Hardwired remapped memory
View Patent ↗Subject matter disclosed herein relates to on-the-fly remapping a memory device by hardware-switching data paths to locations of the memory device.
1. A system comprising:
a processor to process executable instructions to read and/or write data;
a main memory portion and a spare memory portion to store signals representative of said data;
a register to receive from an error detection component, and to store, signals representative of bit errors detected during a read process;
a multiplexer to physically redirect information of a read or write process from/to a data path of a single row of said main memory portion to/from a data path of a single row of said spare memory portion during processing of said executable instructions, wherein said multiplexer performs said data path redirection based, at least in part, on said signals stored in said register; and
a memory module comprising said main memory portion, said spare memory portion, and additional memory portions residing on multiple dies, wherein individual die among said multiple dies include additional multiplexers, and wherein said signals stored in said register are used to operate said additional multiplexers.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said data paths are determined independently of said processor.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said error detection component detects whether said main memory portion is generating at least a threshold number of errors.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein said error detection component comprises an error correction coding (ECC) decoder to receive read data from said main memory portion and to determine a bit error rate and/or a number of bit errors associated with said read data.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said processor and said register are disposed on separate dies.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said main memory portion and said spare memory portion comprise phase change memory (PCM).
7. A method comprising:
receiving one or more signals representative of a read or write command to read or write from/to a first row of a main memory portion; and
determining whether to apply a signal to a multiplexer to transmit said read or write command to a second row of a spare memory portion instead of said first row, wherein said determining is based at least in part on signals stored in a register, said signals being representative of bit errors detected during a process of reading said first row, wherein said main memory portion or said spare memory portion reside on multiple dies and individual die among said multiple dies include additional multiplexers, and wherein said signals stored in said register are used to operate said additional multiplexers.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
maintaining information regarding whether portions of said main memory portion are retired; and
operating said multiplexer based at least in part on said information.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
operating a processor to initiate transmission of one or more signals representative of said read or write command, wherein said operating said multiplexer is performed independently of said processor.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said processor and said multiplexer are disposed on separate dies.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein said main memory portion or said spare memory portion comprises a phase change memory (PCM).
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein said determining is based at least in part on whether said first row of said main memory portion is retired.
13. An apparatus comprising:
means for receiving one or more signals representative of a read or write command to read or write from/to a first row of a main memory portion; and
means for determining whether to apply a signal to a multiplexer to transmit said read or write command to a second row of a spare memory portion instead of said first row, wherein said determining is based at least in part on signals stored in a register, said signals being representative of bit errors detected during a process of reading said first row, wherein said main memory portion or said spare memory portion reside on multiple dies and individual die among said multiple dies include additional multiplexers, and wherein said signals stored in said register are used to operate said additional multiplexers.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
means for maintaining information regarding whether portions of said main memory portion are retired; and
means for operating said multiplexer based at least in part on said information.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
means for operating a processor to initiate transmission of one or more signals representative of said read or write command, wherein said operating said multiplexer is performed independently of said processor.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said processor and said multiplexer are disposed on separate dies.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said main memory portion or said spare memory portion comprises a phase change memory (PCM).
18. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said means for determining is based at least in part on whether said first row of said main memory portion is retired.