IP Library Granted Patent US 10,534,553
Granted Patent B2
US 10,534,553 · App. 15/691,484 · Granted Jan 14, 2020

Memory array accessibility

Inventors: Daniel B. Penney (Wylie, TX); Gary L. Howe (Plano, TX)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G06F3/0622G06F3/0644G06F3/0659G06F3/0683
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,534,553
App. No.
15/691,484
Granted
Jan 14, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for memory array accessibility can include an apparatus with an array of memory cells. The array can include a first portion accessible by a controller of the array and inaccessible to devices external to the apparatus. The array can include a second portion accessible to the devices external to the apparatus. The array can include a number of registers that store row address that indicate which portion of the array is the first portion. The apparatus can include the controller configured to access the number of registers to allow access to the second portion by the devices external to the apparatus based on the stored row addresses.

Claims (16)

1. An apparatus comprising:

an array of memory cells, comprising:

a first portion of memory cells that are inaccessible by devices external to the apparatus and that are configured to store a first set of data and a set of instructions;

a second portion of memory cells that are accessible by the devices external to the apparatus and that are configured to store a second set of data; and

a set of address registers, wherein the set of address registers indicate which portion of the array is the inaccessible first portion; and

a controller configured to execute the first set of instructions in the inaccessible first portion;

wherein the controller is configured to recognize data written to the accessible second portion as operands and to not recognize the data as instructions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the accessible second portion of memory cells are configured to store a second set of instructions, wherein the second set of instructions are executed without reading or writing data into the first inaccessible portion of memory cells.

3. An apparatus, comprising:

an array of memory cells, comprising:

a first portion of memory cells that are inaccessible by devices external to the apparatus and that are configured to store a first set of data and a set of instructions;

a second portion of memory cells that are accessible by the devices external to the apparatus and that are configured to store a second set of data; and

a set of address registers, wherein the set of address registers indicate which portion of the array is the inaccessible first portion; and

a controller configured to execute the first set of instructions in the inaccessible first portion;

wherein the controller is configured to recognize data written to the inaccessible first portion as one of operands and the set of instructions.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to execute the set of instructions in the inaccessible first portion.

Assignments (9)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: LODESTAR LICENSING GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 066592/0828 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2023
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: LODESTAR LICENSING GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 064631/0384 →
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 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050709/0838 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 046597/0333 →
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 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 6 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 1, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044348/0253 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 6 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 1, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044653/0333 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2017
From: PENNEY, DANIEL B.; HOWE, GARY L.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 043452/0467 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190065082A1 · Feb 28, 2019
Cited By (1)
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