Systems and methods for controlling data strobe signals during read operations

1. An apparatus comprising:

output buffer circuitry configured to selectively pass a read clock signal to an output terminal; and

control logic configured to selectively receive the read clock signal, and to:

place, during a first period, the output buffer circuitry into an active state;

hold, during a second period, the output buffer circuitry in the active state; and

place, during a third period, the output buffer circuitry into an inactive state;

wherein the output buffer circuitry, while in the active state, is configured to allow the read clock signal to pass to the output terminal;

wherein the control logic is configured to place the output buffer circuitry into the active state or inactive state in response to at least the read clock signal; and

wherein the control logic is prevented from receiving the read clock signal during at least a portion of the second period.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second period is during a burst read mode operation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 ,

wherein the burst read mode operation is initiated responsive to at least first and second read commands issued consecutively, wherein the first read command is followed by the second read command;

wherein the control logic receives the read clock signal while the output buffer passes the DQS signal to the output terminal based on the first read command; and

wherein the control logic does not receive the read clock signal while the output buffer passes the read clock signal to the output terminal based on the second read command.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a decoded read command (RDC) signal received by the control logic, wherein:

if the RDC signal transitions from a first value to a second value, the control logic places the output buffer circuitry into the active state during the first period;

if the RDC signal holds the second value, the control logic holds the output buffer circuitry in the active state during the second period; and

if the RDC signal transitions from the second value to the first value, the control logic places the output buffer circuitry into the inactive state during the third period.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:

read control logic; and

a mode register;

wherein the read control logic receives variable burst length (BL) information from the mode register, and wherein the RDC signal is responsive to the variable BL information.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 ,

wherein the apparatus is configured to receive an enable signal from the read control logic, responsive to the variable BL information; and

wherein the control logic is configured to receive the read clock signal responsive to the enable signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:

a gate circuit;

wherein the gate circuit receives the enable signal and the read clock signal; and

wherein the gate circuit passes the read clock signal to the control logic responsive to the enable signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the apparatus is configured to receive an enable signal; and

wherein the control logic is configured to receive the read clock signal responsive to the enable signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

a gate circuit;

wherein the gate circuit selectively provides a control logic clock signal (Clk_DQSCL) to the control logic.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output buffer circuitry comprises a data strobe (DQS) output buffer pull-up driver and a DQS output buffer pull-down driver.

11. An apparatus comprising:

output buffer circuitry configured to provide a data strobe (DQS) signal to an output terminal responsive to a read clock signal; and

control logic configured to selectively receive the read clock signal, and to:

place, during a first period, the output buffer circuitry into an active state;

hold, during a second period, the output buffer circuitry in the active state; and

place, during a third period, the output buffer circuitry into an inactive state;

wherein the output buffer circuitry, while in the active state, is configured to provide the DQS signal to the output terminal;

wherein the control logic is configured to place the output buffer circuitry into the active state or inactive state in response to at least the read clock signal; and

wherein the control logic is prevented from receiving the read clock signal during at least a portion of the second period.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving, at output buffer circuitry, a read clock signal from a read clock generator;

placing the output buffer circuitry in an active state during a first period in response to an activate signal from control logic, wherein the activate signal is responsive to the read clock signal;

holding the output buffer circuitry in the active state during a second period;

placing the output buffer circuitry in an inactive state during a third period in response to a deactivate signal from the control logic, wherein the deactivate signal is responsive to the read clock signal;

passing a data strobe (DQS) signal, responsive to the read clock signal, from the output buffer circuitry to an output terminal while the output buffer circuitry is in the active state; and

preventing the control logic from receiving the read clock signal during at least a portion of the second period.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving, at a gate circuit, the read clock signal; and

selectively providing, from the gate circuit, the read clock signal to the control logic.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving, at the gate circuit, an enable signal; and

providing, from the gate circuit, the read clock signal to the control logic responsive to the enable signal.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the state of the enable signal is at least partially dependent on a burst length (BL).

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving, at the control logic, a decoded read command (RDC) signal, wherein

if the RDC signal transitions from a first value to a second value, the control logic places the output buffer circuitry into the active state during the first period;

if the RDC signal holds the second value, the control logic holds the output buffer circuitry in the active state during the second period; and

if the RDC signal transitions from the second value to the first value, the control logic places the output buffer circuitry into the inactive state during the third period.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a burst length (BL) is associated with the RDC signal.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a clock generator; and

a data strobe (DQS) generator, wherein the DQS generator further comprises:

a DQS state control; and

an output buffer;

wherein the clock generator provides a read clock signal to the DQS generator, and wherein the DQS state control circuit selectively receives the read clock signal;

wherein the DQS state control circuit selectively provides an activate signal to the output buffer responsive to at least the read clock signal, and

wherein the output buffer selectively provides a DQS signal to an output terminal responsive to at least the read clock signal and the activate signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising:

a command decoder, configured to selectively provide a decoded read command (RDC) signal to the DQS state control circuit, wherein the DQS state control circuit provides an activate signal to the output buffer responsive to the RDC signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the DQS state control circuit does not receive the read clock signal during at least a portion of the time when the RDC signal is enabled.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the command decoder is configured to selectively provide an enable signal to the DQS state control circuit, wherein the DQS state control circuit receives the read clock signal responsive to at least the enable signal.