Semiconductor storage device equipped with ECC function
View Patent ↗A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, an ECC (error correction code) circuit and a decision circuit. The ECC circuit calculates an error correction code for write data to be written in the memory cell array. The decision circuit invalidates the ECC circuit when a data width of the write data is less than a predetermined data width.
1. A semiconductor memory device, comprising:
a memory cell array;
an ECC (error correction code) circuit configured to calculate an error correction code for write data to be written in said memory cell array; and
a decision circuit configured to both generate invalidation information to invalidate said ECC circuit when a data width of said write data is less than a predetermined data width and to generate validation information to validate said ECC circuit when said data width of said write data is said predetermined data width,
wherein said predetermined data width is a data width necessary for said ECC circuit to calculate said error correction code.
2. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein said ECC circuit skips said calculation of said error correction code when being invalidated.
3. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein said write data of which data width is less than said predetermined data width is written in a first address of said memory cell array, and
said decision circuit holds an invalidation information related to said first address.
4. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 3 , wherein said decision circuit outputs an invalidation signal which invalidates said ECC circuit based on said invalidation information, when said first address is accessed in a read processing.
5. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 4 , wherein said ECC circuit skips error detection and correction processing for read data read from said first address in response to said invalidation signal.
6. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 4 , wherein read data read from said first address is outputted to an outside without passing through said ECC circuit.
7. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 4 , wherein said decision circuit includes:
a flag cell array configured to store a flag indicating that said error correction code is one of valid and invalid,
wherein said decision circuit stores an invalidation flag as said invalidation information in said flag cell array when said data width of said write data is less than said predetermined data width, and
wherein said decision circuit reads said invalidation flag from said flag cell array and outputs said read invalidation flag as said invalidation information, when said first address is accessed in a read processing.
8. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 4 , wherein said decision circuit includes:
an address storing portion configured to store address information indicating said first address as said invalidation information, and
a comparator configured to compare said first address indicated by said address information with a read targeted address,
wherein said comparator generates said invalidation signal when said read targeted address and said first address.
9. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a read circuit configured to read data stored in said read targeted address from said memory cell array,
wherein said comparator executes said compression in parallel with an operation of said read circuit.
10. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein a cycle necessary to write said write data is constant without depending on a data width of said write data.
11. A method of operating a semiconductor memory device, comprising:
(a) an ECC (error correction code) circuit calculating an error correction code for write data to be written in a memory cell array; and
(b) a decision circuit generating both invalidation information for invalidating said ECC circuit when a data width of said write data is less than a predetermined data width and validation information for validating said ECC circuit when a data width of said write data is said predetermined data width,
wherein said predetermined data width is a data width necessary for said ECC circuit to calculate said error correction code.
12. The method of operating a semiconductor memory device according to claim 11 , further comprising:
(c) said ECC circuit skipping said calculation of said error correction code when being invalidated.
13. The method of operating a semiconductor memory device according to claim 11 , wherein said write data of which data width is less than said predetermined data width is written in a first address of said memory cell array, and
said step (b) includes:
(b1) said decision circuit holding an invalidation information related to said first address.
14. The method of operating a semiconductor memory device according to claim 13 , wherein said step (b) further includes:
(b2) said decision circuit outputting an invalidation signal which invalidates said ECC circuit based on said invalidation information, when said first address is accessed in a read processing.
15. The method of operating a semiconductor memory device according to claim 14 , further comprising:
(d) said ECC circuit skipping error detection and correction processing for read data read from said first address in response to said invalidation signal.