IP Library Granted Patent US 10,303,625
Granted Patent B2
US 10,303,625 · App. 14/228,384 · Granted May 28, 2019

Variable read latency on a serial memory bus

Inventor: Clifford Alan Zitlaw (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
G06F13/161G06F13/1689G06F13/4243G06F13/4291G11C7/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,303,625
App. No.
14/228,384
Granted
May 28, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and/or methods are provided that facilitate employing a variable read latency on a serial memory bus. In an aspect, a memory can utilize an undefined amount of time to obtain data from a memory array and prepare the data for transfer on the serial memory bus. The serial memory bus can be driven to a defined state. When data is ready for transfer, the memory can assert a start bit on the serial memory bus to notify a host prior to initiating the data transfer.

Claims (26)

1. A method, comprising:

issuing, over a data bus, a read command and an address;

driving the data bus to a defined state, wherein the driving the data bus to the defined state comprises driving the data bus to the defined state during a handover time while a peripheral device drives the data bus to the defined state during the handover time;

releasing the data bus after a predetermined time comprising the handover time;

detecting a start indication on the data bus that is opposite to the defined state; and

capturing target data on the data bus.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the releasing the data bus after the predetermined time comprises releasing the data bus after at least one clock cycle that comprises the handover time.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the driving the data bus to the defined state comprises driving the data bus to the defined state by a host device during the handover time while a memory device drives the data bus to the defined state during the handover time.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the issuing comprises issuing the read command and the address to a memory device via the data bus using a host device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the issuing comprises issuing the read command and the address to the peripheral device using a master device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the driving the data bus to the defined state comprises driving the data bus to a low state.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the driving the data bus to the defined state comprises driving the data bus to a high state.

8. A method, comprising:

obtaining, over a data bus, a read command and an address;

obtaining data from a memory array associated with the address;

driving the data bus to a defined state after passage of a predetermined time period;

asserting a start indication on the data bus that is opposite to the defined state; and

transferring the data on the data bus.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the driving the data bus to the defined state comprises implementing a variable latency period during a read operation.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising accessing the memory array to obtain the data during the variable latency period.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the driving the data bus to the defined state comprises driving the data bus to the defined state after passage of a handover time.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the asserting the start indication comprises asserting at least a portion of a predetermined data pattern on the data bus.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining a capture time based on the predetermined data pattern.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving the predetermined data pattern during a read operation.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving the predetermined data pattern during an idle period.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising selecting a skew time based on the predetermined data pattern.

Assignments (8)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2022
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 059721/0467 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 059410/0438 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 051209/0721 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS 6272046,7277824,7282374,7286384,7299106,7337032,7460920,7519447 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 039676 FRAME 0237. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Oct 16, 2018
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING
Reel/Frame 047797/0854 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2016
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 039676/0237 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: SPANSION LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035896/0149 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Dec 30, 2014
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 034715/0305 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2014
From: ZITLAW, CLIFFORD ALAN
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 032548/0049 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 13668935 · Nov 5, 2012
Continuation 12646291 · Dec 23, 2009
Related Publication 20140215111A1 · Jul 31, 2014