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EET 3350 Digital Systems Design

    Textbook: John Wakerly
       Chapter 9: 9.2-9.4



     Static read/write memories
    Dynamic read/write memories


                                  1
Random Access Memory (RAM)
• For most applications, main memory is a
  collection of RAM chips
  – These are volatile, switch the machine off and the
    contents in this form of memory are lost


• There are three basic types of RAM
  – Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
  – Static RAM (SRAM)
  – Non-volatile RAM (NVRAM = RAM + battery)




                                                         2
Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Read/Write Memory
 – Access time is independent of bit’s location
 – Volatile: lose their content when power is removed
• Static RAM (SRAM)
 – Memory behaves like Latches or Flip-Flops
 – Data remains stored as long as power applied
• Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
 – Charged or discharged capacitor
 – Memory lasts only for a few milliseconds
 – Data must be refreshed periodically by reading and
   rewriting

                                                        3
Static RAM (SRAM)
• Each bit (or the cell that stores the bit) is
  represented by a Flip-Flop (or, more
  accurately, a Latch)

• The cell's output is maintained until either
  altered to a new value or the power is turned
  off

• When compared to Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
  – More complex
  – More expensive

                                                  4
Static RAM (SRAM)
• Since storage cells in SRAM are made of
  Latches they do not require refreshing in order
  to keep their data
• The problem is that each cell requires at least
  six transistors to build and the cell holds only
  one bit data
• The capacity of SRAM is far below DRAM
• SRAM is widely used for cache memory




                                                     5
SRAM
• Basic structure and logic symbol for a 2n x b
  SRAM




                                                  6
SRAM Operation
• Individual bits are D latches, not edge-triggered
  D flip-flops
  – Fewer transistors per cell
• Implications for write operations:
  – Address must be stable before writing cell
  – Data must be stable before ending a write




                                         ≡




                                                 7
SRAM Operation
• SEL and WR asserted
      → IN data stored in D-latch (Write)
• SEL only asserted
      → D-latch output enabled (Read)
• SEL not asserted
      → No operation




                                        ≡




                                            8
SRAM Array
• Internal structure of an 8 x 4 static RAM
• As with ROM, the decoder selects a particular
  row
• Outputs are tri-state buffered and controlled by
  an enable input




                                                     9
10
SRAM Read Timing
• Similar to ROM read timing
  – tAA access time from address
  – tACS      access time from chip select
  – tOE/tOZ   output-enable/disable time
  – tOH output-hold time




                                             11
SRAM Write Timing
– tAS (address setup time before write): all address inputs must
  be stable at this time before both CS and WE are asserted
– tAH (address hold time after write): all address inputs must be
  stable until this time after CS or WE are negated
– tCSW (chip-select setup before end of write): CS must be
  asserted at least this long before the end of the write cycle in
  order to select a cell
– tWP (write-pulse width): WE must be asserted at least this long
  to reliably latch data into the selected cell
– tDS (data setup time before end of write): all data inputs must
  be stable at this time before the write cycle ends
– tDH (data hold time after end of write) : all data inputs must be
  stable until this time after the write cycle ends
                                                             12
SRAM Write Timing
– tAS/tAH   address setup/hold time before/after write
– tCSW chip-select setup before end of write
– tWP write-pulse width
– tDS/tDH   data setup/hold time before/after write




                                                      13
SRAM Write Timing
• Address must be stable before and after
  write-enable is asserted
• Data is latched on trailing edge of (WE & CS)




                                                  14
Bidirectional Data In and Out Pins
   • Use the same data pins for reads and writes
      – Especially common on wide devices
      – Makes sense when used with microprocessor
        buses (also bidirectional)




• Output buffer is disabled whenever WE_L is asserted, even if
  OE_L is asserted
                                                          15
SRAM Devices
• Similar to ROM packages




     28-pin DIPs            32-pin DIPs   16
Synchronous
    SRAMs
• Use latch-type SRAM
  cells internally but has a
  clocked interface for
  control, address & data
• Put registers in front of
  address (AREG) and
  control (CREG) and data
  input (INREG).
• Depending on whether
  the device has “pipelined”
  or “flow-through” outputs
  register OUTREG is
  either provided or not
  provided
• e.g., Pentium cache
  RAMs                         17
Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
• Commonly used in main memory.
  – A logical '1' is used to charge a capacitor, and this
    holds the device in its switched on (or positive
    state).
  – The capacitor will lose it's charge with time so the
    capacitor has to constantly refreshed to keep the
    switched on state.


• If a logical '0' is to be stored the capacitor is
  discharged.



                                                            18
Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
• The use of a capacitor as a means to store data
• Cuts down the number of transistors needed to build
  cell
• However, it requires constant refreshing due to
  leakage
• Advantage:
  – High density (capacity)
  – Cheaper cost per bit
  – Lower power consumption per bit
• Disadvantage:
  – Must be refreshed periodically
  – While it is being refreshed, the data can not be accessed


                                                                19
DRAM
• DRAM: Dynamic RAM
 – Uses MOS transistor and capacitor to store bit
 – More compact than SRAM
 – “Refresh” required due to capacitor leak
 – Typical refresh rate 15.625 microsecond
 – Slower to access than SRAM
                              bit line

                                    word line



                 1-bit DRAM cell


                                                    20
DRAM Charge Leakage
• Typical devices require each cell to be refreshed
  once every 4 to 64 mS
• During “suspended” operation, notebook
  computers use power mainly for DRAM refresh




                                                21
DRAM Packaging
• Packaging in DRAM
 – To reduce the number of pins needed for address,
   multiplex / demultiplexing is used
 – Method is to split the address into half and send in
   each half of the address through the same pins
   requires fewer pins
 – Internally, DRAM is divided into a square of rows
   and columns, the first half of the address is called
   the row and the second half is called the column
• Organization of DRAM
 – Most DRAM are x 1 and x 4


                                                          22
DRAM-Chip Internal Organization

      64K x 1
        DRAM
multiplex 16-bit address
as 8-bit row selector
and 8-bit column selector




                                           23
DRAM Timing
• No clock
• DRAM operations are initiated and completed on both
  the rising and falling edges of RAS_L and CAS_L
• The timing for RAS-only refresh cycle is shown on next
  slide
• This cycle is used to refresh a row of memory without
  actually reading or writing any data at the external pins
  of the DRAM chip
• The cycle begins when a row address is applied to the
  multiplexed address inputs & RAS_L is asserted


                                                     24
DRAM refresh timing
• The DRAM stores the row-address in an internal row-address
register on the falling edge of RAS_L and reads the selected row
of memory array into an on-chip row latch
• When RAS_L is negated the contents of the row are written
back from the row latch
• To refresh the entire 64k × 1 DRAM, one must ensure 256 such
cycles




                                                          25
DRAM read timing
• Begins like a refresh cycle, selected row is read into the row
latch
• Next a column address is applied to the multiplexed address
inputs & is stored in an on-chip column address register on the
falling edge of CAS_L
• It selects one bit of the just read row which is made available on
the DRAM’s DOUT pin which is enabled as long as CAS_L is
asserted




                                                              26
DRAM write timing
• Begins like a refresh or read cycle, WE_L must be asserted
before CAS_L is asserted, this disables DOUT for the rest of the
cycle, even though CAS_L will be asserted subsequently
• Once the selected row is read into the row latch, WE_L forces
the input bit on DIN to be merged into the row latch in the bit
position selected by the column address




                                                           27
RAS/CAS Operation
• Row Address Strobe, Column Address Strobe
 – n address bits are provided in two steps using n/2
   pins, referenced to the falling edges of RAS_L and
   CAS_L
 – Traditional method of DRAM operation for 20 years
 – Now being supplemented by synchronous, clocked
   interfaces in SDRAM (synchronous DRAM)




                                                    28
SDRAM Timing (Read)
• PRE     precharge (bit line)
• ACTV    row-address strobe and activate
  bank
• READ    column address and read command




                                            29
SDRAM Timing (Write)
• PRE      precharge (bit line)
• ACTV     row-address strobe and activate
  bank
• WRITE    column address and write command




                                             30
Types of RAM
• Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM)
 – SDRAM has a synchronous interface
 – SDRAM replaced DRAM, FPM, and EDO
 – SDRAM is an improvement because it synchronizes
   data transfer between the CPU and memory.
 – It waits for a clock pulse before transferring data
   and is therefore synchronous with the computer
   system bus and processor.
 – This greatly improves performance over
   asynchronous DRAM.




                                                    31
Types of RAM
• Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM)
  – DDR SDRAM is a newer form of SDRAM that can theoretically
    improve memory clock speed to 200 megahertz (MHz) or more.
  – Sends and receives data twice as often as common SDRAM.
  – This is achieved by transferring data on both the rising edge and
    the falling edge of a clock cycle.
  – DDR memory is being phased out and replaced by DDR2
    memory.
  – DDR memory modules usually take the form of 184-pin DIMMs.




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