Microprocessors & Interfacing
Memory Interface
BITS Pilani Dr. Gargi Prabhu
Pilani Campus
Department of CS & IS
Common types of memory
• Read-only memory (ROM)
• Flash memory (EEPROM)
• Static random access memory (SRAM)
• Dynamic random access memory (DRAM)
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Memory Device
Pin connections common to
all memory devices are:
• Address inputs
• Data outputs or input/
outputs
• Some type of selection
input
• At least one control input
used to select a read or
write operation
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Address Connections
• A 1K memory device has 10 address pins (A0–A9)
• 10 address inputs are required to select any of its 1024
memory locations
• It takes a 10-bit binary number (1024 different combinations)
to select any single location on a 1024-location device
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Data Connections
• All memory devices have a set of data outputs or
input/outputs.
• The data connections are the points at which data are entered
for storage or extracted for reading.
• Data pins on memory devices are labeled D0 through D7 for
an 8-bit-wide memory
• An 8-bit-wide memory device is often called a byte-wide
memory
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Selection Connections
• Each memory device has an input—sometimes more than
one—that selects or enables the memory device.
• This type of input is most often called a chip select (CS’ ), chip
enable (CE’ ), or simply select ( S’) input.
• RAM memory generally has at least one CS’ or S’ input, and
ROM has at least one CE’ .
• If the CS’,S’,CE’ or input is active (a logic 0), the memory
device performs a read or write operation; if it is inactive (a
logic 1), the memory device cannot do a read or a write
because it is turned off or disabled.
• If more than one connection is present, all must be activated
to read or write data
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Control Connections
• All memory devices have some form of control input or
inputs.
• A ROM usually has only one control input, while a RAM often
has one or two control inputs.
ROM - output enable (OE’) or gate (G’)
- OE’ and CE’ are both active, output is enabled
RAM – R/W’ along with CS’ – can read and write
- WE’ and OE’( or G’) – can read and write
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ROM
• Read-only memory (ROM) permanently stores programs and
data that are resident to the system and must not change
when power supply is disconnected.
• Known as nonvolatile memory
• ROM is often used to store firmware, BIOS, and other critical
system software that needs to be permanently stored and not
modified during normal operation
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EPROM
• EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory), a type
of ROM, is more commonly used when software must be
changed often
• EPROM is erasable if exposed to high-intensity ultraviolet light
for about 20 minutes or so, depending on the type of EPROM
• EPROMs are used in applications where occasional updates or
changes to the stored data are necessary but not frequent
enough to warrant the use of EEPROM or flash memory.
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2716, 2K*8 EPROM
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How chip is connected
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The timing diagram of 2716 EPROM
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Memory Access Time
• TACC is measured from the appearance of the address at the
address inputs until the appearance of the address at the
address output
• Basic speed of EPROM is 450 ns
• Wait states are required to ensure smooth operations.
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Static RAM
• Static RAM memory devices retain data for as long as DC
power is applied.
• Because no special action (except power) is required to retain
stored data, these devices are called static memory.
• Also called volatile memory because they will not retain data
without power.
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Dynamic RAM (DRAM) Memory
• DRAM is essentially the same as SRAM, except that it retains
data for only 2 or 4 ms on an integrated capacitor
• In DRAM, the entire contents of the memory are refreshed
with 256 reads in a 2- or 4-ms interval
• Refreshing also occurs during a write, a read, or during a
special refresh cycle
• DRAM is widely used as the main memory in computers and
other digital devices due to its cost-effectiveness and high
storage capacity.
• Another disadvantage of DRAM memory is that it requires so
many address pins that the manufacturers have decided to
multiplex the address inputs.
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TMS4464, 64K × 4 dynamic RAM
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Address multiplexer for the
TMS4464 DRAM
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References
• [Link]
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Pilani Campus
Thank You
