IP Library Granted Patent US 8,055,816
Granted Patent B2
US 8,055,816 · App. 12/421,093 · Granted Nov 8, 2011

Memory controllers, memory systems, solid state drives and methods for processing a number of commands

Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,055,816
App. No.
12/421,093
Granted
Nov 8, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure includes methods and devices for a memory controller. In one or more embodiments, a memory controller includes a plurality of back end channels, and a command queue communicatively coupled to the plurality of back end channels. The command queue is configured to hold host commands received from a host. Circuitry is configured to generate a number of back end commands at least in response to a number of the host commands in the command queue, and distribute the number of back end commands to a number of the plurality of back end channels.

Claims (17)

1. A memory controller, comprising:

a plurality of back end channels, each back end channel corresponding to a different memory device;

a command queue communicatively coupled to the plurality of back end channels, the command queue being configured to hold host commands communicated by a host; and

circuitry configured to:

generate a number of back end commands at least in response to a number of the host commands in the command queue, wherein the number of back end commands is different than the number of the host commands, and

distribute the number of back end commands to a number of the plurality of back end channels, wherein the number of back end commands is at least equal to the number of back end channels.

2. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein the number of back end commands is fewer than the number of the host commands.

3. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein the number of back end commands is greater than the number of the host commands.

4. The memory controller of claim 3 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:

generate a respective back end command corresponding to each of the plurality of back end channels in response to a single host command, and

distribute the respective back end command to its corresponding back end channel, such that the back end commands are processed substantially in parallel.

5. The memory controller of claim 4 , wherein the circuitry is configured to communicate results to the host from executing a particular one of the multiple back end commands upon completion of the particular one of the multiple back end commands, without regard to completion of execution of any other of the multiple back end commands.

6. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to distribute multiple host commands among different multiple back end channels such that the multiple host commands are executed substantially simultaneously by the multiple back end channels.

7. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein generating the number of back end commands includes the combination of modifying at least one of the number of host commands and deleting at least another one of the number of host commands.

8. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein a Direct Memory Access module (DMA) is configured to distribute data associated with a host command corresponding to the number of back end commands generated.

9. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is a command dispatcher having a command processor portion configured to modify host commands so as to optimize distribution of the commands among the plurality of back end channels, and a dispatcher portion configured to distribute the modified commands among the plurality of back end channels.

10. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is a front end processor (FEP) communicatively coupled to the plurality of back end channels, the FEP being configured to modify host commands so as to optimize distribution of the commands among the plurality of back end channels.

Assignments (8)
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 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
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 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2009
From: ASNAASHARI, MEHDI; LIAO, YU-SONG; YANG, JUI-YAO; NEMAZIE, SIAMACK
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 022526/0452 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100262721A1 · Oct 14, 2010