Patent ID: 6898648

Claim:
A method of transferring read data from a memory device, the memory device including a data bus having X data signals and including at least one data masking pin adapted to receive a data masking signal during write operations of the memory, the method comprising: placing a current read data word on the data bus, the read data word including 2N data signals and each data signal having a logic state, X an integer multiple of 2N; developing a next read data word, the next read data word including 2N data signals and each data signal having a logic state; comparing the logic state of each data signal in the current read data word to the logic state of the corresponding data signal in the next read data word; determining the number of data signals in the next read data word that are changing from a first logic state in the current read data word to the complementary logic state in the next read data word; when the determined number of data signals changing from the first logic state to the complementary logic state is greater than N, developing an inverted next read data word, each data signal in the inverted next read data word having a logic state that is the complementary logic state of the corresponding data signal in the next read data word, and activating a data bus inversion signal; simultaneously applying a plurality of inverted next read data words on the data bus; and for each inverted next read data word, applying a respective activated data bus inversion signal on an associated data masking pins.