Methods and apparatus for extending the effective thermal operating range of a memory
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of regulating the operating temperature of a memory IC, the method comprising:
- sensing a temperature of a memory IC using an integrated thermal sensor on the memory IC;
determining if the memory IC is operating in an error recovery mode;
enabling heating of the memory IC if the memory IC is operating in an error recovery mode; and
heating the memory IC, using an integrated heating element operatively coupled to the thermal sensor, if the sensed temperature is below a threshold temperature.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for thermal regulation of a non-volatile memory IC. The systems and apparatus may include a thermal sensor on a memory IC; and a heating element coupled to the thermal sensor and adapted to heat the memory IC in response to a signal from the thermal sensor. The methods may include sensing a temperature of a memory IC using an integrated thermal sensor on the memory IC and heating the memory IC, using an integrated heating element operatively coupled to the thermal sensor, if the sensed temperature is below a threshold temperature.
86 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method of regulating the operating temperature of a memory IC, the method comprising:
-
sensing a temperature of a memory IC using an integrated thermal sensor on the memory IC; determining if the memory IC is operating in an error recovery mode; enabling heating of the memory IC if the memory IC is operating in an error recovery mode; and heating the memory IC, using an integrated heating element operatively coupled to the thermal sensor, if the sensed temperature is below a threshold temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A method of regulating the operating temperature of a memory IC, the method comprising:
-
sensing a temperature of a memory IC using an integrated thermal sensor on the memory IC; determining if the memory IC is operating in an error avoidance mode; enabling heating of the memory IC if the memory IC is operating in an avoidance recovery mode; and heating the memory IC, using an integrated heating element operatively coupled to the thermal sensor, if the sensed temperature is below a threshold temperature.
-
-
4. A method of operating a memory IC comprising:
-
accessing a memory IC; determining if accessing the memory IC has resulted in a number of read errors in excess of a predefined threshold by counting a number of times an error correcting circuit recovered a value attempted to be read from the memory IC; and activating a thermal regulation circuit within the memory IC if the number of read errors exceeds the predefined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of operating a memory IC comprising:
-
accessing a memory IC; determining if an uncorrectable memory read error has occurred by determining that an error correcting circuit is unable to recover a value that was attempted to be read from the memory IC; and activating a thermal regulation circuit within the memory IC if an uncorrectable memory read error has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of operating a memory IC comprising:
-
enabling a thermal regulation circuit integrated into a memory IC if the memory IC is in an error recovery mode or an error avoidance mode; accessing the memory IC; determining if a low power consumption operating mode of the memory IC is selected; and disabling the thermal regulation circuit if the low power consumption operating mode is selected. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification