Patent ID: 6029235
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
An integrated circuit responsive to command signals and a tap address signal for providing an output signal, the integrated circuit comprising:a memory array for storing data;a serial access register including a first portion and a second portion, each portion having a plurality of cells;a transfer circuit, including address decoder logic, for transferring selected data from the memory array into the first portion of the serial access register;a tap address latch for storing the tap address signal;a pointing circuit, including a counter, responsive to the stored tap address signal for assigning values to an internal address signal, wherein said values start at a tap address signal value;a reading circuit including an output driver and responsive to the internal address signal to read cells in the second portion of the serial access register identified by the internal address signal, and for providing the output signal corresponding to the read cells;a timing circuit, including a clock generator, for controlling the transfer circuit, the pointing circuit, and the reading circuit wherein the reading circuit provides the output signal corresponding to a first cell in the second portion while:(a) the reading circuit reads a second cell in the second portion,(b) the pointing circuit assigns a value to the internal address signal corresponding to a third cell in the second portion, and(c) the transfer circuit transfers selected data from the memory array into the first portion; anda control circuit including a logic circuit and responsive to the command signals and the internal address signal reaching a stop address boundary in the second portion to cause the pointing circuit to re-start the value of the internal address signal at a tap address value in the first portion, and wherein the control circuit is responsive to the command signals up to the stop address boundary to cause the internal address signal to re-start at the tap address value in the first portion.