Rambus Patent Grants

Heterogenous-latency memory optimization

Granted: May 30, 2023
Patent Number: 11663138
Memory pages are background-relocated from a low-latency local operating memory of a server computer to a higher-latency memory installation that enables high-resolution access monitoring and thus access-demand differentiation among the relocated memory pages. Higher access-demand memory pages are background-restored to the low-latency operating memory, while lower access-demand pages are maintained in the higher latency memory installation and yet-lower access-demand pages are…

Multi-die memory device

Granted: May 23, 2023
Patent Number: 11657868
A memory is disclosed that includes a logic die having first and second memory interface circuits. A first memory die is stacked with the logic die, and includes first and second memory arrays. The first memory array couples to the first memory interface circuit. The second memory array couples to the second interface circuit. A second memory die is stacked with the logic die and the first memory die. The second memory die includes third and fourth memory arrays. The third memory array…

Remote memory selection

Granted: May 23, 2023
Patent Number: 11657007
A multi-path fabric interconnected system with many nodes and many communication paths from a given source node to a given destination node. A memory allocation device on an originating node (local node) requests an allocation of memory from a remote node (i.e., requests a remote allocation). The memory allocation device on the local node selects the remote node based on one or more performance indicators. The local memory allocation device may select the remote node to provide a remote…

Low latency memory access

Granted: May 23, 2023
Patent Number: 11657006
A memory device includes receivers that use CMOS signaling levels (or other relatively large signal swing levels) on its command/address and data interfaces. The memory device also includes an asynchronous timing input that causes the reception of command and address information from the CMOS level receivers to be decoded and forwarded to the memory core (which is self-timed) without the need for a clock signal on the memory device's primary clock input. Thus, an activate row command can…

Memory subsystem for a cryogenic digital system

Granted: May 16, 2023
Patent Number: 11653476
The embodiments herein describe technologies of cryogenic digital systems with a first component located in a first non-cryogenic temperature domain, a second component located in a second temperature domain that is lower in temperature than the first cryogenic temperature domain, and a third component located in a cryogenic temperature domain that is lower in temperature than the second cryogenic temperature domain.

Fractional program commands for memory devices

Granted: May 16, 2023
Patent Number: 11651823
A memory system includes an array of non-volatile memory cells and a memory controller having a first port to receive a program command that addresses a number of the memory cells for a programming operation, having a second port coupled to the memory array via a command pipeline, and configured to create a plurality of fractional program commands in response to the program command. Execution of each fractional program command applies a single program pulse to the addressed memory cells…

Memory bandwidth aggregation using simultaneous access of stacked semiconductor memory die

Granted: May 16, 2023
Patent Number: 11651801
A packaged semiconductor device includes a data pin, a first memory die, and a second memory die stacked with the first memory die. The first memory die includes a first data interface coupled to the data pin and a first memory core having a plurality of banks. The second memory die includes a second memory core having a plurality of banks. A respective bank of the first memory core and a respective bank of the second memory core perform parallel row access operations in response to a…

Local internal discovery and configuration of individually selected and jointly selected devices

Granted: May 16, 2023
Patent Number: 11650944
A memory controller interfaces with one or more memory devices having configurable width data buses and configurable connectivity between data pins of the memory devices and data pins of the memory controller. Upon initialization of the memory devices, the memory controller automatically discovers the connectivity configuration of the one or more memory devices, including both individually selected and jointly selected devices. After discovering connectivity of the connected devices, the…

Method and apparatus to improve connection pitch in die-to-wafer bonding

Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number: 11646284
Semiconductor devices, packaging architectures and associated methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor die having a first bonding surface that is formed with a first set of contacts patterned with a first connection pitch. A second semiconductor die has a second bonding surface that is formed with a second set of contacts patterned with a second connection pitch. The second set of contacts are…

Adjustment of multi-phase clock system

Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number: 11646724
Disclosed is a system where indicators of the relative phase differences between combinations of clocks in a multi-phase clock system are developed and/or measured. These indicators convey information regarding which phase difference between a given pair of the clocks is greater than (or less than) the phase difference between another pair of the clocks. This information is used to sort/rank/order phase differences between the various combinations of pairs of clocks according to their…

Energy efficient storage of error-correction-detection information

Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number: 11645152
Data and error correction information may involve accessing multiple data channels (e.g., 8) and one error detection and correction channel concurrently. This technique requires a total of N+1 row requests for each access, where N is the number of data channels (e.g., 8 data row accesses and 1 error detection and correction row access equals 9 row accesses.) A single (or at least less than N) data channel row may be accessed concurrently with a single error detection and correction row.…

Memory system with error detection

Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number: 11646094
A memory controller generates error codes associates with write data and a write address and provides the error codes over a dedicated error detection code link to a memory device during a write operation. The memory device performs error detection, and in some cases correction, on the received write data and write address based on the error codes. If no uncorrectable errors are detected, the memory device furthermore stores the error codes in association with the write data. On a read…

DRAM retention test method for dynamic error correction

Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number: 11646090
A method of operation in an integrated circuit (IC) memory device is disclosed. The method includes refreshing a first group of storage rows in the IC memory device at a first refresh rate. A retention time for each of the rows is tested. The testing for a given row under test includes refreshing at a second refresh rate that is slower than the first refresh rate. The testing is interruptible based on an access request for data stored in the given row under test.

Dynamic processing speed

Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number: 11645212
Processing elements include interfaces that allow direct access to memory banks on one or more DRAMs in an integrated circuit stack. These additional (e.g., per processing element) direct interfaces may allow the processing elements to have direct access to the data in the DRAM stack. Based on the size/type of operands being processed, and the memory bandwidth of the direct interfaces, rate calculation circuitry on the processor die determines the speed each processing element and/or…

Adjustment of multi-phase clock system

Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number: 11646724
Disclosed is a system where indicators of the relative phase differences between combinations of clocks in a multi-phase clock system are developed and/or measured. These indicators convey information regarding which phase difference between a given pair of the clocks is greater than (or less than) the phase difference between another pair of the clocks. This information is used to sort/rank/order phase differences between the various combinations of pairs of clocks according to their…

Method and apparatus to improve connection pitch in die-to-wafer bonding

Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number: 11646284
Semiconductor devices, packaging architectures and associated methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor die having a first bonding surface that is formed with a first set of contacts patterned with a first connection pitch. A second semiconductor die has a second bonding surface that is formed with a second set of contacts patterned with a second connection pitch. The second set of contacts are…

Memory system with error detection

Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number: 11646094
A memory controller generates error codes associates with write data and a write address and provides the error codes over a dedicated error detection code link to a memory device during a write operation. The memory device performs error detection, and in some cases correction, on the received write data and write address based on the error codes. If no uncorrectable errors are detected, the memory device furthermore stores the error codes in association with the write data. On a read…

DRAM retention test method for dynamic error correction

Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number: 11646090
A method of operation in an integrated circuit (IC) memory device is disclosed. The method includes refreshing a first group of storage rows in the IC memory device at a first refresh rate. A retention time for each of the rows is tested. The testing for a given row under test includes refreshing at a second refresh rate that is slower than the first refresh rate. The testing is interruptible based on an access request for data stored in the given row under test.

Protocol including timing calibration between memory request and data transfer

Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number: 11645214
The described embodiments provide a system for controlling an integrated circuit memory device by a memory controller. During operation, the system sends a memory-access request from the memory controller to the memory device using a first link. After sending the memory-access request, the memory controller sends to the memory device a command that specifies performing a timing-calibration operation for a second link. The system subsequently transfers data associated with the…

Dynamic processing speed

Granted: May 9, 2023
Patent Number: 11645212
Processing elements include interfaces that allow direct access to memory banks on one or more DRAMs in an integrated circuit stack. These additional (e.g., per processing element) direct interfaces may allow the processing elements to have direct access to the data in the DRAM stack. Based on the size/type of operands being processed, and the memory bandwidth of the direct interfaces, rate calculation circuitry on the processor die determines the speed each processing element and/or…