Error correction device and methods thereof
View Patent ↗A method of error correction includes retrieving raw data from a memory device during a first operational phase of the error correction device. The raw data is retrieved by a bus interface device that interfaces with a variety of memory devices. During a second operational phase, the raw data is outputted from the bus interface device to the bus master. In addition, error correction data is calculated, and error correction is performed on the raw data during the second operational phase. By retrieving the raw data before performing error correction, and by outputting the raw data during the same operational phase, data may be retrieved from the memory more rapidly.
1. A method comprising:
retrieving first uncorrected data from a first memory device during a first operational phase;
calculating first error correction data based on first error correction code (ECC) data associated with the first uncorrected data, the error correction data calculated during a second operational phase different from the first operational phase;
outputting the first uncorrected data from a bus interface device during the second operational phase, the bus interface device coupled between a bus and a plurality of different memory devices;
providing the first error correction data and the first uncorrected data to an error correction module during the second operational phase;
performing error correction on the outputted first uncorrected data based on the first error correction data at the error correction module during the second operational phase to determine first corrected data; and
providing the first corrected data to a bus master during a third operational phase.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving the first uncorrected data includes latching the first uncorrected data during the first operational phase.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first memory device is selected from the group consisting of a non-volatile memory device, a dynamic random access memory (RAM) device, and a static RAM device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first memory device is a flash memory device.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
retrieving second uncorrected data from a second memory device during a fourth operational phase;
calculating second error correction data based on second error correction code (ECC) data associated with the second uncorrected data, the second error correction data calculated during a fifth operational phase different from the fourth operational phase;
performing error correction on the second uncorrected data based on the second error correction data, the error correction performed during the fifth operational phase.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first memory device is a non-volatile memory device and the second memory device is a volatile memory device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing error correction on the first uncorrected data comprises combining the first uncorrected data and the first error correction data with an exclusive-OR (XOR) operation.
8. A method for error correction, comprising:
receiving uncorrected data at a bus interface during a first operational phase, the bus interface adapted to be coupled between a bus and a plurality of different devices;
receiving error correction data from an error correction code (ECC) module arranged substantially in parallel with the bus interface;
performing error correction on the uncorrected data based on the error correction data to provide corrected data to the bus during a second operational phase.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the bus interface includes a cross bar switch.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the error correction data is a single bit of data.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein performing error correction comprises combining the uncorrected data and the error correction data with an exclusive-OR (XOR) operation.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
providing error corrected data based on the uncorrected data to a bus master.
13. A device, comprising:
a first memory device;
an error correction code (ECC) module comprising a first input coupled to the first memory device and an output;
a bus interface arranged substantially in parallel with the error correction module, the bus interface comprising a first input to receive first uncorrected data from the memory and an output;
a logic module comprising a first input coupled to the output of the bus interface to receive the first uncorrected data, a second input coupled to the output of the ECC module to receive error correction data, and an output to provide error corrected data.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the first memory device is a non-volatile memory device.
15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the first memory device is a flash memory device.
16. The device of claim 13 , further comprising:
a bus master coupled to the output of the logic module to receive the error corrected data.
17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the first memory device and the bus master are incorporated in a system-on-a-chip (SOC).
18. The device of claim 13 , wherein the logic module further comprises an exclusive-or (XOR) gate comprising a first input coupled to the first input of the logic module, a second input coupled to the second input of the logic module, and a first output coupled to the output of the logic module.
19. The device of claim 13 , further comprising:
a second memory device;
wherein the bus interface further comprises a second input to receive raw data from the second memory device, the ECC module further comprises a second input coupled to the second memory device to receive second uncorrected data.
20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the first memory device and the second memory device are different types of memory devices.