Addressing, Command Protocol, and Electrical Interface for Non-volatile Memories Utilized in Recording Usage Counts
First Claim
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1. A memory module, comprising:
- a plurality of memory cells; and
a plurality of signal lines for communicating with a processing device, the memory module configured such that upon encountering a busy condition while processing a command received by the memory module, the memory module limits a voltage on a first signal line of the plurality of signal lines for a period of time to be no more than an intermediate voltage greater than voltage levels corresponding to a binary zero state and less than voltage levels corresponding to a binary one state when voltages on the first signal line is not limited by the memory module, for indicating an occurrence of the busy condition,wherein the memory module is configured to receive a clock signal on the first signal line, and during the period of time in which the memory modules limits a voltage on the first signal line of the plurality of signal lines to be no more than the intermediate voltage, the memory module
1) receives the clock signal on the first signal line and
2) at the same time indicates to the processing device the occurrence of the busy condition by limiting the voltage on the first signal line to be no more than the intermediate voltage.
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Abstract
A memory module, including a plurality of memory cells and a plurality of signal lines for communicating with a processing device. The memory module is configured such that following reception of a command and upon encountering a first condition while processing the command, the memory module limits a voltage on a first signal line of the plurality of signal lines to be no more than an intermediate voltage greater than voltage levels corresponding to a binary zero state and less than voltage levels corresponding to a binary one state for a period of time for indicating an occurrence of the first condition.
6 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A memory module, comprising:
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a plurality of memory cells; and a plurality of signal lines for communicating with a processing device, the memory module configured such that upon encountering a busy condition while processing a command received by the memory module, the memory module limits a voltage on a first signal line of the plurality of signal lines for a period of time to be no more than an intermediate voltage greater than voltage levels corresponding to a binary zero state and less than voltage levels corresponding to a binary one state when voltages on the first signal line is not limited by the memory module, for indicating an occurrence of the busy condition, wherein the memory module is configured to receive a clock signal on the first signal line, and during the period of time in which the memory modules limits a voltage on the first signal line of the plurality of signal lines to be no more than the intermediate voltage, the memory module
1) receives the clock signal on the first signal line and
2) at the same time indicates to the processing device the occurrence of the busy condition by limiting the voltage on the first signal line to be no more than the intermediate voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A memory device, comprising:
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a first signal line for receiving, by the memory device, a clock input signal; a second signal line for communicating address and data information; and a plurality of memory cells and circuitry coupled to the first signal line and the second signal line, the circuitry limiting a voltage level on the first signal line for a first period of time to be no more than a first voltage level in response to encountering a busy condition by the memory device during processing of a command, the first voltage level being less than voltage levels corresponding to a binary one state when voltages on the first signal line are not limited by the circuitry and greater than voltage levels corresponding to a binary zero state, wherein during the first period of time, the memory device receives the clock input signal on the first signal line from a processing device while at the same time the memory device communicates to the processing device an occurrence of the busy condition by limiting the voltage of the clock input signal to be no more than the first voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A memory device, comprising:
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a first signal line for receiving, by the memory device, a clock input signal; a second signal line for communicating address and data information; and a plurality of memory cells and circuitry coupled to the first signal line and the second signal line, the circuitry setting an upper voltage level on the first signal line for a first period of time to a first voltage level in response to encountering a busy condition by the memory device during processing of a command, the first voltage level being greater than voltage levels corresponding to a binary one state when upper voltage levels on the first signal line are not set by the circuitry, wherein during the first period of time, the memory device receives the clock input signal on the first signal line from a processing device while at the same time the memory device communicates to the processing device an occurrence of the busy condition by setting the upper voltage of the clock input signal to be the first voltage level.
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Specification