Transformation of binary signals read from a memory

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11262948-B2
Application number	US-202016820784-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2020
Priority date	Mar 20, 2019
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

What is specified is a method for transforming a first binary signal read from a memory, wherein the first binary signal is transformed into a second binary signal provided that the first binary signal is a code word or a predefined code word of a k-out-of-n code, wherein the first binary signal is transformed into a predefined signal provided that the first binary signal is not a code word or is not a predefined code word of the k-out-of-n code, wherein the predefined signal is different than the second binary signal. A corresponding device is furthermore specified.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for transforming binary signals read from a memory, comprising:
transforming a first binary signal into a second binary signal in response to determining that the first binary signal is a predefined code word of a k-out-of-n code, wherein n and k are positive integers and n>k, and
transforming a third binary signal into a predefined signal in response to determining that the third binary signal is not a predefined code word of the k-out-of-n code,
wherein the predefined signal is different than the second binary signal and indicates that the third binary signal is not a predefined code word of the k-out-of-n code.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first binary signal is read from n memory cells of the memory.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a memory cell of the memory is configured to assume two or more states.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predefined signal comprises at least one of:
a predefined bit sequence,
a predefined bit sequence having a validity signal, in particular a validity bit, and
a predefined bit sequence having a same number of digits as the second binary signal.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the first binary signal has n binary values,
wherein the second binary signal has a number of binary values which is less than or equal to n.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second binary signal or the predefined signal is stored in an arrangement of latches, wherein a number of latches corresponds to a number of binary values of the second binary signal.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the first binary signal and the second binary signal each have n binary values.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein n states are read from memory cells of a memory,
wherein k fastest states or (n−k) fastest states of the first binary signal are determined in a time domain.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the k fastest states or the (n−k) fastest states are 0-states.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein remaining states that do not belong to the k fastest states or the (n−k) fastest states are correspondingly set as 1-states.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises at least one of:
Floating gate cells;
PCRAM,
RRAM,
MRAM,
MONOS components,
Nanocrystal cells, and
ROM.

12. A device comprising a processing circuit configured to:
determine that a first binary signal, which is n bits in length and which has a first n-bit pattern, matches an n-bit pattern of a predefined code word, wherein the predefined code word is one of a predetermined number of predefined code words of a k-out-of-n code, wherein n and k are positive integers and n>k, wherein each predefined code word is n-bits in length and has a different n-bit pattern from that of the other respective predefined code words of the predetermined number of predefined code words;
provide a second binary signal based on the first binary signal in response to determining that the first binary signal matches the n-bit pattern of the predefined code word;
determine that a third binary signal, which is n bits in length and which has a third n-bit pattern, differs from each n-bit pattern of the predetermined number of predefined code words; and
provide a predefined signal in response to determining that the third binary signal differs from each n-bit pattern of the predetermined number of predefined code words,
wherein the predefined signal is different than the second binary signal.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer-executable instructions that upon execution cause a computer to perform acts, comprising:
transforming a first binary signal into a second binary signal in response to determining that the first binary signal is a predefined code word of a k-out-of-n code, wherein n and k are positive integers and n>k, and
transforming a third binary signal into a predefined signal in response to determining that the third binary signal is not a predefined code word of the k-out-of-n code,
wherein the predefined signal is different than the second binary signal and indicates that the third binary signal is not a predefined codeword of the k-out-of-n code.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each predefined code word of the k-out-of-n code has a total of n bits, wherein k bits of each predefined code word of the k-out-of-n code have a first binary value, and wherein n minus k bits of each predefined code word of the k-out-of-n code have a second binary value, opposite the first binary value.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first binary signal is transformed into the second binary signal at a first time and the third binary signal is transformed into the predefined signal at a second time, different from the first time.

16. The device as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising:
an arrangement of latches,
wherein the second binary signal or the predefined signal is stored in the arrangement of latches, wherein a number of latches corresponds to a number of binary values of the second binary signal.

17. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the second binary signal is provided to be identical to the first binary signal in response to determining that the first binary signal matches the n-bit pattern of the predefined code word.

18. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein k bits of each code word of the k-out-of-n code have a first binary value, and wherein n minus k bits of each code word of the k-out-of-n code have a second binary value, opposite the first binary value.

Assignees

• Infineon Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Kern Thomas
• Goessel Michael
• Rabenalt Thomas

Classifications

• G06F3/0673

  Single storage device · CPC title

• G11C17/18

  Auxiliary circuits, e.g. for writing into memory · CPC title

• G11C13/0061

  Timing circuits or methods · CPC title

• G11C11/56

  using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency · CPC title

• G11C11/1693

  Timing circuits or methods · CPC title