System and method for variable array architecture for memories
View Patent ↗A memory system that employs simultaneous activation of at least two dissimilar memory arrays, during a data manipulation, such as read or write operations is disclosed. An exemplary embodiment includes a memory system containing a plurality of arrays, each in communication with a common controller, wherein the arrays are activated by different supply voltage (Vdd). When a processor sends a command to retrieve or write data to the memory system, two or more arrays are addressed to supply the required data. By proper partitioning of the data between dissimilar arrays, the efficiency of data reading is improved.
1. A memory device comprising:
multiple memory arrays operating at differing operating voltages and/or utilizing differing sense amplifier architectures compensated for by their physical placement for the purpose of optimizing power efficiency and such that data comprising a single read and/or write transaction at a point in time consists of data respectively read from and/or respectively written to said multiple memory arrays.
2. The memory device of claim 1 , and further comprising a memory controller connected to the memory arrays, wherein a first memory array operates at a first supply voltage and a second memory array operates at a second supply voltage, wherein the second supply voltage is less than the first supply voltage so that the first memory array performs read and write operations faster than said memory second array, and wherein a length of the signal path from the second memory array to said memory controller is less than a length of the signal path from the first memory array to the memory controller, such that, after a request for data, an output of a first data packet from the first memory array and an output of a second packet from the second memory array arrive at the memory controller at about the same time.
3. The memory device of claim 1 , and further comprising a memory controller connected to the memory arrays, wherein the first memory array comprises a wordline length that is shorter than a wordline length of the second memory array, and wherein a length of the signal path from the second memory array to said memory controller is less than a length of the signal path from the first memory array to the memory controller, such that, after a request for data, an output of a first data packet from the first memory array and an output of a second data packet from the second memory array arrive at the memory controller at about the same time.
4. The memory device of claim 3 , wherein the first memory array is connected to an operating voltage that is different than an operating voltage connected to the second memory array.
5. The memory device of claim 3 , wherein the first memory array comprises sensing circuitry connected to and driven by a system supply voltage, and the second memory array comprises sensing circuitry connected to and driven by a ground potential such that the first memory array has a faster cycle time than the second memory array but the first array has a longer latency interval than the second memory array.
6. The memory device of claim 1 , and further comprising a memory controller connected to the memory arrays, wherein each memory array stores a byte, and wherein the memory controller reads a multi-byte information packet from the memory arrays by reading bytes stored each of the respective memory arrays.
7. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein one of the memory arrays has a refresh rate and refresh current that is greater than a refresh rate and refresh current for another of the memory arrays.
8. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein a first memory comprises more cells per bitline than the number of cells per bitline of a second memory array.
9. The memory device of claim 8 , wherein the second memory array comprises at least two sub-arrays each having the same number of cells per bitline.