Circuit and method for reducing memory idle cycles
First Claim
1. A method for retrieving a plurality of sequentially stored data bits, comprising:
- latching an address of a first one of said plurality of sequentially stored data bits;
simultaneously addressing a plurality of storage elements having said plurality of sequentially stored data bits stored therein;
simultaneously sensing and latching said plurality of sequentially stored data bits from said plurality of storage elements;
outputting said first one of said plurality of sequentially stored data bits;
generating burst addresses for at least a portion of others of said plurality of sequentially stored data bits; and
for each of said burst addresses, outputting others of said plurality of sequentially stored data bits.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An N-bit wide synchronous, burst-oriented Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) reads out a full N bits simultaneously from its array in accordance with an address A0 into N latched sense amplifiers, which then sequentially output N/X bit words in X burst cycles. Because the SRAM'"'"'s array reads out the full N bits simultaneously, the array'"'"'s address bus is freed up to latch in the next sequential address A1 so data output continues uninterrupted, in contrast to certain conventional SRAMs. The SRAM also writes in a full N bits simultaneously after sequentially latching in N/X bit words in X burst cycles into N write drivers. This simultaneous write frees up the array'"'"'s address bus to begin latching in the next sequential address A1 so data input continues uninterrupted, again in contrast to certain conventional SRAMs.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for retrieving a plurality of sequentially stored data bits, comprising:
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latching an address of a first one of said plurality of sequentially stored data bits;
simultaneously addressing a plurality of storage elements having said plurality of sequentially stored data bits stored therein;
simultaneously sensing and latching said plurality of sequentially stored data bits from said plurality of storage elements;
outputting said first one of said plurality of sequentially stored data bits;
generating burst addresses for at least a portion of others of said plurality of sequentially stored data bits; and
for each of said burst addresses, outputting others of said plurality of sequentially stored data bits.
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2. A method for retrieving a plurality of data bits, comprising:
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selecting a row of addressable data storage elements from an external address;
simultaneously sensing and temporarily latching said plurality of data bits stored in said row;
according to said external address, outputting a portion of said temporarily latched plurality of data bits;
generating one or more internal burst addresses from said external address; and
for each of said one or more internal burst addresses, outputting another portion of said temporarily latched plurality of data bits in accordance with said each of said one or more internal burst addresses. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A method for storing a plurality of data bits, comprising:
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receiving an externally supplied address corresponding to a storage location for a first portion of said plurality of data bits of sequential portions;
generating one or more internal burst addresses from said externally supplied address;
for said externally supplied address and for each internal burst address generated, temporarily storing one of said sequential portions of said plurality of data bits; and
simultaneously writing said temporarily stored one of said sequential portions of said plurality of data bits into a row of addressable data storage elements identified by said externally supplied address. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A memory storage circuit for burst transfer of a plurality of sequential data portions, comprising:
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a memory array configured to store a plurality of sequential data portions;
storage circuitry coupled to said memory array configured for temporarily storing said plurality of sequential data portions;
buffer circuitry for buffering said plurality of sequential data portions;
multiplexing circuitry coupled between said storage circuitry and said buffer circuitry for sequentially transferring said plurality of sequential data portions between said storage circuitry and said buffer circuitry; and
circuitry coupled to said storage circuitry for directing said storage circuitry to simultaneously transfer said plurality of sequential data portions of said memory array and said storage circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification