IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,507,310
Granted Patent B2
US 11,507,310 · App. 16/888,444 · Granted Nov 22, 2022

Memory controller and operating method thereof

Inventors: Hyun Sub Kim (Seongnam, KR); Ie Ryung Park (Suwon, KR); Dong Sop Lee (Yongin, KR); Sung Yeob Cho (Yongin, KR)
Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
G06F3/0659G06F3/0604G06F3/0679G11C16/0483G11C11/5621G11C11/5671
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,507,310
App. No.
16/888,444
Granted
Nov 22, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory controller may include: a request checker identifying memory devices corresponding to requests received from a host among the plurality of memory devices and generating device information on the identified memory devices to perform operations corresponding to the requests; a dummy manager outputting a request for controlling a dummy pulse to be applied to channels of selected memory devices according to the device information among the plurality of channels; and a dummy pulse generator sequentially applying the dummy pulse to the channels coupled to the selected memory devices, based on the request for controlling the dummy pulse. A memory controller may include an idle time monitor outputting an idle time interval of the memory device and a clock signal generator generating a clock signal based on the idle time interval and outputting the clock signal to the memory device through the channel to perform a current operation.

Claims (21)

1. A memory controller for controlling a plurality of memory devices coupled through a plurality of channels, the memory controller comprising:

a data transmitter configured to transmit data through first channels corresponding to requests received from a host among the plurality of channels; and

a toggle transmitter configured to generate a dummy toggle in one or more second channels other than the first channels in which the data is transmitted,

wherein the dummy toggle is a pulse of a certain magnitude that is applied to memory devices, which are coupled to the first channels corresponding to the requests.

2. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein the toggle transmitter sequentially increases a current flowing through input/output pins coupled to the toggle transmitter.

3. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein the toggle transmitter is further configured to sequentially apply the dummy toggle to input/output pins coupled to the toggle transmitter one by one.

4. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein the toggle transmitter generates the dummy toggle before the data is transmitted.

5. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein the toggle transmitter generates the dummy toggle based on an enable signal generated on a basis of the requests.

6. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein the toggle transmitter includes a dummy manager configured to output a request for controlling a dummy pulse to be applied to the second channels.

7. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein the toggle transmitter includes a dummy pulse generator configured to sequentially apply a dummy pulse to channels coupled to selected memory devices.

8. The memory controller of claim 1 , wherein the toggle transmitter generates the dummy toggle based on device information.

9. The memory controller of claim 6 , wherein the dummy manager outputs a request for requesting the dummy pulse before selected memory devices start.

10. The memory controller of claim 6 , wherein the dummy manager outputs a request for generating the dummy pulse.

11. The memory controller of claim 7 , wherein the dummy pulse generator applies the dummy pulse to one or more channels coupled to the selected memory devices according to device information.

12. The memory controller of claim 6 , wherein the dummy manager receives chip enable signals respectively corresponding to selected memory devices according to device information.

13. The memory controller of claim 12 , wherein the dummy manager determines memory devices to end operations, based on chip enable signals in a high state among the received chip enable signals.

14. The memory controller of claim 6 , wherein the dummy manager outputs a command queue level request for determining command queue levels of memory devices corresponding to chip enable signals.

15. The memory controller of claim 6 , wherein the dummy manager determines to apply the dummy pulse to channels coupled to memory devices corresponding to chip enable signals in a high state.

16. The memory controller of claim 6 , wherein the dummy manager determines to interrupt the dummy pulse applied to any one of the second channels.

17. The memory controller of claim 6 , wherein the dummy manager determines whether a number of memory devices of which command queue levels have a value is two or more.

18. The memory controller of claim 6 , wherein the dummy manager determines to apply the dummy pulse to channels coupled to memory devices corresponding to chip enable signals in a high state and interrupts the dummy pulse applied to channels coupled to memory devices of which command queue levels have a value.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2022
From: CHO, SUNG YEOB
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 058734/0985 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: KIM, HYUN SUB; PARK, IE RYUNG; LEE, DONG SOP
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 052885/0882 →
Priority Claims (3)
KR 10-2019-0108259 · Sep 2, 2019 · national
KR 10-2019-0149055 · Nov 19, 2019 · national
KR 10-2020-0011548 · Jan 31, 2020 · national
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 16841030 · Apr 6, 2020
Continuation In Part 16730826 · Dec 30, 2019
Continuation In Part 16868116 · May 6, 2020
Related Publication 20210064294A1 · Mar 4, 2021
Cited By (3)
US 12,223,195 US 12,417,172 US 12,436,717