Memory having an ECC system
First Claim
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1. A memory device having an error correction code system comprising:
- a memory array having memory cells arranged in first columns for storing data;
a parity array having memory cells arranged in second columns for storing parity data corresponding to the data, the second columns being arranged in at least a first group and a second group, at least one of the first group and the second group being located between two sub-arrays of the memory array, the first group and the second group being separated by at least one sub-array of the memory array; and
error correction code (ECC) logic circuitry for receiving said data from the memory array and said parity data from the parity array in response to a read operation, the ECC logic circuitry detecting and correcting bit errors in the data.
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Abstract
An error correction code system for a memory having parity columns of a memory array located within the memory array is provided. The parity columns are grouped together or distributed throughout the memory array. An embodiment includes a multiplexor circuit for selectively coupling only parity bits stored in the parity memory array to I/O circuitry, bypassing ECC logic circuitry and allowing the parity columns to be directly accessible, in a direct access mode or for selectively coupling the parity bits to ECC logic circuitry in an ECC mode.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A memory device having an error correction code system comprising:
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a memory array having memory cells arranged in first columns for storing data; a parity array having memory cells arranged in second columns for storing parity data corresponding to the data, the second columns being arranged in at least a first group and a second group, at least one of the first group and the second group being located between two sub-arrays of the memory array, the first group and the second group being separated by at least one sub-array of the memory array; and error correction code (ECC) logic circuitry for receiving said data from the memory array and said parity data from the parity array in response to a read operation, the ECC logic circuitry detecting and correcting bit errors in the data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A memory device having an error correction code system comprising:
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a memory array having memory cells arranged in first columns for storing data; a parity array having memory cells arranged in second columns for storing parity data corresponding to the data; error correction code (ECC) logic circuitry for receiving said data from the memory array and said parity data from the parity array, the ECC logic circuitry detecting and correcting bit errors in the data; and a parity access switch for selectively coupling the second columns of the parity array to input/output circuitry for bypassing said ECC logic circuitry in a direct access mode, and for selectively coupling the second columns to the ECC logic circuitry in an ECC mode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification