Memory Access Channel Selection for Variable Burst Sizes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory access technologies constrain data transfers to minimum burst lengths that can lead to inefficient use of bandwidth, particularly when data sizes vary and data locality is not exploited.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a memory controller with a channel-select control that activates one or both access channels based on data size, using a pseudo-channel configuration to optimize bandwidth usage by ganging subsets of bit-lines for varying data sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If minimum burst length constraints are applied to increase data throughput, then overall bandwidth utilization improves, but flexibility in handling varying data sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The access channels are divided into multiple subsets of bit-lines, allowing the memory controller to selectively activate only the number of channels needed for the current data transfer size. This segmentation enables flexible adaptation to different data sizes while maintaining efficient parallel transfer capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of activated access channels based on the data size of the current transfer operation. The channel-select control dynamically configures which subsets of bit-lines are active, allowing the system to optimize between throughput and flexibility for each individual access operation.
2Productivity
If multiple access channels are activated for large data transfers, then data throughput increases, but bandwidth efficiency for small data transfers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters by adjusting the number of active access channels based on data size requirements. For small data transfers, fewer channels are activated to avoid wasting bandwidth, while for large transfers, more channels are activated to maximize throughput.
3Device complexity
If fixed channel configuration is used to simplify control logic, then device complexity reduces, but adaptability to different data sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bit-lines are segmented into multiple subsets that can be independently controlled. The channel-select control receives segmented channel select signals that correspond to these subsets, allowing flexible configuration without requiring complex reconfiguration logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The access interface is designed to universally handle different data sizes by selectively activating different combinations of access channels. The same interface structure serves multiple functions by adapting which channels are active based on the transfer requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Memory controllers, methods of operating memory controllers, memory devices, systems, and chip-containing products are disclosed. An access interface couples to a memory device having first and second access channels each comprising a plurality of bit-lines. A channel-select control controls activation of the first and second access channels. The access interface couples to a first subset of the first plurality of bit-lines of the first access channel ganged together with a second subset of the second plurality of bit-lines of the second access channel. Accesses to the memory device are constrained to have a minimum burst length comprising multiple data words. The channel-select control is used to activate both of the first and second access channels when the access has a first data size and to activate one of the first and second access channels when the access has a second data size which is less than the first data size.