Abstract:
A method and apparatus for storing and retrieving data in a second, or higher, order prefetch architecture memory integrated circuit. The method includes storing multiple bits of data in memory cells at various electrical distances from an output buffer and retrieving those memory bits concurrently for output. By outputting the bits in a fixed burst order, according to which a bit from a memory cell closer to the output buffer is output before a bit from a memory cell farther from the output buffer, the output time of the data bit from the closer memory cell can be used to mask a portion of the transit time of the bit from the farther memory cell. The apparatus includes memory cells at various locations for storing data bits, an address decoder adapted to store and retrieve multiple bits in a fixed burst order, and a multiplexer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to digital memory devices and, more particularly, to semiconductor memory devices that store and retrieve data from memory cells according to a fixed data burst order. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A digital memory, such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) has a memory array consisting of a number of individual m-bits or memory cells. Each working cell is adapted to store one binary digit (bit) of data. In a conventional DRAM device each memory cell consists of one transistor and one capacitor. A terminal of the transistor is connected to a column line (or digit line) of the memory device. Another terminal of the transistor is connected to a terminal of the capacitor and the gate terminal of the transistor is connected to a row line of the memory device. The transistor acts as a gate between the column line and the capacitor. When data is read from the cell, the terminal of the capacitor is electrically connected to the column line and the charge state of the capacitor affects the voltage on the column line, thereby indicating the stored logical value for readout. 
     In many integrated circuit memory applications, the time required for data retrieval is an important design consideration. The ability to consistently and rapidly retrieve stored data is of immediate technical and commercial value. Accordingly, rapid data retrieval is very desirable, and many efforts have been made to reduce access times. These efforts have addressed device design, manufacturing processes, and integrated circuit system architectures. 
     In a memory integrated circuit, a select signal must be communicated from an address decoder to a memory cell within a memory array. Thereafter, data to be output must be communicated from the memory cell to an output buffer that drives an output connection of the circuit. As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, communicating a select signal assumes that a row has been opened and, includes triggering sense amplifiers, activating a DQ, and selecting a column. Connecting pathways between an accessed memory cell and an output buffer generally include a sense amplifier, a digit line trace that connects a cell to the sense amplifier, an I/O line trace that connects the sense amplifier to a mux/demux, and a further I/O line trace that connects the mux/demux to the output buffer. Typically, the data transfer is initiated synchronously with transitions of a clock signal. The data is provided from the memory cell in the form of electrical data signals transferred along conductive column lines and I/O traces to an output buffer. Typically, the data is output from the output buffer synchronously with a further transition of the clock signal. Generally, the data signal to be output must have traversed the device and stabilized at the output buffer prior to the further transition of the clock signal. Otherwise, there is a risk that the value output from the buffer will not properly reflect the data value stored in the memory cell. Therefore, digital memory devices are limited in speed by the time taken for signals to traverse the device from an address decoder to a memory cell, and from the memory cell to an output buffer. While this delay is small in human terms, it is significant in the context of many systems in which memory integrated circuits are applied. There is, therefore, a need to reduce the detrimental effect of this delay. 
     Improvements in memory speed have been achieved by various data retrieval schemes. One such scheme is embodied in a double data rate random access memory that exemplifies a second order (or 2N) prefetch memory architecture. 
     In a first order (1N) memory architecture integrated circuit device, a read signal is followed by an output of data. The output of data typically consists of a bit or a plurality of parallel bits on respective data paths. The recovered data is all put out on an attached data bus at the same time. Thereafter, no additional data is output until a further read signal requests additional data. 
     In an architecture of order greater than one (e.g., 2N, 4N, etc.), a read signal is followed a data burst on each data path. The data burst includes two or more data bits (e.g., 2N=2 data bits, 4N=4 data bits, etc.), which are output in sequence. Unlike a first order system, more than one successive data output occurs between consecutive read request signals. 
     Physical read latency denotes the finite amount of time required for data to be retrieved from an array location following a read column access. This delay is due to the physical constraints of the circuit. For example the RC time constant associated with the row line between the row address decoder and a particular memory cell determines transit time through the row line. Similarly, the RC time constants of lines between the addressed memory cell and the output buffer contribute to read latency. Typically, physical read latency is on the order of 15-20 ns. 
     The clock cycle latency of a system denotes a rule that requires that the first bit of data from a read access will be available at the output of the device a specified number of clock cycles after a read request is made. For example, for a device with the physical read latency of 20 ns, a clock latency (rule) of 2.5 requires that the clock signal have a maximum frequency of 125 MHz (20 ns/2.5 clock cycles=8 ns/clock cycle: yields a frequency of 125 MHz). In a further example, for a device with a 20 ns physical read latency, and a clock cycle latency of 2, the maximum clock frequency for reliable operation is 100 MHz. 
     In a conventional device, the slowest bit in the array (i.e. the bit exhibiting the highest physical read latency) determines the maximum permissible operating frequency of the device clock signal for a given value of clock cycle latency, or the number of clock cycles required before read data can be output. 
     The magnitude of the physical read latency of a particular memory cell depends on several factors, including RC time constants, the spatial length of the conductors connecting the address decoder to the memory cell and the spatial length of the conductors connecting the cell to the device output. Together, these factors make up what is called the electrical length traveled by the access and data signals during a data read. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes problems associated with the prior art and provides a method and apparatus for more rapidly retrieving data stored in a digital memory. 
     In one aspect, the invention includes a method of increasing the effective speed at which data is output from a memory integrated circuit. The method is applicable to memory integrated circuits that include second order (2N) and higher order prefetch architectures in which data bits are sequentially sent in a burst on each data path. According to one aspect of the invention, a plurality of binary digits (bits), in a burst are stored so that a preceding bit has a shorter electrical path lengh to an output buffer than a succeeding bit. During read out a preceding data bit has a shorter electrical path length to the output buffer than a succeeding bit. A multiplexer/demultiplexer (mux/demux) receives the stored data bits from the plurality of memory cells in burst order. 
     After retrieval, the data is transferred from the mux/demux to an output buffer and output from the output buffer in a fixed order, such that the first data bit is output prior to the output of the last data bit. This consistent order of output is referred to as a fixed burst order. According to one aspect of the invention, an electrical length of a data path between the first memory storage cell, storing an early bit in a data burst, and an output buffer is shorter than an electrical length between a memory storage cell, storing a subsequent bit of the burst, and the output buffer. As a result, the first data bit arrives at the output buffer location, and may be output from the output buffer without having to wait a time period corresponding to the additional time it would take a bit from a memory cell electrically farthest from the output buffer to reach the buffer. 
     The present invention, therefore, improves on a conventional second or higher order prefetch architecture by requiring that data is stored, and subsequently retrieved for output in a particular order, referred to as a fixed burst order which is related to the distance of the memory cells storing the sequential bits of a burst. According to this order, the first data bit to be output is stored at a location that is electrically closer to the output buffer than the second data bit to be output. The second data bit to be output is stored at a location that is electrically closer than the third bit to be output, and so on for each bit of a data burst. 
     Electrical distance reflects the time that it takes for a signal to travel from one end of a conductor to the other. This time depends on the length of the conductor, and on its impedance. Higher capacitance, higher resistance, and higher inductance all tend to slow signal transmission speed and increase signal transmission time. Accordingly, for example, between two conductors of equal geometric length, the conductor with the higher capacitance will have the longer electrical length. 
     In view of the foregoing discussion, it will be clear that a further aspect of the invention includes an integrated circuit memory device with a multiplexer/demultiplexer (mux/demux). The mux/demux is adapted to receive and output multiple data bits of a burst on a data path in serial, one bit at a time. Beyond the mux/demux, an output buffer amplifies the data signal for output from the integrated circuit. The cells are located at various electrical distances from the mux/demux depending on the order of output in a burst with a preceding bit of a burst being located electrically closer to the output buffer than a subsequent bit. 
     The above and other features and advantages of the invention can be more clearly seen from the following detailed description which is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates in block-diagram form an embodiment of a conventional fourth order architecture digital memory device; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates timing relationships for a convention fourth order architecture digital memory device; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a fourth order architecture digital memory device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates timing relationships for a fourth order architecture digital memory device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary fourth order by four bank architecture digital memory device according to the invention; and 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a computer system including a memory according to the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be described as set forth in the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures attached hereto. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates, in simplified form, a conventional fourth order memory system. In the fourth-order memory architecture, four bits are selected from a single data quadrant (DQ) and routed to an output buffer in response to every read request. After arriving at the output buffer, these bits are output at subsequent rising and falling edges of a clock signal. Accordingly, FIG. 1 shows a memory integrated circuit  400  including a memory array DQ  410  made up of a large number of substantially identical cells  430 . Four particular cells are identified as  440  and  442 ,  450  and  452 , respectively. 
     An address decoder  425  is operatively connected to the array DQ  410  for selecting cells. As noted above, one of skill in the art would understand that the addressing scheme illustrated is simplified to emphasize the novel aspects of the present invention. In fact, selection of a particular memory cell involves decoding a row address with a row address decoder to open a row, selecting a DQ data path, decoding a column address with a column address decoder, and selecting a column, to place a data value stored in the memory cell on an I/O line. 
     A four-bit mux/demux  460  serves to clock data to an output buffer  462 , connected to an external data line  470 , in synchronous fashion. The mux/demux  460  is adapted to receive four bits substantially in parallel, and to output those four bits, one at a time, in serial fashion. Accordingly the mux/demux includes first  480  second  482 , third  484 , and fourth  486  data inputs, control circuitry  494 , a single data output  490 , and a clock input  500 . The data inputs  480 ,  482 ,  484 , and  486  are connected to an internal data bus having four data lines  512 ,  510 ,  516 , and  514 . The data output  490  is connected to a data input  464  of an output buffer  462 . The output buffer  462  includes a data output  468  connected to an external data line  470 . In operation, four bits are received at the respective inputs  480 ,  482 ,  484 , and  486  of the mux/demux  460 . A first transition of the clock signal  220  applied to the mux/demux clock input  500  causes the data value at the first input  480  to be transferred to the output buffer  462 . A second transition of the clock signal  220  causes the data value at the second input  482  to be transferred to the output buffer  462 . A third transition of the clock signal  220  causes the data value at the third input  484  to be transferred, and a fourth transition of the clock signal  220  causes the data value at the fourth input  486  to be transferred to the output buffer  462 . As each data bit is transferred to the output buffer, it is output by the buffer. The described order in which data bits are output, is referred to as burst order. 
     In a conventional fourth order memory, the burst order of the data bits output from the buffer  460  is not chosen to reflect the electrical distance between the memory cells in which the bits originate and the output buffer. In the illustrated example, cell  442  provides the first-output data bit in the data burst, whereas cell  452 , which is closer than cell  442  to the output buffer, provides the data bit that is output third in the data burst. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a periodic clock signal  220  provides transitions for clocking data through the mux/demux  460 . The read signal at time  600  causes the closest cell  452  to release its data (bit  2 ) onto data line  516  at a first-time  660 . Thereafter, the data bit in cell  450  (bit  3 ) is released onto respective data line  514  at a later time  670 . Still later, cell  442  (bit  0 ) releases its data onto data line  512  at time  680 , and finally cell  440  releases its data (bit  1 ) onto data line  510  at time  690 . Sometime after the release  660  of data by cell  452  onto data line  516 , that data (bit  2 ) arrives at input  484  of the mux/demux  460  at time  700 . In a similar fashion, the data from the other memory cells ripples into the mux/demux. Accordingly, after the data (bit  2 ) from cell  452  arrives at time  700 , the data (bit  3 ) from cell  450  arrives at time  710 , followed by the data (bit  0 ) from cell  442  at time  720 , and followed by the data (bit  1 ) from cell  440 , at time  730 . The system illustrated is a fourth order system because a single read signal received at one time  600  retrieves data from four different cells for serial output on a single I/O line. That data is then output on the I/O line  470  at four successive rising clock transitions  610 ,  620 ,  630 ,  640 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, the electrical distance between a memory cell and the output buffer is not reflected in the burst order of the data bits output from the mux/demux  460 . Cell  442  provides the data bit first output in a data burst, whereas cell  452 , which is closer than cell  442  to the output buffer, provides the data bit that is output third in the data burst. Since it is unknown whether the first-output data bit will come from a cell that is near to, or far from, the output buffer, the frequency of the clock signal  220  must be selected such that the clock cycle latency L  650  (here, 2½ clock cycles) is long enough to allow a signal from the most electrically remote memory cell to stabilize at the mux/demux before the data is transferred to the output buffer  462  and output. Alternately, a number of clock signals must be chosen which is greater than the physical read latency, that is, it is long enough to allow a signal from the most electrically remote memory cell to stabilize at the mux/demux before the data is transferred to the output buffer  462  and output. This guarantees that a data bit from the most electrically remote memory cell  440  will be properly set up at the input of the mux/demux  460  when the state of input is transferred to output  490 , and that output of the device will be reliable. Therefore, the duration of the initial latency period L′  650  remains the same as that of a comparable first-order system. Both the first order system and the fourth order system must wait the same duration after the read command is received before outputting a bit from the output buffer, in case the bit to be output is coming from the memory cell that is electrically farthest from the output buffer. 
     The present invention overcomes this constraint by implementing a novel data storage arrangement including a determinate burst order. Referring to FIG. 3, an integrated circuit memory device  900  constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown. The integrated circuit includes a memory array  910  with a large number of substantially identical cells  930 . Four particular cells are identified, a first cell  940 , a second cell  950 , a third cell  960 , and a fourth cell  970 . An address decoder  980  is operatively connected to the array  910  for selecting cells by means of select line conductors  1000 . As discussed above, one of skill in the art would understand that the address decoder includes both a row address decoder and a column address decoder, each separately connected to each memory cell. Also illustrated is a mux/demux  1010 . The first cell  940  is electrically more remote from the mux/demux  1010  and hence from an output buffer  1072  than the fourth cell  970 . For purposes of this example, cell  940  is the most electrically remote of all of the cells of the DQ  910 . 
     As with the conventional fourth order architecture, discussed above, the mux/demux  1010  is adapted to receive four bits in parallel and to transfer those four bits to an output buffer  1072 , one at a time, in serial fashion. Accordingly, the mux/demux  1010  includes first  1020 , second  1030 , third  1040 , and fourth  1050  data inputs, control circuitry  1070 , a single data output  1080 , and a clock input  1200 . The data inputs  1020 ,  1030 ,  1040 , and  1050  are connected to an internal data bus including four data lines  1210 ,  1220 ,  1230 , and  1240 . The data output  1080  is connected to a data input  1074  of the clocked output buffer  1072 . The clocked output buffer  1072  includes a data output  1078  connected to an external data line  1250 . 
     The present invention imposes an order limitation, called a fixed burst order, on the data storage system of an integrated circuit memory device in order to achieve operation at higher clock frequencies, or reduced clock cycle read latency. Data from the memory cell  970  that is electrically nearest to be output buffer  1072  is directed to the input  1020  of the mux/demux from which data is drawn first during a given data burst. Conversely, data from the memory cell  940  that is electrically farthest from the output buffer  1072  is directed to the input  1050  of the mux/demux  1010  from which data is drawn last during a given data burst. The order of digits in a given data burst, in one aspect of the invention, reflects a monotonic increase in the electrical distances between the output buffer and the memory cells in which the respective digits are stored. This fixed burst order insures that data from an electrically near cell determines the clock frequency specification or clock cycle read latency specification, of the integrated circuit memory device. 
     According to the present invention, a burst order of data is established at the time of data storage that places a bit to be output first in a location electrically nearest to the device output. The same burst order is adhered to on data retrieval with the result that the device read latency period specification is reduced. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the timing relationships for the exemplary memory integrated circuit device of FIG. 3. A read command is received synchronously with a rising edge transition at time  1300  of a clock signal  1260 . On receipt of the read command, a select signal is concurrently transmitted to each of four memory cells distributed at different locations across the integrated circuit. As illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the four memory cells  940 ,  950 ,  960 , and  970  is at a different electrical distance from an address decoder  980 . Therefore, the select signal dispatched to the cells at time  1300  arrives at the various cells at different times,  1310 ,  1320 ,  1330 , and  1340  respectively. When the select signal reaches  1310  the electrically nearest of the cells  970  it activates the cell. Thus at a particular time  1310 , the logical value (bit  0 ) stored by cell  970  is placed on the respective data line  1210 . This logical value traverses the data line  1210  to a particular input  1020  of the mux/demux  1010 . According to the invention since this data bit is coming from the electrically nearest of the memory storage locations to the mux/demux  1010 , the bit is directed to the input  1020  of the mux/demux from which the first bit of the data burst will be drawn. It arrives at the mux/demux  1010  at a particular time  1350 . In similar fashion, the data bit (bit  1 ) from the next farthest memory cell  960  is directed to the input  1030  from which the second bit of the data burst will be drawn. This bit arrives at the mux/demux after the first bit at a time  1360 . The data bit (bit  2 ) from the next memory cell  950  is directed to the input  1040  from which the third bit of the data burst will be drawn. This bit arrives at the mux/demux at a still later time  1370  and the data bit (bit  3 ) from the farthest memory cell  940  is directed to the input  1050  from which the last bit of the data burst will be drawn. This last bit arrives at the mux/demux at a time  1380 . 
     The output of bits from the mux/demux begins at the first rising clock transition after the end of the clock cycle read latency period L″. Accordingly, the first bit, from memory cell  970 , is output at a first time  1410 , at the first rising transition of the clock signal  1260  after the 2½ clock cycle latency period  1400 . One half clock cycle later  1420 , the second bit, from memory cell  960  is output. One half cycle later  1430 , the third bit is output, and one half cycle after that  1440 , the fourth bit is output. 
     By segregating the data bits, within the recovered data, into bits from relatively proximate and relatively distant cells respectively, and defining a burst order that ensures that data from relatively proximate cells is output prior to data from relatively distant cells, it is possible to reduce read latency and increase the overall frequency of the system clock signal  1260 . 
     In the examples shown, both the conventional fourth order device and that of the present intervention are programmed for a clock cycle latency of 2½ clock cycles. Since the first bit of the output data burst is guaranteed to be stable sooner for the invention, the 2½ cycles of the invention clock corresponds to a shorter time than the 2½ cycles of the conventional device clock. Put another way, the device of the invention can operate at a higher clock frequency and shorter clock period P″ than that of the conventional device P′. Since it operates at a higher clock frequency the memory device of the present intervention provides faster data retrieval that an otherwise comparable conventional device. 
     It should also be noted that this benefit is scalable, and that as long as a fixed burst order is maintained an architecture of any order of 2N or larger may be arranged to benefit from reduced clock cycle read latency or a shortened clock period, as described above. 
     A further aspect of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5, which shows an exemplary 4 Bank, 4N prefetch DRAM  2000  in a x4 configuration with fixed burst order. The DRAM  2000  includes four banks  2010 ,  2020 ,  2030 ,  2040  of substantially identical memory cells, e.g.  2050 . The DRAM also includes first  2060 , second  2070 , third  2080 , and fourth  2090  I/O buffer locations. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a read command is valid soonest for data from region  1   2100 , followed by data from region  2   2110 , followed by region  3   2120 , followed by region  4   2130 . Data from any one of the region  1  cells, e.g.  2140  is received at the corresponding I/O buffer location  2090  prior to the arrival of data from the respective region  4  cell  2160  at the corresponding I/O buffer location  2090 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the digital memory includes a 4-bit wide data pipeline per DQ output data path, e.g.,  2095 . As compared with a prior art memory having a 4-bit wide data pipeline, the memory of the invention has a read cycle time limited by the slowest, i.e. the most remote of the cells of region  1   2100  rather than the slowest of the cells of region  4   2130 . 
     FIG. 6 shows a computer system  2200  including a digital memory  2210  constructed according to one aspect of the invention. The computer  2200  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  2220 , for example, a microprocessor, that communicates with one or more input/output (I/O) devices  2230  over a bus  2240 . The computer system also includes peripheral devices such as disk storage  2250  and a user interface  2260 . It may be desirable to integrate the processor and memory on a single IC chip. 
     It is clear that the novel aspects of the present invention may be applied to memory devices having arbitrary degrees of parallel structure, and having clock cycle latencies of an arbitrary number of clock cycles. Other processing systems in which the invention, in different embodiments may be employed include radio systems, television systems, wireless, wired, and optical voice and data networks, Global Positioning System receivers, and other systems where digital data storage is required. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present 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.