1.0 Introduction
The DP8420V/21V/22V, DP84T22 are CMOS Dynamic
RAM controllers that incorporate many advanced features
which include address latches, refresh counter, refresh
clock, row, column and refresh address multiplexer, delay
line, refresh/access arbitration logic and high capacitive
drivers. The programmable system interface allows any
manufacturer’s microprocessor or bus to directly interface
via the DP8420V/21V/22V, DP84T22 to DRAM arrays up to
64 Mbytes in size.
After power up, the user must first reset and program the
DP8420V/21V/22V, DP84T22 before accessing the DRAM.
The chip is programmed through the address bus.
Reset:
Due to the differences in power supplies, an External (hardware) Reset must be performed before programming the
chip.
Programming:
After resetting the chip, the user can program the controller
by either one of two methods: Mode Load Only Programming or Chip Select Access Programming.
Initialization Period:
Once the DP8420V/21V/22V, DP84T22 has been programmed for the first time, a 60 ms initialization period is
entered. During this time the DRC performs refreshes to the
DRAM array so further warm up cycles are unnecessary.
The initialization period is entered only after the first programming after a reset.
Accessing Modes:
After resetting and programming the chip, the
DP8420V/21V/22V, DP84T22 is ready to access the
DRAM. There are two modes of accessing with these controllers. Mode 0, which indicates RAS
synchronously and
Mode 1, which indicates RAS
asynchronously.
Refresh Modes:
The DP8420V/21V/22V, DP84T22 have expanded refresh
capabilities compared to previous DRAM controllers. There
are three modes of refreshing available: Internal Automatic
Refreshing, Externally Controlled/Burst Refreshing and Refresh Request/Acknowledge Refreshing. Any of these
modes can be used together or separately to achieve the
desired results.
Refresh Types:
These controllers have three types of refreshing available:
Conventional, Staggered and Error Scrubbing. Any refresh
control mode can be used with any type of refresh.
Wait Support:
The DP8420V/21V/22V, DP84T22 have wait support available as DTACK
or WAIT. Both are programmable. DTACK,
Data Transfer ACKnowledge, is useful for processors
whose wait signal is active high. WAIT
is useful for those
processors whose wait signal is active low. The user can
choose either at programming. These signals are used by
the on chip arbiter to insert wait states to guarantee the
arbitration between accesses, refreshes and precharge.
Both signals are independent of the access mode chosen
and both signals can be dynamically delayed further through
the WAITIN
signal to the DP8420V/21V/22V, DP84T22.
Sequential Accesses (Static Column/Page Mode):
The DP8420V/21V/22V, DP84T22 have address latches,
used to latch the bank, row and column address inputs.
Once the address is latched, a COLumn INCrement (COLINC) feature can be used to increment the column address.
The address latches can also be programmed to be fall
through. COLINC can be used for Sequential Accesses of
Static Column DRAMs. Also, COLINC in conjunction with
ECAS
inputs can be used for Sequential Accesses to Page
Mode DRAMs.
RAS
and CAS Configuration (Byte Writing):
The RAS and CAS drivers can be configured to drive a one,
two or four bank memory array up to 32 bits in width. The
ECAS
signals can then be used to select one of four CAS
drivers for Byte Writing with no extra logic.
Memory Interleaving:
When configuring the DP8420V/21V/22V, DP84T22 for
more than one bank, Memory Interleaving can be used. By
tying the low order address bits to the bank select lines B0
and B1, sequential back to back accesses will not be delayed since these controllers have separate precharge
counters per bank.
Address Pipelining:
The DP8420V/21V/22V, DP84T22 are capable of performing Address Pipelining. In address pipelining, the DRC will
guarantee the column address hold time and switch the internal multiplexor to place the row address on the address
bus. At this time, another memory access to another bank
can be initiated.
Dual Accessing:
The DP8422V, DP84T22 have all the features previously
mentioned and unlike the DP8420V/21V, the DP8422V,
DP84T22 have a second port to allow a second CPU to
access the same memory array. The DP8422V, DP84T22
have four signals to support Dual Accessing, these signals
are AREQB
, ATACKB, LOCK and GRANTB. All arbitration
for the two ports and refresh is done on chip by the controller through the insertion of wait states. Since the DP8422V,
DP84T22 have only one input address bus, the address
lines must be multiplexed externally. The signal GRANTB
can be used for this purpose.
TRI-STATE Outputs:
The DP84T22 implements TRI-STATE outputs. When the
input OE
is asserted the output buffers are enabled, when
OE
is negated, logic 1, the output buffers at TRI-STATE
(high Z).
Terminology:
The following explains the terminology used in this data
sheet. The terms negated and asserted are used. Asserted
refers to a ‘‘true’’ signal. Thus, ‘‘ECAS0
asserted’’ means
the ECAS0
input is at a logic 0. The term ‘‘COLINC asserted’’ means the COLINC input is at a logic 1. The term negated refers to a ‘‘false’’ signal. Thus, ‘‘ECAS0
negated’’
means the ECAS0
input is at a logic 1. The term ‘‘COLINC
negated’’ means the input COLINC is at a logic 0. The table
shown below clarifies this terminology.
Signal Action Logic Level
Active High Asserted High
Active High Negated Low
Active Low Asserted Low
Active Low Negated High
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