Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/652,160, filed Aug. 29, 2003, pending. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to multi-data rate memories, such as double-data rate (DDR) memories and, more particularly, to the ordering of multiple data retrieved during a dual or multi-data rate read operation. 
   2. State of the Art 
   Data intensive applications for computers, such as personal computers, are becoming increasingly more popular. Such data intensive applications include graphics-intensive applications, including real-time imaging, games, animation and others. As these applications become more complex, they require hardware platforms (e.g., computers) on which they execute to improve in performance and capability. In an attempt to accommodate such data-intensive applications, microprocessors within computers have become increasingly faster in their performance. However, microprocessors require accessible data from memory upon which to operate and present for such applications. 
   One approach for making data more readily available to a microprocessor has been the development of multi-data rate memory, namely a double-data rate (DDR) memory. DDR memory is named from is functional characteristic of using the rising and falling edge of the memory bus clock for timing. Whereas traditional memory modules use only the rising edge of the clock for timing, DDR memory can effectively double the data rate of data that is available to a microprocessor by making a first retrieved word of data available on the rising edge of the memory bus clock and a second retrieved word of data available on the falling edge of the memory bus clock. Such an implementation improves the overall bandwidth of a memory as seen by the microprocessor. 
   A DDR memory typically operates by simultaneously retrieving two words of data, each word of n-bits in length with one word from an even memory cell bank and the other word from an odd memory cell bank, with both words from the same location within the memory as addressed by the logical circuitry. While two separate words are retrieved in parallel, they are ordered for individual sequential outputting to the microprocessor. The ordering of the two separate words is also unique to various programming applications. For example, one application programming technique may be configured to perform an incrementing access of sequentially stored data elements with incrementing data stored first in the even memory location followed by the next data being stored in the odd memory location. Conversely, another programming technique may perform a different process on data by retrieving the data from the DDR memory and requesting the output ordering of the retrieved words of data to begin with odd memory location or requesting the odd bank data word being output first followed by the even memory location or even bank data word. Maintaining the desired ordering of the present words is crucial for accurate data manipulation and presentation. 
   Another approach for improving the bandwidth of memories includes pipelining of memory read operations. Reading of data from a memory device typically requires more than a single processor clock cycle in order to (i) address the specific memory location, (ii) sense the data at that location and (iii) output the sensed data. This delay is typically referred to as “read latency.” Specifically, read latency is the delay, in clock cycles, between the registration of a read command and the availability of the first bit of output data. In order to improve the bandwidth of memory devices, one or more subsequent read commands can be issued before the end of a previous read operation&#39;s latency period. 
   The issuance of overlapping read operations in a single data rate memory results in consecutive outputting of each of the individually retrieved words. However, in a multi-data rate memory, such as a DDR memory, where multiple overlapping read operations each yield multiple words of data, tracking the ordering of the outputting of the data word pairs with the corresponding read operation becomes problematic. Additionally, since each read operation in DDR memory specifies a specific ordering of the retrieved words when output to the microprocessor, data errors may occur if the read operation specifics (i.e., ordering of word pairs) do not remain matched with the outputting process from the memory. 
   There is a need, therefore, for reliably ordering data retrieved from a multi-data rate read operation as specified in the initial read command. For these and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A self-timed data ordering method and circuit for multi-data rate memories are provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for ordering a plurality of data words substantially simultaneously retrieved during successive read operations of a memory device. In response to a read operation, a data word ordering designator is stored from each of the successive read operations. When multiple data word ordering designators are present, they are stored and managed in a first-in first-out manner. The data word ordering designator configures ordering circuitry for the desired ordering of the plurality of data words simultaneously retrieved. Following the ordering of the plurality of data words, the properly ordered data words are latched in their desired order for subsequent delivery. Once the properly ordered data words are latched, the ordering circuitry is reconfigured according to the next data word ordering designator. The data word ordering designator retains the pipelined ordering of the corresponding read operations to the corresponding memory banks of the memory device. 
   In another embodiment, a data ordering circuit for ordering multiple data words retrieved during a simultaneous read of multiple memory banks is provided. The data ordering circuit includes a data word ordering designator register configured to store, in a first-in first-out order, a data word ordering designator from each of the successive read operations designating a simultaneous read of a plurality of data words. The data ordering circuit also generates a signal for controlling ordering circuitry capable of desirably ordering the simultaneously retrieved multiple data words. The circuit further includes registers for storing the ordered data words until they are individually retrieved. 
   In yet another embodiment, a memory device including a plurality of memory banks configured for simultaneous reading of a plurality of data words is provided. The memory device includes the data ordering circuit configured to desirably order the plurality of words for outputting on various clock phases. A specific embodiment of a DDR memory is also provided. In operation, the DDR memory device receives successive read commands and stores the corresponding data word ordering designator for each. The corresponding data word designator configures the ordering logic in a manner that enables the resulting multiple data words to be ordered as requested for outputting on corresponding rising and falling clock edges. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a multi-data rate memory, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a timing diagram illustrating data ordering, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 3A-3B  are diagrams of a DDR memory according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a detailed diagram of data ordering logic according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is an operational diagram illustrating the logical operation within the data ordering logic of a DDR memory according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a system including a DDR memory according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   One exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides for a multi-rate memory, such as a DDR memory, having a self-timed data ordering mechanism in response to read operations yielding multiple data words. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a DDR memory, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. DDR memory  10  includes a memory device  12  which further includes a memory array  14 , logic circuitry  16 , interface lines  18  for providing an external interface with other systems, such as a microprocessor, and address and control lines  20  for electrically operably coupling the logic circuitry  16  with the memory array  14 . 
   The memory array  14  includes memory cells  22 ,  24  addressable by even and odd word addresses with the memory cells being accessed in response to address signals provided on address lines which form a portion of interface lines  18 . Logic circuitry  16  includes input/output buffers, control circuitry, address decoders, (all not shown) and, particular to the present invention, data ordering logic  56  ( FIG. 4 ) for tracking the specified ordering of the multiple data words retrieved from memory array  14 . Interface lines  18  and lines  20  may also include control signals including, but not limited to, a clock (CLK), a Row Access Strobe (RAS), a Column Access Strobe (CAS), a Write Enable (WE), and a Clock Enable (CKE), (all not shown). 
   Each addressable memory location in array  14  contains 2n-bit words with each addressable memory location having a unique address as a result of the combination of a bank address, a row address, and a column address. For a given read operation, data words are separated into two, n-bit data words. Each of the n-bit words are transferred, one at a time, to data I/O (DQ) terminals ( FIG. 3B ) of the device. The order of the transfer is determined by a data word ordering designator such as an address bit, one of which is commonly referred to as the column address zero (CAØ). By way of example, and not limitation, the specific word of the n-bit word pair selected by a zero logic level on CAØ is considered the even word (i.e., any address with CAØ=0 is considered an even word address). Alternatively, the word selected by a 1 logical level on CAØ is considered the odd word (i.e., an address with CAØ=1 is considered an odd word address). 
     FIG. 2  is a timing diagram illustrating typical random read operations according to an embodiment of the present invention. Individual read commands  70 ,  72 ,  74  are presented to the DDR memory. Each read command  70 ,  72 ,  74  includes respective addresses  76 ,  78 ,  80  specifying the specific combination of a bank address, a row address, and a column address. Additionally, the least significant bit of the column address, CAØ,  82 ,  84 ,  86 , respectively, specifies the output ordering of the retrieved multiple data bits. For purposes of explanation, the use of “data bits” and “data words” may be used interchangeably with the use of “data words” implying parallel arrays of memory cells cooperatively forming plural bit words. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , read command  70  results in an output of data word pair  88  which is ordered according to CAØ  82  with even data word  90  preceding odd data word  92 . In a converse ordering, read command  72  specifies CAØ  84  to reverse the output ordering of data word pair  94  such that odd data word  96  precedes even data word  98  when output. Similar to the ordering of read command  70 , read command  74  results in an output of data word pair  100  which is ordered according to CAØ  86  with even data word  102  preceding odd data word  104 . 
   A more detailed diagram of a DDR memory, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . DDR memory  10  is illustrated, by way of example, as a 16 megabit (Mb), high-speed Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS), which, by way of illustration and not limitation, is illustrated as an internally configured quad-bank DRAM with each bank  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c  and  32   d  organized as 512 rows by 256 words by 32 bits. The exemplary DDR memory  10  is further illustrated to include an internal, pipelined DDR architecture to achieve high-speed operation. The illustrated DDR memory architecture, by way of example and not limitation, is a 2n prefetch architecture with an output interface for transferring two data words per clock cycle at input/output (I/O) terminals  34  ( FIG. 3B ). An exemplary read access of DDR memory  10  includes a single 64-bit, 1-clock-cycle data transfer at an internal memory core path  36  and two corresponding 32-bit, one-half-clock-cycle data transfer as seen at output (I/O) terminals  34 . 
   A bidirectional data strobe (DQS), part of the I/O terminals  34 , is transferred externally, along with data DQn, for use in data capture at a receiver. DQS is an intermittent strobe transmitted by the DDR memory  10  during read operations and by the memory controller (not shown) during write operations. DQS is edge-aligned with data for read operations and center-aligned with data for write operations. DDR memory  10  operates from a differential clock, CLK and CLK*, which form part of control signals  38  which further form part of interface lines  18 . For uniformity in reference, the transitioning of CLK from a low state to a high state is referred to as the positive edge of CLK. Address and control signals of interface lines  18 , generally referred to as commands, are registered on each positive edge of CLK with output data registered on both edges, the rising and falling edges, of CLK at output (I/O) terminals  34 . 
   Read accesses to DDR memory  10  may occur according to various commands which cause accessing to start at a selected location and, in the case of a burst mode access, reading continues for a selected number of locations. In an exemplary embodiment, read accesses begin with the registration of an ACTIVE command which is then followed by a READ command. The address bits registered coincident with the ACTIVE command are used to select the bank and row to be accessed (BA 0 , BA 1  which select the bank; A 0 -A 8  which select the row at bank and row pins  40 ) by way of bank and row logic circuitry  42 . 
   DDR memory  10  is illustrated, by way of example and not limitation, as a pipelined, multibank architecture providing for concurrent operation, thereby providing high effective bandwidth by hiding row precharge and activation time. DDR memory  10  may, in one embodiment, be designed to operate in low-power memory systems and in auto refresh modes as well as other modes such as power saving and power down modes. All inputs of DDR memory  10  may be compatible with the Joint Electronic Device Engineering Council (JEDEC) standard for SSTL-2, as known by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
   DDR memory  10  further includes an address counter/latch  44  which captures the address information provided externally on lines  46  during a read operation. Column address counter/latch  44  further captures column address bit CAØ signal  48 . Referring to  FIG. 3B , DDR memory  10  further includes a read latch  50  which receives the 2n odd and even words, which in the present example are 32 bit words, from the respective memory banks  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d . The odd and even word addressing described herein applies to the logical circuitry and not necessarily to the memory array. Furthermore, the term word address defines the complete address (CA 7 -CAØ) which is a logical address in the memory array and not necessarily a physical address (i.e., the 2n-bit words that are selected according to CAØ are not individually addressable or selectable within memory array  14 ). Read latch  50  outputs on even data lines  52  the even n-bit word and on odd data lines  54  the n-bit odd data word. 
   DDR memory  10  further includes data ordering logic  56  which receives the two n-bit even and odd data words and correctly orders the data words for output on data line  58  according to the even and odd data word ordering designator CAØ signal  48 . The odd and even data words are thereafter ordered and output on data lines  58  with DQS strobe lines  60  as generated by DQS generator  62 . The respective signals are received by a driver  64  which provides DQ outputs DQ 0 -DQ 31  at output (I/O) terminals  34 . 
     FIG. 4  is a block diagram of data ordering logic  56  for interimly storing the odd and even data words for the specified output ordering according to the even and odd ordering signal CAØ signal  48 .  FIG. 4  is a detailed block diagram of the data ordering logic  56  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Data ordering logic  56  receives addressing information, specifically data word ordering information, along with the data to be ordered and performs the prescribed ordering of the data words. In the present invention, the data ordering is self-timed with the latching of ordered data which resolves propagation disparities between data path latency and control path latency. In the present embodiment, control of the data ordering is allowed to change only after the preceding ordered data has been latched into the latency register. 
   By way of example and not limitation,  FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment for accomplishing the above-stated objective. In the exemplary embodiment, data ordering logic  56  includes a means for buffering a multiple data word ordering indicator, namely CAØ signal  48 , corresponding to a current valid read signal  66 . By way of example and not limitation, a means for buffering a multiple data word ordering indicator is illustrated as a CAØ register  106  which buffers CAØ  48  upon the occurrence of a valid read signal  66  and generates an ordering mux control signal  108  corresponding with the specified ordering of the data word pair presented to the ordering muxes  10 ,  112 . The CAØ register  106  functions as a data word or bit ordering designator register configured to store, in a first-in first-out order, a data word ordering designator from each of the successive read operations designating a simultaneous read of a plurality of data words. The CAØ register  106  is also configured to generate an ordering control or mux control signal  108  according to a first-out one of the data word ordering designator. Additional pipelining registers may also be implemented to buffer correctly ordered data word pairs pending the arrival of a specific clock cycle and the respective edge of the clock cycle. 
     FIG. 5  is a detailed functional diagram of CAØ register  106 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. While  FIG. 5  illustrates the functional operation of CAØ register  106 , implementation of logic circuitry from the illustrated functional operation is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and is not further described herein. Returning to  FIG. 5 , CAØ register  106  includes a means for temporarily buffering the multiple data word ordering indicators when received during a valid read command until the corresponding multiple data words are retrieved from the memory array  14  ( FIG. 1 ). The CAØ register  106  then generates the ordering mux control signal  108 . By way of example and not limitation, the means for temporarily buffering the multiple data word ordering indicator CAØ signal  48  in one exemplary embodiment implements is a First-In First-Out buffer (FIFO)  114 . Those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that a FIFO may be implemented as a series of shift registers that include an indicator or pointer to the next vacant storage location for storing the currently received CAØ value as well as an indicator or pointer to the oldest stored (first-out) data as well. 
   In  FIG. 5 , CAØ FIFO  114  includes an input pointer  116  indicating the next available buffer for temporarily storing the multiple data word ordering indicator, CAØ, while the corresponding read command proceeds to retrieve the corresponding data word pair from the memory array  14  ( FIG. 1 ). Management of input pointer  116  preferably occurs in hardware that includes logic implementing input pointer control  118  which includes monitoring  120  for a valid read command that may include a corresponding multiple data word ordering designator or indicator CAØ signal  48  and latching  122  the corresponding CAØ into a location within CAØ FIFO  114  as indicated by input pointer  116 . Input pointer  116  is thereafter incremented  124  to accommodate a subsequent read command. 
   CAØ FIFO  114  also includes an output pointer  126  identifying the next value of CAØ to be used as the ordering value for ordering multiplexor (“mux”) control  108 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , ordering muxes  110 ,  112  each receive even data line  52  and odd data line  54  and appropriately pass, under the control of ordering mux control signal  108 , either the even data line  52  or the odd data line  54  to respective latency registers  128 ,  130 . Ordering mux  10  couples to a rising edge latency register  128  for receiving either even data words or odd data words, as specified by the corresponding CAØs, and temporarily buffers the selected word for outputting on data line  58  on the rising edge of a memory clock. Ordering mux  112  couples to a falling edge latency register  130  for receiving either odd data words or even data words, as specified by the corresponding CAØs and temporarily buffering the selected word for outputting on data line  58  on the falling edge of a memory bus clock. 
   Management of the output pointer  126  occurs in a self-timed manner, meaning that the ordering mux control signal changes only upon positive feedback when the data word pair has been ordered and latched. Management of output pointer  126  occurs in hardware that includes logic implementing output pointer control  132  which includes outputting  134  the next CAØ from the FIFO as ordering mux control signal  108  to ordering muxes  110 ,  112  ( FIG. 4 ). Also, output pointer  126  retains the current CAØ value on ordering mux control signal  108  until the even and odd data words are latched  136 , as indicated by latch signal  140  ( FIG. 4 ), into registers  128 ,  130 . Thereafter, output pointer  126  is incremented  138 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a diagram of a system  142  in conjunction with which embodiments of the invention may be implemented is shown. System  142  may include a computer, embedded systems or other electronic computational embodiments. System  142  includes a processor  144 , memory  10 , at least one input device  146  and at least one output device  148  which are operatively coupled to one another. 
   While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.

Technology Category: 3