IP Library Granted Patent US 10,658,019
Granted Patent B2
US 10,658,019 · App. 14/636,447 · Granted May 19, 2020

Circuit, system and method for controlling read latency

Inventor: Jongtae Kwak (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G11C7/222G11C7/106G11C7/1051G11C7/1066G11C7/22H03K3/012H03K3/0375H03L7/0814H03L7/181
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,658,019
App. No.
14/636,447
Granted
May 19, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A read latency control circuit is described having a clock synchronization circuit and a read latency control circuit. The clock synchronization circuit includes an adjustable delay line to generate an output clock signal whose phase is synchronized with the phase of the input clock signal. The read latency control circuit captures a read command signal relative to the timing of the input clock signal and outputs the read command signal relative to the timing of the output clock signal such that the read command signal is outputted indicative of a specified read latency.

Claims (27)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a synchronization circuit configured to receive a first clock signal, and provide a second clock signal based, at least in part, on the first clock signal;

a mode register configured to store a latency value indicative of a first number of clock cycles; and

a latency control circuit coupled to the synchronization circuit and the mode register, the latency control circuit configured to receive the first clock signal, the second clock signal, the latency value, a count signal indicative of a second number of clock cycles, and a command signal, wherein the count signal is different than the latency value;

wherein the latency control circuit is further configured to latch the command signal responsive, at least in part, to the first clock signal to provide a latched command signal, hold the latched command signal for an amount of time based, at least in part, on the latency value, and provide the latched command signal responsive, at least in part, to the second clock signal.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the latency control circuit includes a latch circuit configured to latch the command signal responsive, at least in part, to the first clock signal.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the latency control circuit includes a latency circuit configured to provide the latched command signal based on an occurrence of one or more specified clock cycles after receiving the command signal, wherein the one or more specified clock signals is based on the latency value indicative of the first number of clock cycles and the count signal indicative of the second number of clock cycles.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the latency control circuit is configured to count a number of the one or more specified clock cycles based on the second clock signal and the count signal indicative of the second number of clock cycles.

5. The device of claim 3 , wherein the latency control circuit includes an additional latch circuit configured to latch the latched command signal responsive, at least in part, to the second clock signal.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a memory array and a data output driver configured to provide read data from the memory array responsive, at least in part, to the latched command signal provided by the latency control circuit.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a data strobe output driver configured to provide a data strobe signal based on the second clock signal responsive, at least in part, to the latched command signal provided by the latency control circuit.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an initialization mode circuit configured to prevent the synchronization circuit from being provided with the first clock signal in a power down mode.

9. A method comprising:

receiving a first clock signal;

delaying a second clock signal a first delay amount to provide a third clock signal;

detecting a phase difference between the third clock signal and the first clock signal to provide a count signal indicative of a first number of clock cycles;

adjusting a second delay amount of a delay line responsive, at least in part, to the count signal;

providing the second clock signal based, at least in part, on the first clock signal, wherein the second clock signal is provided by delaying the first clock signal the second delay amount;

receiving a command signal;

latching the command signal responsive, at least in part, to the first clock signal; and

providing the latched command signal responsive, at least in part, to the second clock signal with a latency delay indicative of a second number of clock cycles, wherein providing the latched command signal is based partly on latency delay and the count signal.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing memory cell data responsive to the latched command signal, wherein the latched command signal is provided responsive, at least in part, to the second clock signal.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing a data strobe signal responsive to the latched command signal, wherein the latched command signal is provided responsive, at least in part, to the second clock signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the data strobe signal responsive, at least in part, to the second clock signal further comprises enabling a pre-output driver based on a latency signal, wherein the pre-output driver provides the data strobe signal.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein providing the latched command signal comprises holding the latched command signal for an amount of time based, at least in part, on a latency value, and providing the latched command signal responsive, at least in part, to the second clock signal.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising disabling the first clock signal responsive to a power down mode.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the latency value is different than the count signal.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →