A
system and method for refreshing data in a
dynamic random access memory (ā
DRAMā) is provided, where the
system includes a
data memory having a plurality of memory banks, a map memory in
signal communication with the
data memory for translating an internal address of each of the plurality of memory banks into a corresponding external address, a map
comparator in
signal communication with the map memory for selectively enabling a
memory bank in accordance with its external address, a refresh
address generator in
signal communication with the map
comparator for selectively refreshing the enabled
memory bank in accordance with its external address, and a refresh counter in signal communication with the refresh
address generator for signaling a refresh in accordance with the maximum required refresh time of the enabled
memory bank; and where the corresponding method includes determining the maximum required refresh period for each of the memory banks, respectively, prioritizing the memory banks in accordance with their respective refresh periods, utilizing the memory banks in order of their respective prioritizations, selectively disabling at least one of the memory banks in reverse-order of their respective prioritizations, and refreshing only the remaining non-disabled memory banks.