IP Library Granted Patent US 10,698,640
Granted Patent B2
US 10,698,640 · App. 15/841,126 · Granted Jun 30, 2020

Apparatuses and methods for configuring I/Os of memory for hybrid memory modules

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,698,640
App. No.
15/841,126
Granted
Jun 30, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatuses, hybrid memory modules, memories, and methods for configuring I/Os of a memory for a hybrid memory module are described. An example apparatus includes a non-volatile memory, a control circuit coupled to the non-volatile memory, and a volatile memory coupled to the control circuit. The volatile memory is configured to enable a first subset of I/Os for communication with a bus and enable a second subset of I/O for communication with the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to transfer information between the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory.

Claims (33)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a memory module, a command initiated by a host device to operate the memory module in a mode that is based at least in part on a power failure event, wherein the mode of operation comprises communicating data from a synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) of the memory module to a non-volatile memory (NVM) of the memory module for the power failure event;

transferring the data from the SDRAM to the NVM via a control circuit of the memory module in response to the command; and

programming, by the memory module, a mode register of the SDRAM with information that configures the SDRAM to operate according to the mode of operation, wherein the programming is based at least in part on transferring the data from the SDRAM to the NVM;

avoiding command signaling from the host while in the mode of operation; and

transferring the data from the NVM back to the SDRAM via the control circuit based at least in part on a reapplication of power to the memory module.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising resuming another mode of operation based at least in part on a reapplication of power to the memory module.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the other mode of operation comprises restoring the data from the NVM to the SDRAM via the control circuit based at least in part on the reapplication of power to the memory module.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at the memory module, another command initiated by the host device to operate the memory module in another mode that is different from the mode of operation that comprises communicating data from the SDRAM to the NVM.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the other command is initiated after power is re-applied to the memory module.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising restoring the data from the SDRAM to the NVM based at least in part on the other command and a reapplication of power to the memory module.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM);

a non-volatile memory (NVM) coupled with the SDRAM;

a control circuit coupled between the NVM and the SDRAM and configured operate in a plurality of modes and to transfer the data from the SDRAM to the NVM via the control circuit in response to a power failure event; and

a mode register coupled with the SDRAM and programmable, by the control circuit, with information that configures the SDRAM to operate according to one of the modes of operation based at least in part on the power failure event,

wherein the control circuit is configured to transfer the data from the NVM back to the SDRAM based at least in part on a reapplication of power to the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the SDRAM is configured to avoid command signaling from a host device while the apparatus is one of the modes of operation and based at least in part on the power failure event.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is configured to resume another mode of operation based at least in part on a reapplication of power to the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the control circuit is configured to restore the data from the NVM to the SDRAM based at least in part on the reapplication of power to the memory module.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is configured to receive another command initiated by the host device based at least in part on a reapplication of power to the apparatus.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a controller configured to receive a command initiated by a host device to operate in a mode that is based at least in part on a power failure event, wherein the mode of operation comprises communicating data from a synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) to a non-volatile memory (NVM) for the power failure event;

a plurality of SDRAMs coupled with the control logic;

an NVM coupled with the plurality of SDRAMs via the control logic; and

a plurality of mode registers coupled with the SDRAMs and programmable, by the controller, with information that configures the plurality of SDRAMs to operate according to the mode of operation of a plurality of modes of operation,

wherein the controller is configured to:

transfer the data from the plurality of SDRAMs to the NVM based at least in part on the power failure event; and

transfer the data from the NVM to one or more SDRAMs of the plurality of SDRAMs based at least in part on a reapplication of power to the circuit.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising an interface for the host device, wherein the interface is operable to avoid communication with the host device during the power failure event.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the interface is operable to receive commands from the host device based at least in part on a reapplication of power to the device.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is operable to resume operating in a mode of the plurality of modes of operation based at least in part on a reapplication of power to the circuit.

16. The circuit of claim 15 , wherein the SDRAM is configured to communicate with the host via a bus while operating in a first mode of the plurality of modes of operation and to refrain from communication with the host while in a second mode of the plurality of modes of operation.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2023
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: LODESTAR LICENSING GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 064798/0484 →
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 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050716/0678 →
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 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 7 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 6, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045267/0833 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 13, 2017
From: PRATHER, MATTHEW A.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 044390/0814 →