IP Library Patent Application 14488976
Patent Application
App. No. 14/488,976

VOLATILE MEMORY, MEMORY MODULE INCLUDING THE SAME, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE MEMORY MODULE

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
14/488,976
Abstract

A memory module includes an emergency power supplier, a plurality of ranks each including one or more volatile memories, a non-volatile memory, and a controller suitable for backing up data of the ranks into the non-volatile memory by using the emergency power supplier during a power failure, wherein the ranks are sequentially backed up, and while one rank is backed up among the ranks, the other ranks are controlled in a self-refresh mode.

Claims (55)

1 . A memory module, comprising:

an emergency power supplier;

a plurality of ranks each including one or more volatile memories;

a non-volatile memory; and

a controller suitable for backing up data of the ranks into the non-volatile memory by using the emergency power supplier during a power failure,

wherein the ranks are sequentially backed up, and while one rank is backed up among the ranks, the other ranks are controlled in a self-refresh mode.

2 . The memory module of claim 1 , wherein two or more ranks among the ranks share a clock enable signal, and the two or more ranks sharing the clock enable signal are controlled to enter a self-refresh mode individually.

3 . The memory module of claim 1 , wherein the power failure is a power failure of a host of the memory module.

4 . The memory module of claim further comprising:

a power failure detector suitable for detecting the power failure of the host.

5 . The memory module of claim 1 , wherein the emergency power supplier includes at least one capacitor.

6 . A memory module, comprising:

an emergency power supplier;

a plurality of ranks each including one or more volatile memories;

a non-volatile memory; and

a controller suitable for backing up data of the ranks into the non-volatile memory by using the emergency power supplier during a power failure,

wherein the ranks are sequentially backed up and controlled to enter a maximal power-saving mode.

7 . The memory module of claim 6 , wherein the ranks consumes less power in the maximal power-saving mode than in a self refresh mode.

8 . The memory module of claim 6 , wherein the ranks are cut off from the emergency power supplier in the maximal power-saving mode.

9 . The memory module of claim 6 , wherein the ranks are controlled in a self-refresh mode before the ranks are backed up.

10 . A volatile memory, comprising:

a clock enable reception unit suitable for receiving a clock enable signal;

a mode setup unit suitable for setting up a self-refresh prevention mode for preventing the volatile memory from entering a self-refresh mode; and

a self-refresh control unit suitable for generating a self-refresh mode signal in response to the clock enable signal and an internal refresh command, while maintaining the self-refresh mode signal in a disabled state in the self-refresh prevention mode.

11 . The volatile memory of claim 10 , further comprising:

a command reception unit suitable for receiving a command;

an address reception unit suitable for receiving an address; and

a command decoding unit suitable for generating an internal mode register set command and the internal refresh command by decoding the command,

wherein the mode setup unit sets up the self-refresh prevention mode based on the internal mode register set command and the address.

12 . A volatile memory, comprising:

a clock enable reception unit suitable for receiving a clock enable signal;

a command reception unit suitable for receiving a command;

an address reception unit suitable for receiving an address;

a command decoding unit suitable for generating an internal mode register set command and an internal refresh command by decoding the command;

a mode setup unit suitable for generating an entry signal based on the internal mode register set command and the address; and

a self-refresh control unit suitable for generating a self-refresh mode signal in response to the clock enable signal and the internal refresh command, while enabling the self-refresh mode signal when the entry signal is enabled.

13 . The volatile memory of claim 12 , wherein the mode setup unit generates an exit signal based on the internal mode register set command and the address, and

wherein the self-refresh control unit disables the self-refresh mode signal when the exit signal is enabled.

14 . A method for operating a memory module including a non-volatile memory and a plurality of ranks each including one or more volatile memories, comprising:

detecting a power failure of a host;

switching a power source of the memory module from a host power to an emergency power;

sequentially backing up data of the ranks into the non-volatile memory; and

controlling ranks other than a rank of which data is being backed up in the sequentially backing up, among the ranks, in a self-refresh mode.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

restoring the data backed up in the non-volatile memory back into the ranks, when the host power is recovered.

16 . A method for operating a memory module including a non-volatile memory and a plurality of ranks each including one or more volatile memories, comprising;

detecting a power failure of a host;

switching a power source of the memory module from a host power to an emergency power;

sequentially backing up data of the ranks into the non-volatile memory; and

controlling the ranks to enter a maximal power-saving mode after the backing up of the data of the respective ranks.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the ranks consume less power in the maximal power-saving mode than in a self refresh mode.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the controlling of the ranks to enter the maximal power-saving mode includes:

cutting off the ranks from the emergency power.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

controlling the ranks in a self-refresh mode, before the backing up.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2014
From: SONG, CHOUNG-KI
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 033764/0596 →