strobe signal is used to speed the reading of data from the output line by allowing a microprocessor, or other external circuit, to read the data from the output lines as soon as it is valid, thereby eliminating the need to wait a specified period of time.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A memory module comprising:
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a plurality of synchronous memories; a trigger circuit configured to receive a clock input signal on a clock signal input, the trigger circuit having an output for providing a pulsed signal which is generated in response to the clock input signal, the pulsed signal being delayed from the clock input signal and associated with data output from the memory module, and an output driver circuit adapted to receive the pulsed signal and provide an output data strobe signal indicating when valid data is available from the memory module on data communication lines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A memory module comprising:
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a plurality of synchronous memories; a trigger circuit configured to receive a clock input signal on a clock signal input, the trigger circuit having an output for providing a pulsed signal which is generated in response to the clock input signal, the pulsed signal being delayed from the clock input signal and associated with data output from the memory module; and an output driver circuit adapted to receive the pulsed signal and provide a plurality of output data strobe signals indicating when valid data is available from the memory module on data communication lines, each one of the plurality of output data strobe signals corresponding with a byte of data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A synchronous memory device comprising:
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an input for receiving a clock signal; an output for providing a plurality of echo clock signals which substantially follows the clock signal during a data read operation, transitions of the echo clock signal indicate when data is available on data output lines, each one of the plurality of the echo clock signals corresponding with a byte of output data; and a generating circuit for producing the echo clock signals. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of outputting data from a synchronous memory device, the method comprising:
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receiving a clock input signal with the synchronous memory device; initiating a memory read operation; generating an echo clock signal which substantially follows the clock signal during the memory read operation; and outputting the echo clock signal from the synchronous memory data, the echo clock signal corresponds to output data from the synchronous memory device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of outputting data from a synchronous memory device, the method comprising:
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receiving a clock input signal with the synchronous memory device; initiating a memory read operation; generating a plurality of echo clock signals which substantially follows the clock signal during the memory read operation; and outputting the echo clock signals from the synchronous memory data, each one of the echo clock signals correspond to a byte of output data from the synchronous memory device. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification