JPH03179544A - Memory module controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To grasp the total connection state of memory modules and to use two types of memory modules of different capacities at one time by setting the number of connected memory modules of a certain capacity. CONSTITUTION:The capacity of the memory module to be used is inputted to a switch 16 together with the number of connected memory modules having the capacity. For instance, the capacity of 2048 bytes of a subject memory module and the number 3 of connected memory modules are inputted. These information are sent to a memory module control circuit 13 as the connection setting information 19 via a control line 15. Based on these information, the circuit 13 decides that three memory modules have the capacity of 2048 bytes in the order of younger module numbers out of four memory modules connected to each other together with the capacity of 256 bytes decided for the last memory module respectively. Thus the total connection state is grasped for all memory modules.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a device that controls a plurality of memory modules, and in particular, the present invention relates to a device that controls a plurality of memory modules. The present invention relates to a memory module control device that performs judgment and control.

[Conventional technology]

Memory devices used in various computers, communication devices, etc. are usually composed of a plurality of memory modules.

All of these plurality of memory modules are connected to a memory module control device, and addressing is performed by assigning a series of different address blocks to each of them.

Conventionally, only memory modules with the same storage capacity were connected to such memory module control devices, and it is no longer possible to connect and use two types of memory modules with different capacities together. It wasn't. Before connecting memory modules, first decide which capacity memory module to use, configure the memory device only with memory modules of that capacity, and then control in units of the set capacity. It was like that. Therefore, as a matter of course, the storage capacity can only be increased in units of memory modules of the initially set capacity.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In this way, in the conventional memory module control device, the capacity of the memory module to be used is set in advance, and only the memory module having the set capacity is connected and used.

For this reason, two types of memory modules with different capacities cannot be used together.

In addition, if the memory device is configured with large-capacity memory modules by initially setting the use of large-capacity memory modules, and it is necessary to further increase the storage capacity, the necessary expansion Even if the capacity was small, a large capacity memory module had to be added. In other words, the storage capacity needs to be increased in large units, resulting in an unnecessarily high cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a memory module control device that can identify the capacity of each memory module and efficiently control it even when memory modules with different capacities are mixed.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the present invention, (1) when there are two types of memory modules with different capacities among a plurality of memory modules each controlled as one unit of a storage device by a series of assigned identification numbers, one of the memory modules is a setting means for setting the number of memory modules of the type; and (il) identification numbers corresponding to the number set by the setting means, starting from the smallest number, for the type of memory module targeted by this setting means. (ii)
i) The memory module control device is provided with recognition means for recognizing that the identification number assigned by the identification number assignment means corresponds to the type of memory module targeted by the setting means.

In the present invention, by simply setting the number of connections for one of the two types of memory modules, the connection states of both types of memory modules can be grasped and controlled.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples.

FIG. 1 shows a memory module control device in one embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, memory section 1
1 consists of four memory modules 11-1 to 11-4 with a capacity of 256 or 2048 bytes,
Each of them is connected to the memory module control circuit 13 by control lines 12-1 to 12-4. A switch 16 is connected to the memory module control circuit 13 via a control line 15, and address information 18 is supplied from a processor (not shown) via an address signal line 17.

Next, the operation of the memory module control device configured as above will be explained.

Here, as an example, the memory module control circuit 13 includes three memory modules with a capacity of 2048 bytes and three memory modules with a capacity of 25 bytes.
The operation when a 6-byte memory module 11 is connected will be explained.

First, the capacity of the memory module to be used and the number of connected memory modules of that capacity are input manually to the switch 16 . Here, for example, the capacity of the target memory module is "2048 bytes", and the number of connections is "3".
This information is sent as connection setting information 19 to the memory module control circuit 13 via the control line 15. Based on this information, the memory module control circuit 13 determines the settings of the four connected memory modules. home,
It is determined that the capacity of three memory modules starting from the smallest module number is 2048 bytes, and the capacity of the other memory modules is 256 bytes. In other words, the capacity of the three memory modules with module numbers 10'' to ``2'' is 2048 hides, and the capacity of the three memory modules with module numbers ``10'' to ``2'' is 2048 hides.
It is recognized that the capacity of a 3" memory module is 256 bytes, and an address table as shown in FIG. Address control is performed by matching the .
When the address signal 18 is supplied via the address signal line 17, the memory module control circuit 13 refers to the address table shown in FIG. 2 and checks the module number of the memory module corresponding to the address specified by this address signal. Then, a control signal is output to the memory module with the corresponding module number. For example, if the specified address is "5000", the module number to be accessed is "2" from the address table in Figure 2.
”. Accordingly, the memory module control circuit 13 sends a control signal to the memory module 11-3 via the control line 12-3. Then, the read/write control circuit (not shown) controls the memory module 11-3. 1
Data will be read and written to 1-3.

Next, the operation when one 256-byte memory module is added to the memory section 11 will be described.

As shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, when a memory module 11-5 with a capacity of 256 bytes is connected to the memory module control circuit 13, the memory module control circuit 13 recognizes that the total number of connections has become five. do.

On the other hand, the settings for the switch 16 are kept the same as before. In other words, the capacity of the memory module to be connected is set to “2”.
048 bytes" and the number of connections as "3". Therefore, the memory module control circuit 13
As before, the three memory modules 11-1 to 11-3 whose module numbers are "0" to "2" are determined to have a capacity of 2048 bytes. In addition, memory module 11-4 whose module number is "3"
S understands that the capacity of the newly added memory module 11-5 whose module number is "4" is 256 bytes. Then, address correspondence information regarding this added memory module 11-5 with module number "4" is additionally registered in the address table of FIG. 2.

Furthermore, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 3, when adding one memory module 11-6 with a capacity of 2048 bytes,
Set the capacity of the memory module to be connected to “2048 bytes”
, set the number of connections to "4". In this case, the module number of the expansion memory module 11-6 is "3", 25
Module 1 of 6 Nokuito's memory module 11-4
The number shall be “4”. This will change the module number to “0”.
” to “3” memory modules 11-1 to 11-3
．． It is recognized that the capacity of 11-6 is 2048 bytes, and the capacity of memory module 11-4 is 256 bytes. Then, this added memory module 1 with module number “3”
Address correspondence information regarding 1-6 will be registered in the address table shown in FIG.

In addition, in this example, in order to simplify the explanation, the capacity of the memory module is assumed to be 256 bytes and 2048 bytes.
In reality, it goes without saying that a memory module with a much larger capacity is used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the connection state of the entire memory module is determined by setting the number of connected memory modules of a certain capacity, so two types of memory modules with different capacities can be mixed. It has the advantage that it can be used as Therefore, even if a memory device is initially configured with large-capacity memory modules, the storage capacity can be expanded later using small-capacity memory modules, making it possible to respond flexibly to system demands. At the same time, it also has the effect of not causing an unnecessary increase in cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, of which FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a memory module control device in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the memory module control circuit of FIG. 1. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the memory section when a memory module with a capacity of 2048 bytes is added. Fig. 4 shows the address table when the memory module of Fig. 3 is added. It is an explanatory diagram. 11-1 to 11-5...Memory module, 1
3...Memory module control circuit, 16...
...Switch, 18...Address signal.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Each storage device is identified by a series of assigned identification numbers.
A setting means for setting the number of memory modules of one type when two types of memory modules having different capacities exist among a plurality of memory modules controlled as a unit; and a target of the setting means. identification number assigning means for assigning identification numbers as many as the number set by the setting means in order from the smallest number to the memory module of the type of memory module; and the identification number assigned by the identification number assigning means. A memory module control device comprising: recognition means for recognizing that the memory module corresponds to the type of memory module targeted by the setting means.