MEMORY DEVICE HAVING AN ADAPTABLE NUMBER OF OPEN ROWS

摘要

A memory device comprises a memory array, at least one row address buffer, a set of row data buffers, a row decoder, an array of sense amplifiers, and a demultiplexer. The memory array comprises data elements organized into rows and columns. Each of the rows is addressable by a row address. Each of the data elements in each of the rows is addressable by a column address. The at least one row address buffer holds a selected row address of a set of successive selected row addresses. The set of row data buffers holds respective contents of selected rows that correspond to the set of successive selected row addresses. The row decoder decodes the selected row address to access a selected row. The array of sense amplifier reads the selected row and transmits content of the selected row to one of the row data buffers through the demultiplexer, and writes the content of the selected row back to the selected row.

主权项

1. A method of opening rows in a memory device, the memory device including a memory array comprising data elements organized into rows and columns, each of the rows being addressable by a row address, each of the data elements in each of the rows being addressable by a column address, the method comprising operations of:
(a) receiving a first command to open a row, the first command including a selected row address and a row mode indicator specifying a number of rows to open starting from the selected row address; (b) loading the selected row address into at least one row address buffer; (c) decoding the selected row address to access a selected row in the memory array using a row decoder; (d) reading the selected row and transmitting content of the selected row to a corresponding row data buffer of a set of row data buffers using an array of sense amplifiers; and if the specified number of rows to open is greater than one, then: (e) computing a successive selected row address based on the selected row address; and (f) repeating operations (b), (c), and (d) with the selected row address being replaced by the successive selected row address.