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:
Jul. 05, 2005
Filed:
Jan. 30, 2004
Peter Thwaite, Burlington, VT (US);
Peter Thwaite, Burlington, VT (US);
Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, DE;
Abstract
A memory device () includes an array () of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. Preferably, each memory cell includes a pass transistor coupled to a storage capacitor. A row decoder () is coupled to rows of memory cells while a column decoder () is coupled to columns of the memory cells. A refresh controller () is adapted to generate memory cell addresses for array () during a refresh sequence. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the refresh controller ensures that no shared sense amplifiers () are activated during consecutive refresh cycles, allowing a portion or all of the time required for precharging the bitlines to be saved. In a preferred embodiment, consecutive refresh cycles can be located closer together in time because a second refresh cycle may be initiated prior to the completion of a first refresh cycle.