Micron Technology Incorporated

Michael Kaminski

Joshua E Alzheimer

Dale Herber Hiscock

Debra M Bell

James S Rehmeyer

Anthony D Veches

John H Gentry

Dale H Hiscock

Memory devices and systems with configurable die refresh stagger, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory system includes two or more memory dies. At least one memory die includes a fuse array storing refresh information that specifies a refresh group of the memory die. In these and other embodiments, at least one memory die includes a refresh group terminal and refresh group detect circuitry electrically connected to the refresh group terminal. The at least one memory die is configured to detect a refresh group of the memory die and to delay its refresh operation by a time delay corresponding to the refresh group. In this manner, refresh operations of the two or more memory dies can be staggered to reduce peak current demand of the memory system.

Memory with programmable die refresh stagger

Memory devices and systems with partial array refresh control over memory regions in a memory array, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a memory array having a first memory region and a second memory region. The memory device is configured to write data to the memory array in accordance with a programming sequence by initially writing data to unutilized memory cells of the first memory region before initially writing data to unutilized memory cells of the second memory region. The memory device is further configured to determine that the data stored on the first and/or second memory regions is not consolidated, and to consolidate at least a portion of the data by rewriting the portion of the data to physically or logically contiguous memory cells of the first memory region and/or the second memory region.

Memory with partial array refresh

Memory with partial bank refresh is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory system includes a memory controller and a memory device operably connected to the memory controller. The memory device includes (i) a memory array having a memory bank with a plurality of memory cells arranged in a plurality of memory rows and (ii) circuitry. In some embodiments, the circuitry is configured to disable at least one memory row of the memory bank from receiving refresh commands such that memory cells of the at least one memory row are not refreshed during refresh operations of the memory device. In some embodiments, the memory controller is configured to track memory rows that include utilized memory cells and/or to write data to the memory rows in accordance with a programming sequence of the memory device.

Memory with partial bank refresh

Memory devices and systems with configurable die powerup delay, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory system includes two or more memory dies. At least one memory die has a powerup group terminal and powerup group detect circuitry. The powerup group detect circuitry is configured to detect a powerup group assigned to the at least one memory die. The at least one memory die is configured to delay its powerup operation by a time delay corresponding to the powerup group to which it is assigned. In this manner, powerup operations of the two or more memory dies can be staggered to reduce peak current demand of the memory system.

Memory with configurable die powerup delay

Memory devices and systems with on-die data transfer capability, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory device includes an array of memory cells and a plurality of input/output lines operably connecting the array to data pads of the device. In some embodiments, the memory device can further include a global cache and/or a local cache. The memory device can be configured to internally transfer data stored at a first location in the array to a second location in the array without outputting the data from the memory device. To transfer the data, the memory device can copy data on one row of memory cells to another row of memory cells, directly write data to the second location from the first location using data read/write lines of the input/output lines, and/or read the data into and out of the global cache and/or the local cache.

Memory with on-die data transfer

Memory devices and systems with partial array refresh control over memory regions in a memory array, and associated methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a memory system includes a memory controller and a memory device operably connected to the memory controller. The memory device includes (i) a memory array having a plurality of memory cells arranged in a plurality of memory regions and (ii) inhibit circuitry. In some embodiments, the inhibit circuitry is configured to disable one or more memory regions of the plurality of memory regions from receiving refresh commands such that memory cells of the one or more memory regions are not refreshed during refresh operations of the memory device. In these and other embodiments, the memory controller is configured to track memory regions that include utilized memory cells and/or to write data to the memory regions in accordance with a programming sequence of the memory device.

Growing community of inventors

Boise, ID, United States of America

Michael Kaminski