Note_20140805——Memory Read/Write timing cycles

OK. As you have know, all the materials is just my own note. Hopefully, you could find something interesting to you.

好的模块划分可以使得设计优化更加容易，调试的时候也更加哟利于问题的定位。

Memory Read/Write timing cycles 

The most important timing parameter to be considered in choosing a memory device isthe access time. The maximum time delay from an address input to a data output is longer than the delay between a chip enable and a data output, and consequently the former timing figure is normally considered to be the access time. The access time for commonly used  RAMs varies from 50 to 500 ns.

For a read operation, once the output data are valid, the address input cannot be changed immediately to start another read operation. This is because the device needs a certain amount of time, called read recovery time, to complete its internal operations before the next memory operation. The sum of the access time and read recovery time is the memory read cycle time. This is the time needed between the start of a read operation and the start of the next memory cycle. 

The memory write cycle time can be similarly defined and may be different from the read cycle time. The Figure below illustrates the timing of a memory read cycle. The address is applied at point A, which is the beginning of the read cycle, and must be held stable during the entire cycle. In order to reduce the access time, the chip enable input should be applied before point B. The data output becomes valid after point C and remains valid as long as the address and chip enable inputs hold. 

The R/W control input is not shown in the timing diagram for the read cycle, but should remain high throughout the entire cycle.

A typical write cycle is shown in Figure above. In addition to the address and chip enable inputs, an active low write pulse on the R/W line and the data to be stored must be applied during the write cvcle. The timing of data input is less restrictive and can be satisfied simply by holding the data input stable during the entire cycle. However, the application of the write pulse has two critical timing parameters: the address setup time and the write pulse width. The address setup time is the time required for the address to stabilize and is the time that must elapse before the write pulse can be applied. 

In the Figure above, the address setup time is the time interval between points A and B. The write pulse width defines the amount of time that the write input must remain active low. The write cycle time is the time interval between points A and D and is the sum of address setup time, write pulse width, and write recovery time. 

It is important to note that the access time and cycle time discussed in this section are the minimum timing requirements for the memory devices themselves. The access time and cycle time for the memory system as a whole are considerably longer because of the delays resulting from the I/O control logic, system bus logic, and memory interface logic.