IP Library Granted Patent US 10,930,335
Granted Patent B2
US 10,930,335 · App. 16/231,327 · Granted Feb 23, 2021

Apparatuses and methods for selective row refreshes

Inventors: Debra M. Bell (Dallas, TX); Jeff A. McClain (Nampa, ID); Brian P. Callaway (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G11C11/406G11C7/1012
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,930,335
App. No.
16/231,327
Granted
Feb 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for selective row refreshes are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may include a refresh control circuit. The refresh control circuit may be configured to receive a target address associated with a target plurality of memory cells from an address bus. The refresh control circuit may further be configured to provide a proximate address to the address bus responsive, at least in part, to determining that a number of refresh operations have occurred. In some examples, a plurality of memory cells associated with the proximate address may be a plurality of memory cells adjacent the target plurality of memory cells.

Claims (42)

1. A DRAM comprising:

an array of a plurality of DRAM memory cells including a first plurality of DRAM memory cells, and a second plurality of DRAM memory cells, the second plurality of DRAM memory cells being physically proximate to the first plurality of DRAM memory cells;

a word line driver configured to activate the first plurality of DRAM memory cells responsive, at least in part, to receiving a first row-address and activate the second plurality of DRAM memory cells responsive, at least in part, to receiving a second row-address; and

a circuit coupled to the word line driver,

wherein the circuit is configured to:

provide the word line driver with the first row-address;

latch the first row-address;

generate the second row-address responsive, at least in part, to latching the first row-address; and

provide the word line driver with the second row-address responsive, at least in part, to determining that a number of refresh operations have occurred, and

wherein each of the refresh operations includes reading data out of a corresponding plurality of DRAM memory cells of the array of a plurality of DRAM memory cells and subsequently writing the data back to the corresponding plurality of DRAM memory cells of the array of a plurality of DRAM memory cells.

2. The DRAM of claim 1 , wherein the circuit comprises a refresh counter configured to generate a third row-address, and provide the third row-address to the word line driver responsive, at least in part, to a refresh command.

3. The DRAM of claim 2 , wherein the circuit comprises a refresh control circuit configured to determine that a number of refresh operations have occurred by receiving the third row-address.

4. The DRAM of claim 3 , wherein the refresh control circuit is configured to determine that a number of refresh operations have occurred by determining that a particular bit of the third row-address has transitioned from a first state to a second state.

5. The DRAM of claim 3 , wherein the refresh control circuit is further configured to assert a control signal to the refresh counter, responsive, at least in part, to the refresh command, wherein the refresh counter is configured to increment the third row-address, based, at least in part, on the control signal.

6. The DRAM of claim 5 , wherein the refresh counter is further configured to resume providing the third row-address during an operation that the second row-address is provided to the word line driver.

7. The DRAM of claim 2 , wherein the refresh counter comprises a binary counter.

8. The DRAM of claim 1 , further comprising an address latch circuit configured to latch the first row-address externally generated.

9. The DRAM of claim 8 , wherein the circuit is further configured to selectively provide the second row-address to the word line driver when interrupts to provide the first row-address and a third row-address to the word line driver.

10. A DRAM comprising:

an array of a plurality of DRAM memory cells including a first plurality of DRAM memory cells, and a second plurality of DRAM memory cells, the second plurality of DRAM memory cells being physically adjacent to the first plurality of DRAM memory cells;

a word line driver configured to activate the first plurality of DRAM memory cells responsive, at least in part, to receiving a first row-address and activate the second plurality of DRAM memory cells responsive, at least in part, to receiving a second row-address; and

a circuit coupled to the word line driver,

wherein the circuit is configured to:

provide the word line driver with the first row-address;

latch the first row-address;

generate the second row-address responsive, at least in part, to latching the first row-address; and

provide the word line driver with the second row-address responsive, at least in part, to determining that a number of refresh operations have occurred, and

wherein each of the refresh operations includes reading data out of a corresponding plurality of DRAM memory cells of the array of a plurality of DRAM memory cells and subsequently writing the data back to the corresponding plurality of DRAM memory cells of the array of a plurality of DRAM memory cells.

11. The DRAM of claim 10 , wherein the circuit comprises a refresh counter configured to generate a third row-address, and provide the third row-address to the word line driver responsive, at least in part, to a refresh command.

12. The DRAM of claim 11 , wherein the circuit comprises a refresh control circuit configured to determine that a number of refresh operations have occurred by receiving the third row-address.

13. The DRAM of claim 12 , wherein the refresh control circuit is configured to determine that a number of refresh operations have occurred by determining that a particular bit of the third row-address has transitioned from a first state to a second state.

14. The DRAM of claim 12 , wherein the refresh control circuit is further configured to assert a control signal to the refresh counter, responsive, at least in part, to the refresh command, wherein the refresh counter is configured to increment the third row-address, based, at least in part, on the control signal.

15. The DRAM of claim 14 , wherein the refresh counter is further configured to resume providing the third row-address during an operation that the second row-address is provided to the word line driver.

16. The DRAM of claim 11 , wherein the refresh counter comprises a binary counter.

17. The DRAM of claim 10 , further comprising an address latch circuit configured to latch the first row-address externally generated.

18. The DRAM of claim 17 , wherein the circuit is further configured to selectively provide the second row-address to the word line driver when interrupts to provide the first row-address and a third row-address to the word line driver.

19. A DRAM comprising:

an array of a plurality of DRAM memory cells including a first plurality of DRAM memory cells, the array further including a second plurality of DRAM memory cells adjacent to the first plurality of DRAM memory cells; and

a word line driver configured to:

activate the first plurality of DRAM memory cells responsive, at least in part, to receiving a first row-address, and

activate the second plurality of DRAM memory cells responsive, at least in part, to receiving a second row-address when a number of refresh operations have occurred,

wherein each of the refresh operations includes reading data out of a corresponding plurality of DRAM memory cells of the array and subsequently writing the data back to the corresponding plurality of DRAM memory cells of the array.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 051026/0568 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050718/0764 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 11 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 16, 2019
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 048082/0860 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 2 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 16, 2019
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 048082/0889 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2018
From: BELL, DEBRA M.; MCCLAIN, JEFF A.; CALLAWAY, BRIAN P.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047847/0489 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16160801 · Oct 15, 2018
Continuation 14707893 · May 8, 2015
Continuation 14010120 · Aug 26, 2013
Related Publication 20190130961A1 · May 2, 2019
Cited By (7)
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