Granted Patent B2

US 9,607,665 · App. 15/090,870 · Granted Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

Claims (47)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory; and

a controller configured to:

determine power availability information for the memory, wherein the power availability information includes an indication to the memory of an amount of time for which the memory can continue to operate at its present operating condition, wherein the amount of time is:

an unlimited amount of time;

a first amount of time that is less than the unlimited amount of time;

a second amount of time that is less than the first amount of time; or

a third amount of time that is less than the second amount of time; and

provide power and the power availability information to the memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory is configured to continue to operate at its present operating condition upon the power availability information including an indication the memory can continue to operate at its present operating condition.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory is configured to cease operating at its present operating condition upon the power availability information including an indication the memory can not continue to operate at its present operating condition.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory is configured to continue to operate at its present operating condition for the amount of time.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the amount of time for which the memory can continue to operate at its present operating condition is an amount of time for which the memory can continue its present current consumption before a voltage supply provided to the memory reaches a particular level.

6. A method for operating memory, comprising:

providing, to a memory, power and power availability information, wherein the power availability information includes:

an indication of an amount of time for which the memory can continue to operate at its present operating condition, wherein the amount of time is:

an unlimited amount of time;

a first amount of time that is less than the unlimited amount of time;

a second amount of time that is less than the first amount of time; or

a third amount of time that is less than the second amount of time.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the method includes:

ceasing, by the memory, to operate at its present operating condition upon the power availability information including an indication the memory can not continue to operate at its present operating condition.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the method includes providing, after providing the power availability information to the memory, additional power availability information to the memory, wherein the additional power availability information includes:

an indication of an amount of time for which the memory can continue to operate at its present operating condition; or

an indication the memory can not continue to operate at its present operating condition.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method includes providing the additional power availability information to the memory upon a voltage supply provided to the memory reaching a particular level.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method includes providing the additional power availability information to the memory upon a change in current consumption at a given voltage supply by the memory.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method includes providing the additional power availability information to the memory upon a change in a maximum current level at a given voltage supply provided to the memory.

12. A system, comprising:

a host; and

a memory device having a controller and a memory, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive power from the host;

determine power availability information for the memory, wherein the power availability information includes:

an indication the memory can continue to operate at its present operating condition for an unlimited amount of time;

an indication the memory can continue to operate at its present operating condition for a first amount of time that is less than the unlimited amount of time;

an indication the memory can continue to operate at its present operating condition for a second amount of time that is less than the first amount of time; or

an indication the memory can continue to operate at its present operating condition for a third amount of time that is less than the second amount of time; and

provide the power and the power availability information to the memory.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the power availability information for the memory based, at least in part, on the amount of power received from the host and a current consumption level at a given voltage supply of the memory.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the power from the host through a wireless connection with the host.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the power from the host through a wired connection with the host.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the power availability information includes an indication of whether the memory can continue to operate at its present operating condition.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the power availability information includes:

an indication the memory can continue to operate at its present operating condition; or

an indication the memory can not continue to operate at its present operating condition.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the power availability information includes an indication to the memory to freeze its operation upon a voltage supply provided to the memory reaching a particular level.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the power availability information includes an indication to the memory to abort its operation upon the controller ceasing to receive power from the host.

Assignments (8)