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KAB0xD100M - TxGP
TECHNICAL
NOTE
Revision 1.11
August 2003
- 70 -
MCP MEMORY
SEC Only
U
t
RAM USAGE AND TIMING
INTRODUCTION
U
t
RAM is based on single-transistor DRAM cells. As with any
other DRAM, the data in these cells must be periodically
refreshed to prevent data loss. What makes the U
t
RAM unique
is that it offers a true SRAM style interface that hides all refresh
operations from the memory controller.
START WITH A DRAM TECHNOLOGY
The key point of U
t
RAM is its high speed and low power. This
high speed comes from the use of many small blocks such as
32Kbits each to create U
t
RAM arrays. The small blocks have
short word lines thus with little capacitance eliminating a major
factor of operating current dissipation in conventional DRAM
blocks.
Each independent macro-cell on a U
t
RAM device consists of a
number of these blocks. Each chip has one or more macro.
The address decoding logic is also fast. U
t
RAM performs a
complete read operation in every tRC, but U
t
RAM needs power
up sequence like DRAM.
Power Up Sequence and Diagram
1. Apply power.
2. Maintain stable power for a minium 200
μ
s with CS
U
=high.
3. Issue read operation at least 2 times.
DESIGN ACHIEVES SRAM SPECIFIC
OPERATIONS
The U
t
RAM was designed to work just like an SRAM - without
any waits or other overhead for precharging or refreshing its
internal DRAM cells. SAMSUNG Electronics(SAMSUNG) hides
these operations inside with advanced design technology -
those are not to be seen from outside. Precharging takes place
during every access, overlapped between the end of the cycle
and the decoding portion of the next cycle.
Hiding refresh is more difficult. Every row in every block must
be refreshed at least once during the refresh interval to prevent
data loss. SAMSUNG provides an internal refresh controller for
devices. When all accesses within refresh interval are directed
to one macro-cell, as can happen in signal processing applica-
tions, a more sophisticated approach is required to hide
refresh. The pseudo SRAM is sometimes used on these appli-
cations, which requires a memory controller that can hold off
accesses when a refresh operation is needed. SAMSUNG’s
unique qualitative advantage over these parts(in addition to
quantitative improvements in access speed and power con-
sumption) is that the U
t
RAM never need to hold off accesses,
and indeed it has no hold off signal. The circuitry that gives
SAMSUNG this advantage is fairly simple but has not previ-
ously been disclosed.
AVOID TIMING
Following figures show you an abnormal timing which is not
supported on U
t
RAM and its solution.
If your system has a timing which sustains invalid states over
4
μ
s at read mode like Figure 29, there are some guide lines for
proper operation of U
t
RAM.
When your system has multiple invalid address signals shorter
than tRC on the timing shown in Figure 1, U
t
RAM needs a nor-
mal read timing(tRC) during that cycle(Figure 30) or needs to
toggle CS
U
once to ’high’ for about ’tRC’(Figure 31).
CS
U
=V
IL
, UB or/and LB=V
IL
ZZ=V
IH
Read Operation(2 times)
Power On
Initial State
(Wait 200
μ
s)
Active
CS
U
=V
IH
CS
U
WE
Address
Less than tRC
Over 4
μ
s
CS
U
WE
Address
tRC
Over 4
μ
s
Figure 30.
Put on read operation every 4
μ
s
Figure 29.