Apparatus and method for using a page buffer of a memory device as a temporary cache
First Claim
1. A method for communicating with a serial interconnection of a plurality of memory devices connected in-series, at least one of the memory devices having a temporary store element and a device identification associated with an address in the serial interconnection, the method comprising:
- sending a write command including a device identification, a write operation instruction and data stored in a data storage to the serial interconnection, the plurality of memory devices being configured to propagate the write command therethrough in response to a propagation control,at the at least one of the memory devices,determining whether it is selected based on the device identification included in the write command and the associated device identification, in a case of determination where the memory device is selected, a selection determination for writing being provided,writing the data to the temporary store element of the memory device in response to the selection determination for writing and the write operation instruction;
at a later time, sending a read command including a device identification and a read operation instruction to the serial interconnection, the plurality of memory devices being configured to propagate the read command therethrough in response to the propagation control,at the at least one of the memory devices,determining whether it is selected based on the device identification included in the read command and the associated device identification, in a case of determination where the memory device is selected, a selection determination for reading being provided,reading the data written to the temporary store element of the memory device in response to the selection determination for reading and the read instruction, the read data being provided through the serial interconnection to the data storage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for using a page buffer of a memory device as a temporary cache for data. A memory controller writes data to the page buffer and later reads out the data without programming the data into the memory cells of the memory device. This allows the memory controller to use the page buffer as temporary cache so that the data does not have to occupy space within the memory controller'"'"'s local data storage elements. Therefore, the memory controller can use the space in its own storage elements for other operations.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for communicating with a serial interconnection of a plurality of memory devices connected in-series, at least one of the memory devices having a temporary store element and a device identification associated with an address in the serial interconnection, the method comprising:
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sending a write command including a device identification, a write operation instruction and data stored in a data storage to the serial interconnection, the plurality of memory devices being configured to propagate the write command therethrough in response to a propagation control, at the at least one of the memory devices, determining whether it is selected based on the device identification included in the write command and the associated device identification, in a case of determination where the memory device is selected, a selection determination for writing being provided, writing the data to the temporary store element of the memory device in response to the selection determination for writing and the write operation instruction; at a later time, sending a read command including a device identification and a read operation instruction to the serial interconnection, the plurality of memory devices being configured to propagate the read command therethrough in response to the propagation control, at the at least one of the memory devices, determining whether it is selected based on the device identification included in the read command and the associated device identification, in a case of determination where the memory device is selected, a selection determination for reading being provided, reading the data written to the temporary store element of the memory device in response to the selection determination for reading and the read instruction, the read data being provided through the serial interconnection to the data storage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system comprising:
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a serial interconnection of a plurality of memory devices connected in-series, each of the memory devices having a temporary store element and a device identification associated with an address in the serial interconnection; and an apparatus for communicating with the plurality of memory devices, the apparatus comprising a data storage and a processor for sending a write command including a device identification, a write operation instruction and data stored in the data storage to the serial interconnection, the plurality of memory devices being configured to propagate the write command therethrough in response to a propagation control; and at a later time, sending a read command including a device identification and a read operation instruction to the serial interconnection, the plurality of memory devices being configured to propagate the write command therethrough in response to the propagation control, each of the plurality of memory devices being configured to determine whether it is selected based on the device identification included in the write command and the associated device identification, in a case of determination where the memory device is selected, a selection determination for writing being provided, the data being written to the temporary store element of the memory device in response to the selection determination for writing and the write operation instruction included in the write command, to determine whether it is selected based on the device identification included in the read command and the associated device identification, in a case of determination where the memory device is selected, a selection determination for reading being provided, the data written to the temporary store element of the memory device being read in response to the selection determination for reading and the read operation instruction included in the read command, the read data being provided through the serial interconnection to the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification