Periodically and empirically determined memory refresh intervals

• Main Author: MANGIONE-SMITH WILLIAM HENRY
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 17.04.2012
• Subjects: CALCULATING; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION ANDCOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION ANDCOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THIR OWNENERGY USE; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; INFORMATION STORAGE; PHYSICS; STATIC STORES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE

Embodiments include a system, a memory controller, an apparatus, a device, and a method. An embodiment provides a device that includes a memory that requires a periodic refresh and having a nominal refresh period, and a processor operably coupled with the memory. The device also includes a hardware-implemented control circuit for periodically discovering a retention time of at least a portion of the memory that requires a periodic refresh. The hardware-implemented control circuit is also for determining a refresh period that is not more than the discovered retention time of the at least a portion of the memory that requires a periodic refresh, and for scheduling a refresh of the at least a portion of the memory that requires a periodic refresh at least once each refresh period.