IP Library Granted Patent US 10,810,145
Granted Patent B2
US 10,810,145 · App. 16/543,482 · Granted Oct 20, 2020

Methods for performing multiple memory operations in response to a single command and memory devices and systems employing the same

Inventors: Matthew A. Prather (Boise, ID); Frank F. Ross (Boise, ID); Randall J. Rooney (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G06F13/1689G06F3/0604G06F3/0625G06F3/0659G06F3/0673G06F13/4086G11C7/22G11C11/406
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,810,145
App. No.
16/543,482
Granted
Oct 20, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Memory devices, memory systems, and methods of operating memory devices and systems are disclosed in which a single command can trigger a memory device to perform multiple operations, such as a single refresh command that triggers the memory device to both perform a refresh command and to perform a mode register read. One such memory device comprises a memory, a mode register, and circuitry configured, in response to receiving a command to perform a refresh operation at the memory, to perform the refresh operation at the memory, and to perform a read of the mode register. The memory can be a first memory portion, the memory device can comprise a second memory portion, and the circuitry can be further configured, in response to the command, to provide on-die termination at the second memory portion of the memory system during at least a portion of the read of the mode register.

Claims (27)

1. A memory device, comprising:

a memory;

a mode register; and

circuitry configured, in response to receiving a command to perform a refresh operation at the memory, to:

perform the refresh operation at the memory, and

perform a read of the mode register.

2. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the read of the mode register includes outputting data from the mode register from the memory device.

3. The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the outputted data includes information corresponding to a temperature of the memory.

4. The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the outputted data includes information corresponding to a refresh rate of the memory.

5. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the command has a duration on a command/address bus of the memory device of a single clock cycle of the memory device.

6. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the command includes a flag bit indicating that the read of the mode register is to be performed.

7. A method of operating a memory system, comprising:

receiving a command instructing a portion of the memory system to perform a first operation; and

in response to the command,

performing the first operation, and

performing a second operation of a different kind than the first operation.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first operation is a refresh operation, and wherein the second operation is a mode register read operation.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second operation includes outputting data from the mode register read operation from the memory system.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the outputted data includes information corresponding to a temperature of the portion.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the outputted data includes information corresponding to a refresh rate of the portion.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the command has a duration on a command/address bus of the memory system of a single clock cycle of the memory system.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the command includes a flag bit indicating that the second operation is to be performed.

14. A method of operating a memory system, comprising:

sending a command instructing a portion of the memory system to perform a refresh operation; and

in response to the command to perform a refresh operation, receiving data output from a mode register of the memory system.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the outputted data includes information corresponding to a temperature and/or a refresh rate of the portion.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the command includes a flag bit indicating that the data is to be outputted from the mode register of the memory system.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2019
From: PRATHER, MATTHEW A.; ROSS, FRANK F.; ROONEY, RANDALL J.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050081/0912 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,475,067