IP Library Granted Patent US 11,886,715
Granted Patent B2
US 11,886,715 · App. 17/531,573 · Granted Jan 30, 2024

Memory array accessibility

Inventors: Daniel B. Penney (Wylie, TX); GAry L. Howe (Plano, TX)
G06F3/0622G06F3/0644G06F3/0659G06F3/0683G11C7/065G11C7/1006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,886,715
App. No.
17/531,573
Granted
Jan 30, 2024
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 (51)

1. A method, comprising:

reading addresses in a number of registers;

identifying a first portion and a second portion of an array of memory cells indicated by the read addresses;

executing instructions stored in the first portion;

storing a result of the executed instructions within memory cells of the first portion;

preventing data from being copied from the first portion to the second portion in response to execution of an instruction that is not stored in the first portion; and

allowing access to the second portion of the array.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising modifying the address in the number of registers that modifies which memory cells of the array that make up the first portion.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first address of a first of the number of registers indicates a first row of cells of the first portion.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein a second address of a second of the number of registers indicates a last row of cells of the first portion.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

decrypting data as the data is initially read and written into the first portion; and

leaving the data unencrypted in the first portion.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising preventing a result of executing DRAM instructions that originated external to the first portion from being stored in the first portion.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising preventing instructions stored in the first portion from being executed in a location external to the first portion.

8. The method of claim 1 , comprising clearing data from the first portion in response to a system reset being performed.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising clearing the number of registers in response to the system reset being performed.

10. 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;

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 coupled to the array, the controller configured to:

read addresses in the set of address registers;

identify the first portion using the read addresses;

execute instructions stored in the first portion, and store a result of the executed instructions within memory cells of the first portion;

prevent data from being copied from the second portion to the first portion in response to execution of an instruction that is not stored in the first portion; and

allow data to be copied from the second portion to the first portion in response to execution of an instruction that is stored in the first portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to modify the read addresses by executing instructions from the first portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the set of address of registers comprise access control registers.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the access control registers comprise row access control registers.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

allow a result of an execution of instructions stored in the first portion to be written to or read from the second portion; and

not allow a result of execution of instructions stored in the second portion to be written to the first portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the controller configured to allow execution of the instructions stored in the first portion is based on addresses stored in the set of address registers.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein:

prevention of the instructions from being executed from the second portion is based on addresses stored in the set of address registers; and

the controller is configured to allow data to be copied into the first portion only by running the instructions executed from the first portion.

17. A method, comprising:

reading addresses in a number of registers;

identifying a first portion and a second portion of an array of memory cells indicated by the read addresses;

executing instructions stored in the first portion, and storing a result of the executed instructions within memory cells of the first portion; and

preventing:

data from being copied from the first portion to the second portion in response to execution of an instruction that is not stored in the first portion; and

data from being copied from the second portion to the first portion in response to execution of an instruction that is not stored in the first portion.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

allowing instructions to be executed from the second portion only in response to the instructions having no target in the first portion; and

preventing, in response to execution of an instruction that is not stored in the first portion:

data from being copied from the first portion to the second portion in response to execution of an instruction that is not stored in the first portion; and

data from being copied from the second portion to the first portion in response to execution of an instruction that is not stored in the first portion.

19. The method claim 17 , wherein, in response to the addresses associated with each of the number of registers being modified, modifying data stored in the first portion of the array.

Assignments (3)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: PENNEY, DANIEL B.; HOWE, GARY L.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 058170/0226 →
Continuity (3)
Division 16555293 · Aug 29, 2019
Continuation 15691484 · Aug 30, 2017
Related Publication 20220083239A1 · Mar 17, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,474,844