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Google patents memory controller that pauses commands to save power

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

Google describes a memory controller feature that detects when the system is about to switch between reading and writing data. It temporarily blocks new commands from being sent to the memory chip to prevent wasted energy from unused instructions.

Why it mattersThis is a routine efficiency improvement for computer hardware that helps reduce power consumption in memory systems.

In the filing’s own words

Techniques and apparatuses are described for performing active command regulation. In example aspects, a memory controller includes a regulator that performs active command regulation. The regulator detects one or more conditions associated with an impending switching event that causes the memory controller to switch states (e.g., switch between a write state and a read state). Based on this detection, the regulator prevents the releasing of requests and the scheduling of activate (and corresponding precharge) commands prior to the occurrence of the switching event. This blocking mechanism avoids the scheduling of extra activate and precharge commands that can become unutilized (e.g., commands that occur without a corresponding data transfer). Through active command regulation, the memory controller can improve a power efficiency of a memory system while maintaining operational efficiency.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A memory controller comprising: a request buffer configured to: store multiple requests; and release the multiple requests based on a first control signal; command issue logic configured to issue, based on a second control signal, activate commands to a memory device to service the multiple requests that are released by the request buffer; and a regulator coupled to the request buffer and the command issue logic, the regulator configured to: generate the first and second control signals; be in a grant state during a first time interval; based on the grant state, enable, via the first control signal, the request buffer to release a first portion of the multiple requests and enable, via the second control signal, the command issue logic to issue a first portion of the activate commands; be in a block state during a second time interval; and based on the block state, prevent, via the first control signal, the request buffer from releasing a second portion of the multiple requests and prevent, via the second control signal, the command issue logic from issuing a second portion of the activate commands.

Facts

Company
Google (Google LLC)
Official title
Active Command Regulation
Publication number
US20260329480A1
Application number
19694618
Filed
Jun 1, 2026
Published
Oct 22, 2026
Inventors
3
Claims
11

Classified under

G06F 3/0659 Physics & computingG06F 3/0604 Physics & computingG06F 3/0673 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.