IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,494,244
Granted Patent B2
US 12,494,244 · App. 18/076,932 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Memory device and refresh method thereof

Inventor: Jongpil Son (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
G11C11/40615G11C11/40618G11C11/4093
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,494,244
App. No.
18/076,932
Granted
Dec 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory device is provided. The memory device includes: a first memory cell array including a first row and a second row; and a self-refresh circuit configured to control refresh in response to a first self-refresh entry signal, and stop refresh of the second row after refreshing the first row in response to a self-refresh exit signal.

Claims (48)

1 . A memory device comprising:

a first memory cell array comprising a plurality of rows, the plurality of rows comprising a first row and a second row; and

a self-refresh circuit configured to control refresh in response to a first self-refresh entry signal, and stop refresh of the second row after refreshing the first row in response to a self-refresh exit signal,

wherein the self-refresh circuit is configured to output a refresh row address in a first period of a self-refresh control signal and output a row hammer address in a second period of the self-refresh control signal, and

wherein the self-refresh control signal is maintained at an enable level for a period comprising the first period and the second period.

2 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first row is a row determined to be refreshed at a time point at which the self-refresh exit signal is received.

3 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the self-refresh circuit comprises:

a signal generator configured to output the self-refresh control signal in response to the first self-refresh entry signal; and

a refresh counter configured to output the refresh row address indicating a row to be refreshed during an enable level period of the self-refresh control signal.

4 . The memory device of claim 3 , wherein the signal generator is further configured to output a counter control signal to the refresh counter based on the self-refresh control signal being at an enable level for a predetermined period, and

wherein the refresh counter is further configured to increment the refresh row address in response to the counter control signal.

5 . The memory device of claim 3 , wherein, based on the self-refresh control signal being at an enable level for a predetermined period, the refresh row address indicates a predetermined number of rows.

6 . The memory device of claim 5 , wherein the refresh counter comprises:

a main counter configured to increment first bits in a first area of the refresh row address in response to a counter control signal; and

a sub-counter configured to increment r bits in a second area of the refresh row address in response to a sub-counter control signal,

wherein the second area is configured of r bits,

wherein the first area is configured of 2 r bits, and

wherein the sub-counter control signal is inputted 2 r times.

7 . The memory device of claim 5 , wherein the refresh counter is configured to output the refresh row address to sequentially refresh the predetermined number of rows based on the self-refresh control signal being at an enable level for the predetermined period.

8 . The memory device of claim 5 , wherein the refresh counter is configured to output the refresh row address to simultaneously refresh the predetermined number of rows based on the self-refresh control signal being at an enable level for the predetermined period.

9 . The memory device of claim 3 ,

wherein the row hammer address is an address of a row adjacent to a row having a largest number of accesses.

10 . The memory device of claim 9 , wherein the self-refresh circuit is configured to reset a number of accesses of the row having the largest number of accesses, after outputting the row hammer address.

11 . The memory device of claim 9 , wherein the first period temporally precedes the second period.

12 . The memory device of claim 9 , wherein the second period temporally precedes the first period.

13 . The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising a second memory cell array,

wherein the self-refresh circuit comprises:

a signal generator configured to output a the self-refresh control signal comprising a first enable level period and a second enable level period in response to the first self-refresh entry signal;

a first refresh counter configured to output a first refresh row address indicating a row to be refreshed in the first memory cell array in the first enable level period; and

a second refresh counter configured to output a second refresh row address indicating a row to be refreshed in the second memory cell array in the second enable level period.

14 . The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising a second memory cell array, a third memory cell array, and a fourth memory cell array,

wherein the self-refresh circuit comprises:

a signal generator configured to output the self-refresh control signal comprising a first enable level period and a second enable level period in response to the first self-refresh entry signal;

a first refresh counter configured to output a first refresh row address indicating a row to be refreshed in the first memory cell array and a row to be refreshed in the second memory cell array in the first enable level period; and

a second refresh counter configured to output a second refresh row address indicating a row to be refreshed in the third memory cell array and a row to be refreshed in the fourth memory cell array in the second enable level period.

15 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the self-refresh circuit is configured to control the refresh to be refreshed from the first row in response to a second self-refresh entry signal received after the self-refresh exit signal.

16 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the self-refresh circuit is configured to control the refresh to be refreshed from the second row in response to a second self-refresh entry signal received after the self-refresh exit signal.

17 . A memory device comprising:

a command decode circuit configured to decode a command, and output a self-refresh entry signal and a self-refresh exit signal;

a self-refresh circuit configured to output a self-refresh control signal and a refresh row address in response to the self-refresh entry signal, and stop output of the self-refresh control signal and the refresh row address in response to the self-refresh exit signal; and

a row address multiplexer configured to output the refresh row address in response to a high level of the self-refresh control signal, and output an operation row address in response to a low level of the self-refresh control signal,

wherein the self-refresh circuit is configured to output the refresh row address as the refresh row address in a first period of the self-refresh control signal and output a row hammer address as the refresh row address in a second period of the self-refresh control signal,

wherein the self-refresh control signal is maintained at an enable level for a period comprising the first period and the second period,

wherein the refresh row address indicates a row to be refreshed, and

wherein the operation row address indicates a row to be written to, read from, or erased.

18 . The memory device of claim 17 , wherein the self-refresh circuit is configured to increment the refresh row address based on the self-refresh control signal being at a high level for a predetermined period.

19 . The memory device of claim 17 ,

wherein the row hammer address indicates a row adjacent to a row having a largest number of accesses.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: SON, JONGPIL
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062015/0609 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0091096 · Jul 22, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240029777A1 · Jan 25, 2024
References Cited (13)
US 8392650B2 · Bains · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 9460773B2 · Bains · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9824742B1 · Saifuddin et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10115448B2 · Lee et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10943638B2 · Hong · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20110299352A1 · Fujishiro · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20130272082A1 · Kim · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20140289461A1 · Fujisawa · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20170140810A1 · Choi · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20190228813A1 · Nale · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200058346A1 · Ito · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210225425A1 · Do et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220059153A1 · Zhang · 2022 [cited by examiner]