Dynamically setting burst length of memory device by applying signal to at least one external pin during a read or write transaction

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus which permits modification of the burst length of data in a memory device.

[0002] A burst mode is known to be used in some memory devices to increase the speed of reading and writing data from and to the memory. Burst mode operation allows reads or writes from or to consecutive memory core locations at high speeds. When a burst mode is not implemented, a memory storage device uses one clock cycle to activate a row, giving the row address, and another clock cycle for column addressing. The READ or WRITE command is given with the column address on separate command lines.

[0003] In the clock cycle(s) following the addressing/command cycles, data is transferred from or to a memory device. For example, 4 eight bit data bytes being read from or written to a DDR SDRAM requires one clock cycle to decode a each of the four column addresses. The first column address is issued with the READ or WRITE command with the subsequent column address being decoded internally on the DRAM device freeing up the command bus for other uses.

[0004] In addition, by eliminating column decoding time, the command bus is free to reduce latency during back intervening. Accordingly, a burst mode operation provides relatively high data transfer rates and significantly reduces the latency involved in a memory transfer.

[0005] The burst mode is generally controlled by setting one or more bits in a mode register provided within a memory device. As shown in FIG. 1, which depicts one exemplary memory device mode register, data within the mode register 100 controls a variety of different chip functions. Bits 13 and 14 of mode register 100 are used to select between a base mode register and an extended mode register; bits 7 through 12 of mode register 100 determine the operating mode of the memory device; bits 4–6 of mode register 100 determine the column address strobe (“CAS”) latency; bit 3 of mode register 100 determines whether the burst type is sequential or interleaved; and, bits 0–2 of mode register 100 determine the burst length.

[0006] The burst length determines the maximum number of consecutive column locations that can be accessed for a given READ or WRITE command without the need to use clock cycles to transfer subsequent intervening column addresses. As shown in tables 110 and 120, burst lengths of 2, 4 or 8 bytes can be selected for each of the sequential and interleaved burst types which is set by bit position 3.

[0007] Mode register 100 is programmed by a CPU or memory controller using a MODE REGISTER SET command and retains the set information until it is programmed again, or the memory device loses power. The mode register must be programmed while all memory cores are idle and no data bursts are in progress, and the memory controller or CPU must wait a specified time before initiating a memory access operation subsequent to programming.

[0008] A memory device which allows dynamic programming of burst length would be desirable and would permit faster adjustment of the burst length.

[0009] The present invention mitigates the problems associated with current DRAM devices and provides a unique method and system of allowing a user to dynamically define burst length.

[0010] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, control pins provided on a memory storage device are used to set burst length. In addition, a control pin on the memory storage device can be used to determine the burst type. Using control pins to set burst length and type allows the burst length to be set while the memory cores are in use and without waiting after changing the burst length and/or type before initiating a memory access operation.

[0011] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the address pins that are not used during column addressing are used for setting the burst length and/or burst type. This embodiment also allows the burst length and/or burst type to be set while the memory cores are in use and without waiting after changing the burst length and/or type before initiating a memory access operation. The burst length does not necessarily have to be set on active commands, READs or WRITEs.

[0020] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and it is to be understood that structural changes may be made and equivalent structures substituted for those shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0021] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, external pins provided on a memory storage device are used to dynamically set the burst length or hard set the burst length. An exemplary memory device 200 which may employ the invention is shown in FIG. 2, and is a 256 Mb double data rate synchronous DRAM (DDR SDRAM). As can be seen, memory device 200 has a plurality of control pins (for example, pins 21, 22, 23, 24 are control pins). While the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to a 256 Mb DDR SDRAM, the present invention can be implemented with any memory storage device having external pins.

[0022] Memory storage device 200 can be configured to use a single external pin to toggle between two possible burst lengths or a plurality of external pins if a larger number of burst lengths is desired. In most memory chip designs, there are many external pins that are not connected (“NC”) and can be turned into control pins. As a result, the present invention can be easily incorporated into most chip designs. One or more of the NC pins can be used as burst length toggle pins. For example, if two possible burst lengths are desired, pin 17 of memory storage device 200, which is labeled NC in FIG. 2, can be used. If the two possible burst lengths are 4 bytes and 8 bytes, then when pin 17 is high, the burst length is e.g. 4 bytes; when pin 17 is low, the burst length is e.g. 8 bytes, or vice versa. If a burst length of 2 bytes is also desirable, NC pin 25 can also be used as up to four burst lengths can be programmed with two control pins. Although the description discusses several different burst lengths, the number of dynamically defined burst lengths is determined based on the number of available external pins.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the FIG. 2 256M×16 DDR SDRAM. Control logic 310, as shown in FIG. 3, receives a data signal on the burst length input pin (e.g. external pin 17) as an input. One or more external pins can be used to input burst length data. A command decode circuit 312, which is part of the memory device control logic 310, determines what the burst length is based on the data signals applied to the external burst control pin(s). For example, if the external burst pin is a single pin 17 (i.e. for 2 possible burst lengths), the command decode determines if the voltage on pin 17 is set to Vcc indicating a first burst length or Vss indicating a second burst length. The status of the one or more burst length pins sets appropriate internal burst codes (FIG. 4, decode circuits 75, 77) within the command and decode circuit 312.

[0024] Implementation of the present invention requires very little internal change to existing memory devices. Thus, where the burst length would previously be output from mode register 100 (FIG. 1) to other circuits within control logic 310 (FIG. 2) to set burst length, in the present invention, it is output to the other circuits from one or more decode circuits or data latches 75, 77 (FIG. 4) within command decode circuit 312 which now contains this data. In both the conventional memory device of FIG. 2 and one in accordance with the present invention, the burst length data is used by the control logic 310 to set burst length. Accordingly, nothing outside of the control logic 310 needs to be changed to implement the present invention, and very little change within control logic 310 is required.

[0025] By using external control pins to control the burst length instead of the mode register 100, the burst length can be controlled dynamically from the exterior of the memory device 100. The burst length also can be changed simultaneously with a READ or WRITE command.

[0026] In addition to using the external control pins to determine the burst length, the burst type can also be set using external control pins. This allows the burst type to also be set dynamically. As with using the external control pins to adjust burst length, using the external control pins to determine the burst type can be easily incorporated into most existing memory storage device designs by using another one of the NC pins. For example, referring to FIG. 2, external pin 53 could be used to determine burst type of the memory device 200. If burst type pin 53 is e.g. high, the burst type is interleaved; if burst type pin 53 is e.g. low, the burst type is sequential.

[0027] The same type of modifications necessary to change control of the burst length from mode register 100 to the external pin 17 are necessary to change control of the burst type from mode register 100 to external pin 53. Thus, a decode circuit 79 (FIG. 5) within the column decode and burst counter circuit 312 receives a data signal applied to external pin 53 and the output of this circuit 79 goes to the same circuitry within the control logic 312 which processes burst type data previously set in the mode register 100. Thus, controlling burst type with an external control pin only requires a small internal change within control logic 310.

[0028] Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention uses the address pins to set burst length and/or burst type. As shown in FIG. 3, thirteen external pins (e.g. A0–A12) are input into address register 320 for addressing. Both row and column addresses use the same 13 pins. During column addressing, however, only 10 (A0, . . . , A9) of the 13 pins are needed. The remaining three pins (A10 . . . A12) can be used to determine burst length and/or burst type.

[0029] In this embodiment burst length data is applied to one or more of address pins A10 . . . A12. FIG. 6 shows two such address lines (A10, A11) being used for this purpose. A decode circuit 81 decodes this data and supplies the burst length information to the column address counter/latch 330 (FIG. 3). If less than all of the unused address lines are required for setting burst length, any remaining lines, e.g. A12 in FIG. 6, can be used to set burst type decode circuit 77 (FIG. 5).

[0030] It should be noted that although FIG. 6 shows a decoder 81 for the burst length signal(s) which is external to the column address counter/latch 330, decoder 81 may also be incorporated within the column address counter/latch 330.

[0031] The mode register for a memory device implementing embodiments of the present invention does not require the bit positions A0–A2 illustrated in mode register 100 for setting burst length and/or bit position A3 for setting burst type and can therefore be made shorter in length, or the unused bit positions may be used for other functions.

[0032] The invention may be used in many types of memory devices in addition to the DDR SDRAM memory device illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0033] FIG. 7 shows a processor system, such as, for example, a computer system in which the invention may be used. The processor system generally comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 710, for example, a microprocessor, that communicates with one or more input/output (I/O) devices 740, 750 over a bus 770. The system 700 also includes random access memory (RAM) 760, a read only memory (ROM) 780 and, in the case of a computer system may include a permanent data storage device 708 and peripheral devices such as a floppy disk drive 720 and a compact disk (CD) ROM drive 730 which also communicate with CPU 710 over the bus 770. The random access memory (RAM) 760 may incorporate external pin control of burst length and/or burst type in accordance with the invention. In addition, one or more of memory devices 760, 780 may be fabricated as an integral part with CPU 710. While FIG. 7 represents one processor system architecture, many others are also possible.

[0034] While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiments various additions, deletions, substitutions, or other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.