Memory having nonvolatile and volatile memory banks

Details Memory having nonvolatile and volatile memory banks Memory having nonvolatile and volatile memory banks

1993-02-19

1994-08-30

Popek, Joseph A.

Static information storage and retrieval

Addressing

Plural blocks or banks

36523005, 365228, G11C 800

Patent

active

053434374

ABSTRACT:
A memory (20) includes a nonvolatile memory array (32) and a volatile memory array (22). The nonvolatile memory array (32) is subdivided into banks of memory cells. The volatile memory array (22) may also be subdivided into multiple banks, and is smaller than the nonvolatile memory array (32). A transfer circuit (40) transfers the contents of a bank of nonvolatile memory array (32) into a bank of volatile memory array (22) before the data can be accessed by a processor (160). In addition, a preload decision logic circuit (180) may transfer a bank of nonvolatile memory array (32) into volatile memory array (22) invisibly to the processor (160), to have the data available when needed, thus avoiding a space fault. Coupling a smaller volatile memory array (22) to a nonvolatile memory array (32) combines the advantages of faster access times and nonvolatility without greatly increasing the size of the memory (20).

REFERENCES:
patent: 4168541 (1979-09-01), DeKarske
patent: 4354255 (1982-10-01), Stewart
patent: 4488265 (1984-12-01), Kotecha
patent: 4686652 (1987-08-01), Spence
patent: 4706220 (1987-11-01), Spence
patent: 4800533 (1989-01-01), Arakawa
patent: 4954988 (1990-09-01), Robb
patent: 4996641 (1991-02-01), Talgam et al.
patent: 5119336 (1992-06-01), Itoh

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