Patent ID: 6914841

Claim:
A method of refreshing memory cells in a memory array, the method comprising: receiving an indication that the memory array is to perform a refresh operation, wherein the refresh operation comprises at least two refresh cycles, each refresh cycle having an activation interval followed by a precharge interval; initiating a first refresh cycle by activating a first wordline coupled to a first group of memory cells, each memory cell in the first group of memory cells in electrical communication with a sense amplifier in a first group of sense amplifiers; initiating a second refresh cycle by activating a second wordline coupled to a second group of memory cells, each memory cell in the second group of memory cells in electrical communication with a sense amplifier in a second group of sense amplifiers where no sense amplifier in the first group is in the second group and no sense amplifier in the second group is in the first group, and wherein the second refresh cycle is initiated at least a current surge time after the initiation of the first refresh cycle but prior to the completion of the first refresh cycle.