Non-volatile memory serial core architecture
View Patent ↗A memory system having a serial data interface and a serial data path core for receiving data from and for providing data to at least one memory bank as a serial bitstream. The memory bank is divided into two halves, where each half is divided into upper and lower sectors. Each sector provides data in parallel to a shared two-dimensional page buffer with an integrated self column decoding circuit. A serial to parallel data converter within the memory bank couples the parallel data from either half to the serial data path core. The shared two-dimensional page buffer with the integrated self column decoding circuit minimizes circuit and chip area overhead for each bank, and the serial data path core reduces chip area typically used for routing wide data buses. Therefore a multiple memory bank system is implemented without a significant corresponding chip area increase when compared to a single memory bank system having the same density.
1. A memory system comprising:
a memory bank having
a first bank half coupled to first n parallel datalines where n is an integer value greater than 0, the first bank half including
a first sector having wordlines and bitlines coupled to memory cells,
a second sector having wordlines and bitlines coupled to memory cells, and
a page buffer selectively coupled to bitlines of one of the first sector and the second sector, the page buffer being coupled to the first n parallel datalines
a second bank half coupled to second n parallel datalines, and
a data converter
for selectively converting one of the first and the second n parallel datalines into serial bitstream read data and
for selectively converting serial bitstream write data into parallel data for one of the first and the second n parallel datalines, the memory bank
providing the serial bitstream read data in response to a read operation and
for receiving the serial bitstream write data in response to a write operation
and,
a serial data path for coupling the serial bitstream read data and the serial bitstream write data between the memory bank and input/output ports.
2. The memory system of claim 1 , wherein the serial data path includes
a data arbitrator for receiving access data serially from the input/output ports, the access data including a command and an address,
the data arbitrator being configured
to convert the command and the address into a parallel format, and
to pass the serial bitstream read data to the input/output ports during the read operation.
3. The memory system of claim 1 , wherein the page buffer is a first page buffer, and second bank half includes
a third sector having wordlines and bitlines coupled to memory cells,
a fourth sector having wordlines and bitlines coupled to memory cells, and,
a second page buffer selectively coupled to bitlines of one of the third sector and the fourth sector, the second page buffer being coupled to the second n parallel datalines.
4. The memory system of claim 3 , wherein the bitlines of the first sector and the second sector are grouped into sets of bitlines, each of the sets of bitlines being coupled to a common bitline, the common bitline being coupled to the first page buffer.
5. The memory system of claim 3 , wherein the bitlines of the third sector and the fourth sector are grouped into sets of bitlines, each of the sets of bitlines being coupled to a common bitline, the common bitline being coupled to the second page buffer.
6. The memory system of claim 1 , wherein the data converter includes
a first converter for sequentially coupling each of the first n parallel datalines to a first terminal,
a second converter for sequentially coupling each of the second n parallel datalines to a second terminal,
a data path selector for selectively coupling one of the first terminal and the second terminal to a bidirectional serial data line.
7. The memory system of claim 6 , further including
control logic for receiving a command and an address for operating the memory bank, the data converter and the serial data path during the read operation.
8. The memory system of claim 1 , further including another memory bank for providing the serial bitstream read data in response to the read operation and for receiving the serial bitstream write data in response to the write operation.
9. The memory system of claim 8 , wherein the serial data path includes a data switcher
for selectively coupling the serial bitstream write data to one of the memory bank and the another memory bank, and
for selectively coupling the serial bitstream read data from one of the memory bank and the another memory bank to the data arbitrator of the serial data path.
10. The memory system of claim 8 , further including another serial data path
for coupling the serial bitstream read data from one of the memory bank and the another memory bank to other input/output ports, and
for coupling the serial bitstream write data to one of the memory bank and the another memory bank.
11. The memory system of claim 10 , wherein the another serial data path includes
a second data switcher
for selectively coupling the serial bitstream write data to one of the another memory bank and the data switcher, and
for selectively coupling the serial bitstream read data to one of the data switcher and another data arbitrator.
12. The memory system of claim 11 , further including a serial transfer dataline for coupling the data switcher to the second data switcher.
13. The memory system of claim 8 , further comprising a serial transfer switch for selectively coupling the serial bitstream read data from one of the memory bank and the another memory bank to the serial data path.
14. A memory system comprising:
a memory bank for providing serial bitstream read data in response to a read operation and for receiving serial bitstream write data in response to a write operation, the memory bank having
a first bank half coupled to first n parallel datalines where n is an integer value greater than 0,
a second bank half coupled to second n parallel datalines,
a first data converter for sequentially coupling each of the first n parallel datalines to a first terminal
in the read operation to convert parallel read data into the serial bitstream read data, and
in the write operation to convert the serial bitstream write data into parallel write data,
a second data converter for sequentially coupling each of the second n parallel datalines to a second terminal
in the read operation to convert parallel read data into the serial bitstream read data, and
in the write operation to convert the serial bitstream write data into parallel write data,
a data path selector for selectively coupling one of the first terminal and the second terminal to a bidirectional serial data line,
and,
a serial data path for coupling either one of the serial bitstream read data and the serial bitstream write data on the bidirectional serial data line to input/output ports.
15. The memory system of claim 14 , wherein the serial data path includes
a data arbitrator for receiving access data serially from the input/output ports, the access data including a command and an address,
the data arbitrator being configured
to convert the command and the address into a parallel format, and
to pass the serial bitstream read data to the input/output ports during the read operation.
16. The memory system of claim 14 , wherein the first bank half includes
a first sector having wordlines and bitlines coupled to memory cells,
a second sector having wordlines and bitlines coupled to memory cells, and,
a first page buffer selectively coupled to bitlines of one of the first sector and the second sector, the first page buffer being coupled to the first n parallel datalines.
17. The memory system of claim 16 , wherein the second bank half includes
a third sector having wordlines and bitlines coupled to memory cells,
a fourth sector having wordlines and bitlines coupled to memory cells, and,
a second page buffer selectively coupled to bitlines of one of the third sector and the fourth sector, the second page buffer being coupled to the second n parallel datalines.
18. The memory system of claim 17 , wherein the bitlines of the first sector and the second sector are grouped into sets of bitlines, each of the sets of bitlines being coupled to a common bitline, the common bitline being coupled to the first page buffer.
19. The memory system of claim 17 , wherein the bitlines of the third sector and the fourth sector are grouped into sets of bitlines, each of the sets of bitlines being coupled to a common bitline, the common bitline being coupled to the second page buffer.
20. The memory system of claim 14 , further including
control logic for receiving a command and an address for operating the memory bank, the first data converter, the second data converter and the serial data path during the read operation.
21. The memory system of claim 14 , further including another memory bank for providing the serial bitstream read data in response to the read operation and for receiving the serial bitstream write data in response to the write operation.
22. The memory system of claim 21 , wherein the serial data path includes a data switcher
for selectively coupling the serial bitstream write data to one of the memory bank and the another memory bank, and
for selectively coupling the serial bitstream read data from one of the memory bank and the another memory bank to the data arbitrator of the serial data path.
23. The memory system of claim 21 , further including another serial data path
for coupling the serial bitstream read data from one of the memory bank and the another memory bank to other input/output ports, and
for coupling the serial bitstream write data to one of the memory bank and the another memory bank.
24. The memory system of claim 23 , wherein the another serial data path includes
a second data switcher for selectively coupling the serial bitstream write data to one of the another memory bank and the data switcher, and for selectively coupling the serial bitstream read data to one of the data switcher and another data arbitrator.
25. The memory system of claim 24 , further including a serial transfer dataline for coupling the data switcher to the second data switcher.
26. The memory system of claim 21 , further comprising a serial transfer switch for selectively coupling the serial bitstream read data from one of the memory bank and the another memory bank to the serial data path.
27. The memory system of claim 1 , wherein the input/output ports are included in an input/output interface.
28. The memory system of claim 14 , wherein the input/output ports are included in an input/output interface.