IP Library Granted Patent US 7,793,031
Granted Patent B2
US 7,793,031 · App. 11/530,199 · Granted Sep 7, 2010

Memory architecture with serial peripheral interface

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 7,793,031
App. No.
11/530,199
Granted
Sep 7, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory architecture includes a memory including a Command Set, and a serial peripheral interface (SPI) for connecting the memory to a generic host device. The SPI includes a data in line for supplying output data from the host device to inputs of the memory; a data out line for supplying output data from the memory to input of the host device; a clock line driven by the host device; and an enable line that allows the memory to be turned on and off by the host device. The memory is a NAND Flash Memory. The SPI includes an I/O registers block, including an SPI label register and a data register for driving separately data, commands and addresses directed to the memory from the corresponding SPI label registers.

Claims (31)

1. A memory architecture comprising:

a NAND Flash memory; and

a serial peripheral interface (SPI) to couple said memory to a host device, said SPI comprising

a data in line to supply output data from the host device to inputs of said memory,

a data out line to supply output data from said memory to an input of the host device,

a clock line to be driven by the host device, and

an enable line to allow said memory to be turned on and off by the host device, said serial peripheral interface to detect an edge transition of a clock signal on said clock line and an active signal on said enable line, and in response to said edge transition and said active signal, and only in response thereto, beginning a new command transaction.

2. A memory architecture according to claim 1 wherein said SPI comprises an I/O registers block comprises

SPI label registers; and

data registers for driving separately data, commands and addresses directed to said memory from corresponding SPI label registers.

3. A memory architecture according to claim 2 wherein said SPI comprises decode logic coupled to said SPI label registers for providing a write enable signal, an address latch enable signal, a command latch enable signal, and a read enable signal to said memory.

4. A memory architecture according to claim 3 wherein said decode logic sets the write enable signal, the address latch enable signal, the command latch enable signal, and the read enable signal independently from a type of data provided to said memory by said data registers.

5. A memory architecture according to claim 1 , said memory including a Command Set and said Command Set and a size of said memory are independent from said SPI.

6. A memory architecture according to claim 1 further comprising an input/output buffer coupled between said SPI and said memory, said input/output buffer providing said memory with signals to drive reading and writing operations from and to said memory, the signals comprising a write enable signal, an address latch enable signal, a command latch enable signal, a read enable signal, and a command/address signal.

7. A memory architecture according to claim 6 wherein said memory comprises a command interface logic coupled to said SPI, said SPI receiving the signals associated with said input/output buffer, and receiving a write protection signal providing write protection when said memory is being programmed or erased.

8. A memory device comprising:

a memory; and

a serial peripheral interface (SPI) to couple said memory to a host device, said SPI comprising

a data in line to supply output data from the host device to inputs of said memory,

a data out line to supply output data from said memory to an input of the host device,

a clock line to be driven by the host device, and

an enable line to allow said memory to be turned on and off by the host device, said serial peripheral interface to detect an edge transition of a clock signal on said clock line and an active signal on said enable line, and in response to said edge transition and said active signal, and only in response thereto, beginning a new command transaction.

9. A memory device according to claim 8 wherein said memory comprises a NAND Flash memory.

10. A memory device according, to claim 9 wherein said SPI comprises decode logic coupled to said SPI label registers for providing a write enable signal, an address latch enable signal, a command latch enable signal, and a read enable signal to said memory.

11. A memory device according to claim 10 wherein said dedicated decode logic sets the write enable signal, the address latch enable signal, the command latch enable signal, and the read enable signal independently from a type of data provided to said memory by said data registers.

12. A memory device according to claim 8 wherein said SPI comprises an I/O registers block comprises

SPI label registers; and

data registers for driving separately data, commands and addresses directed to said memory from corresponding SPI label registers.

13. A memory device according to claim 8 including a Command Set, said Command Set and a size of said memory are independent from said SPI.

14. A memory device according to claim 8 further comprising an input/output buffer coupled between said SPI and said memory, said input/output buffer providing said memory with signals to drive reading and writing operations from and to said memory, the signals comprising a write enable signal, an address latch enable signal, a command latch enable signal, a read enable signal, and a command/address signal.

15. A memory device according to claim 14 wherein said memory comprises a command interface logic coupled to said SPI, said SPI receiving the signals associated with said input/output buffer, and receiving a write protection signal providing write protection when said memory is being programmed or erased.

Assignments (11)
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 Jan 31, 2014
From: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
To: STMICROELECTRONICS NV
Reel/Frame 032146/0367 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2014
From: STMICROELECTRONICS NV
To: NUMONYX BV
Reel/Frame 032148/0068 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2011
From: NUMONYX B.V.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 027075/0682 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2007
From: SARTORI, LAURA; CORSI, ADAMO; ROVEDA, MARCO; LORUSSO, GIUSEPPE MAURIZIO; RUGGERI, DANIELA; PELLICONE, DEMETRIO
To: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
Reel/Frame 018854/0347 →