The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 29, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 05, 2001
Yasukazu Kai, Miyazaki, JP;
Takeshi Gotoh, Tokyo, JP;
Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In order to reduce power consumption in a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), block selection information RBDATA indicating whether or not individual blocks in a memory cell array require a refresh is stored at means for latching - and - A circuit for operation prohibition compares a portion RA of a refresh address output by a refresh counter with refresh block specification signals RB ( ) and RB ( ) output by the circuit for latching - and - makes a decision as to whether or not the block indicated by the refresh address needs to be refreshed and prohibits an operation of an RAS system circuit if it is decided that the block does not need to be refreshed. Thus, a self refresh is not performed for a block that does not need to be refreshed to achieve a reduction in power consumption.