发明名称 |
Reduced refresh power |
摘要 |
N out of every M number of refresh commands are ignored (filtered out) by a buffer chip on a memory module. N and M are programmable. The buffer receives refresh commands (e.g., auto-refresh commands) from the command-address channel, but does not issue a proportion of these commands to the DRAMs on the module. This reduces the power consumed by refresh operations. The buffer may replace some auto-refresh (REF) commands with activate (ACT) and precharge (PRE) commands directed to specific rows. These rows may have known ‘weak’ cells that require refreshing more often than a majority of the other rows on the module (or component). By ignoring some auto-refresh commands, and directing some others to specific rows that have ‘weak’ cells, the power consumed by refresh operations can be reduced. |
申请公布号 |
US9490002(B2) |
申请公布日期 |
2016.11.08 |
申请号 |
US201514801558 |
申请日期 |
2015.07.16 |
申请人 |
Rambus Inc. |
发明人 |
Ware Frederick A.;Haukness Brent S.;Best Scott C.;Bronner Gary B. |
分类号 |
G11C7/00;G11C11/406 |
主分类号 |
G11C7/00 |
代理机构 |
The Neudeck Law Firm, LLC |
代理人 |
The Neudeck Law Firm, LLC |
主权项 |
1. A memory module, comprising:
an interface to receive a plurality of auto-refresh commands, the plurality of auto-refresh commands including a first auto-refresh command and a second auto refresh command; at least one memory component; and, a buffer component coupled to the interface and coupled to the at least one memory component, the buffer component to receive the plurality of auto-refresh commands via the interface, the buffer component to, based on a configured proportion of received auto-refresh commands, send the first auto-refresh command to the at least one memory component, the buffer component to also, based on the configured proportion of received auto-refresh commands, not send the second auto-refresh command to the at least one memory component. |
地址 |
Sunnyvale CA US |