Rambus Inc.
LOW LATENCY MEMORY ACCESS

Abstract:

A memory device includes receivers that use CMOS signaling levels (or other relatively large signal swing levels) on its command/address and data interfaces. The memory device also includes an asynchronous timing input that causes the reception of command and address information from the CMOS level receivers to be decoded and forwarded to the memory core (which is self-timed) without the need for a clock signal on the memory device's primary clock input. Thus, an activate row command can be received and initiated by the memory core before the memory device has finished exiting the low power state. Because the row operation is begun before the exit wait time has elapsed, the latency of one or more accesses (or other operations) following the exit from the low power state is reduced.