EET 3350 Digital Systems Design Textbook: John Wakerly Chapter 9: 9.

Memory Read-Only Memory: ROM, PROM, EPROM

Memory
Sequential circuits all depend upon the presence of memory
A flip-flop can store one bit of information A register can store a single word
typically 32 or 64 bits

Memory stores a large number of words

Memory stores this large amounts of data using two primary device types
Read Only Memory (ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM) Random Access Memory (RAM)
Static RAM (SRAM) Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
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Memory
You can think of memory as being one big array (list) of data
The address serves as an array index Each address refers to one word of data (e.g., 8-bits, 16-bits, etc.)
Address 00000000 00000001 00000002 . . . . . . . . . . FFFFFFFD FFFFFFFE FFFFFFFF Data
0110101100111101 1011111100100100 1001110011110111

You can read (or modify) the data at any given memory address, just like you can read (or modify) the contents of an array at any given index

0000101100001111 1100101000110001 0110101111010000

word
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Memory
Memory signals fall into three groups: Address bus - selects one of many memory locations Data bus Read (ROM/RAM): the selected locations stored data is put on the data bus Write (RAM): The data on the data bus is stored into the selected location

Control signals - specifies what the memory is to do

Control signals are usually active low Most common signals are:
CS: Chip Select; must be active to do anything OE: Output Enable; active to read data WR: Write; active to write data
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Memory
Memory is not a single chip (device)
Made up of many identical or similar devices A specific device (part of memory) is selected by control signals and the address lines (bus) All devices are connected to the same bus, and see the signals at the same time

Memory
Memory Connection to CPU
RAM and ROM chips are connected to a CPU through the data and address buses The low-order lines in the address bus select the byte within the chips and other lines in the address bus select a particular chip through its chip select inputs

Memory
Location - the smallest selectable unit in memory
Has 1 or more data bits per location All bits in location are read/written together Cannot manipulate single bits in a location

For k address signals, there are 2k locations in a memory device Each location contains an n-bit word Memory size is specified as
#loc x bits per location
224 x 16 RAM - 224 = 16M words, each 16 bits long 24 address lines, 16 data lines

#bits
The total storage capacity is 224 x 16 = 228 bits
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Memory
Memory sizes are usually specified in numbers of bytes (1 byte= 8 bits) The 228-bit memory on the previous page translates into:
228 bits / 8 bits per byte = 225 bytes

With the abbreviations below, this is equivalent to 32 megabytes

Prefix Base 2 K Kilo 210 = 1,024 M Mega 220 = 1,048,576 G Giga 230 = 1,073,741,824 Base 10 103 = 1,000 106 = 1,000,000 109 = 1,000,000,000
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Memory

Non-volatile

If un-powered, its content is retained

Read-only
normal operation cannot change
contents
2k x n ROM
k ADRS CS OE Data Out

k-bit ADRS specifies the address or location to read from A Chip Select, CS, enables or disables the RAM/ROM An Output Enable, OE, turns on or off tri-state output buffers Data Out will be the n-bit value stored at ADRS

Memory
Content loading (programming) done many ways depending on device type
ROM: mask programmed, loaded at the factory
hardwired - cant be changed embedded mass-produced systems

PROM: OTP (One Time Programmable), programmed by user, using an external programming device EPROM: reusable, erased by UV light, programmed by user, using an external programming device EEPROM: electrically erasable, clears entire blocks with single operation, programmed inplace (no need to remove from circuit board)
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Read-Only Memories
Definition
ROM consists of an array of semiconductor devices interconnected to store an array of memory data. Data can only be read, it cannot be changed under normal operating conditions.

Types of ROM
Mask programmable ROM (at the factory) Field-Programmable ROM (PROM) UV-Erasable and re-Programmable ROM (EPROM) Electrically-Erasable and re-Programmable ROM (EEPROM) Flash
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Read-Only Memories
The logic symbol below is used in circuit diagrams
Focus is on the basic structure of a ROM A combinational logic circuit

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Logic-in-ROM Example
As we discussed previously, a ROM is simply a combinational circuit, basically a truth-table lookup
Can perform any combinational logic function Address inputs = function inputs Data outputs = function outputs

(address)

(data)

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Logic-in-ROM Example
Two alternative implementations for the 3-input, 4-output logic function
2-to-4 decoder with output polarity control

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4x4 Multiplier Example

ROM implementation of a 4x4 unsigned binary multiplier
Multiplier and multiplicand form the address Product is pre-programmed into the storage location

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4x4 Multiplier Example

ROM contents for the 4x4 unsigned binary multiplier
x0 x1 x2 x3 x4 x5 x6 x7 x8 x9 xA xB xC xD xE xF

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Internal ROM Structure

Typical implementation of primitive ROM
Diode means a 1 is stored at this location data output

active low
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ROM
Commercial ROM types

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Typical Commercial EEPROMs

Logic symbols for representative EEPROMs

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ROM Control and I/O Signals

n Address lines
An-1 A0

b Data lines
Db-1 D0

Chip Select
One or more Active low

Output Enable
Active low

Tri-state output buffers

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ROM Timing
tAA (access time from address): propagation delay from stable address inputs to valid data output tACS (access time from chip select): propagation delay from time CS is asserted until the valid data output tOE (output-enable time): propagation delay from time OE and CS are asserted until the tri-state drivers have left Hi-Z state tOZ (output-disable time): propagation delay from time OE and CS are negated until the tri-state drivers have entered Hi-Z state tOH (output-hold time): the length of time the outputs remain valid after a change in the address inputs, or after OE and CS are negated
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ROM Timing
tAA tACS tOE/tOZ tOH access time from address access time from chip select output-enable/disable time output-hold time

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ROM -Advantages and Disadvantages

Ease of speed and design For moderately complex function a ROM-based circuit is usually faster than a circuit using multiple SSI/MSI devices and PLDs The program that generates the ROM contents can easily be structured to handle unusual or undefined cases that would require additional hardware in any other design. e.g. the adder program easily handles out-of-range sums. A ROMs function is easily modified just by changing the stored pattern, usually without changing any external connections The prices of ROMs are dropping and densities increasing making them more economical and expanding the scope with a single chip
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ROM -Advantages and Disadvantages

May consume more power For functions with more inputs a ROM based circuit is impractical because of the limit on ROM sizes that are available

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