Memory controller for selective rank or subrank access
Granted: October 11, 2022
Patent Number:
11467986
A memory module having reduced access granularity. The memory module includes a substrate having signal lines thereon that form a control path and first and second data paths, and further includes first and second memory devices coupled in common to the control path and coupled respectively to the first and second data paths. The first and second memory devices include control circuitry to receive respective first and second memory access commands via the control path and to effect…
Split-path equalizer and related methods, devices and systems
Granted: October 4, 2022
Patent Number:
11463283
This disclosure provides a split-path equalizer and a clock recovery circuit. More particularly, clock recovery operation is enhanced, particularly at high-signaling rates, by separately equalizing each of a data path and an edge path. In specific embodiments, the data path is equalized in a manner that maximizes signal-to-noise ratio and the edge path is equalized in a manner that emphasizes symmetric edge response for a single unit interval and zero edge response for other unit…
Hybrid memory module
Granted: September 27, 2022
Patent Number:
11456025
A memory module includes cache of relatively fast and durable dynamic, random-access memory (DRAM) in service of a larger amount of relatively slow and wear-sensitive nonvolatile memory. Local controller manages communication between the DRAM cache and nonvolatile memory to accommodate disparate access granularities, reduce the requisite number of memory transactions, and minimize the flow of data external to nonvolatile memory components.
Using dynamic bursts to support frequency-agile memory interfaces
Granted: September 27, 2022
Patent Number:
11455022
The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that supports dynamic bursts to facilitate frequency-agile communication between a memory controller and a memory device. During operation, the system monitors a reference clock signal received at an interface between the memory device and the memory controller. Upon detecting a frequency change in the reference clock signal from a fullrate to a subrate, the interface operates in a burst mode, wherein data is communicated through bursts…
Data transmission using delayed timing signals
Granted: September 20, 2022
Patent Number:
11451218
An integrated circuit includes a delay circuit and first and second interface circuits. The delay circuit delays a first timing signal by an internal delay to generate an internal timing signal. The first interface circuit communicates data to an external device in response to the internal timing signal. The second interface circuit transmits an external timing signal for capturing the data in the external device. An external delay is added to the external timing signal in the external…
Memory controller for strobe-based memory systems
Granted: September 20, 2022
Patent Number:
11450374
An integrated circuit (IC) memory controller is disclosed. The memory controller includes a receiver to receive a strobe signal and provide an internal strobe signal. An adjustable delay circuit delays an enable signal to generate a delayed enable signal. A gate circuit generates a gated strobe signal using the delayed enable signal that masks transitions of the internal strobe signal that occur prior to a valid region of the internal strobe signal. A sample circuit samples data using…
Synchronous signaling interface with over-clocked timing reference
Granted: September 20, 2022
Patent Number:
11450356
In a chip-to-chip signaling system includes at least one signaling link coupled between first and second ICs, the first IC has an interface coupled to the signaling link and timed by a first interface timing signal. The second IC has an interface coupled to the signaling link and timed by a second interface timing signal that is mesochronous with respect to the first interface timing signal. The second IC further has phase adjustment circuitry that adjusts a phase of the second interface…
Fragmented periodic timing calibration
Granted: September 20, 2022
Patent Number:
11449439
Periodic signal timing calibration is implemented in time-distributed fragments executed concurrently with occasional system-idling maintenance operations to maintain reliable synchronous communication between interconnected system components without impacting system availability.
Command buffer chip with dual configurations
Granted: September 13, 2022
Patent Number:
11443784
A buffer chip includes a first set of input/output (I/O) pins a second set of I/O pins, and is configurable to operate in one of a first mode or a second mode. The first set of I/O pins and the second set of I/O pins are configured to convey first signals between the buffer chip and one or more volatile memory devices on a memory module when the buffer chip is configured to operate in the first mode. The first set of I/O pins is configured to convey the first signals between the buffer…
Memory system topologies including a memory die stack
Granted: May 10, 2022
Patent Number:
11328764
Systems, among other embodiments, include topologies (data and/or control/address information) between an integrated circuit buffer device (that may be coupled to a master, such as a memory controller) and a plurality of integrated circuit memory devices. For example, data may be provided between the plurality of integrated circuit memory devices and the integrated circuit buffer device using separate segmented (or point-to-point link) signal paths in response to control/address…
Energy-efficient error-correction-detection storage
Granted: May 10, 2022
Patent Number:
11327831
A memory system employs an addressing scheme to logically divide rows of memory cells into separate contiguous regions, one for data storage and another for error detection and correction (EDC) codes corresponding to that data. Data and corresponding EDC codes are stored in the same row of the same bank. Accessing data and corresponding EDC code in the same row of the same bank advantageously saves power and avoids bank conflicts. The addressing scheme partitions the memory without…
Drift tracking feedback for communication channels
Granted: May 10, 2022
Patent Number:
11327524
A memory controller having a data receiver to sample data at a sample timing using a strobe signal, wherein the data and the strobe signal are sent by a memory device in connection with a read operation initiated by the memory controller, and a strobe receiver to receive the strobe signal, wherein a phase of the strobe signal has a drift relative to a reference by an amount. The memory controller further having a monitoring circuit to monitor the strobe signal and determine the amount of…
Receiver/transmitter co-calibration of voltage levels in pulse amplitude modulation links
Granted: May 3, 2022
Patent Number:
11323297
A driver circuit of a PAM-N transmitting device transmits a PAM-N signal via a communication channel, wherein N is greater than 2, and the PAM-N signal has N signal levels corresponding to N symbols. A PAM-N receiving device receives the PAM-N signal. The PAM-N receiving device generates distortion information indicative of a level of distortion corresponding to inequalities, in voltage differences between the N signal levels. The PAM-N receiving device transmits to the PAM-N…
Low power logic circuitry
Granted: May 3, 2022
Patent Number:
11323118
A combinational logic circuit includes input circuitry to receive a first input signal that transitions between upper and lower voltages of a first voltage domain, and to generate, in response to the transitions of the first input signal, a first localized signal that transitions between upper and lower voltages of a second voltage domain. The combinational logic circuit additionally includes output circuitry to generate a first output signal that transitions between the upper and lower…
Memory module for platform with non-volatile storage
Granted: May 3, 2022
Patent Number:
11322203
A system that includes a non-volatile memory subsystem having non-volatile memory. The system also includes a plurality of memory modules that are separate from the non-volatile memory subsystem. Each memory module can include a plurality of random access memory packages where each first random access memory package includes a primary data port and a backup data port. Each memory module can include a storage interface circuit coupled to the backup data ports of the random access memory…
Load reduced memory module
Granted: April 26, 2022
Patent Number:
11317510
The embodiments described herein describe technologies for memory systems. One implementation of a memory system includes a motherboard substrate with multiple module sockets, at least one of which is populated with a memory module. A first set of data lines is disposed on the motherboard substrate and coupled to the module sockets. The first set of data lines includes a first subset of point-to-point data lines coupled between a memory controller and a first socket and a second subset…
Memory system with independently adjustable core and interface data rates
Granted: April 26, 2022
Patent Number:
11314681
An integrated circuit device is disclosed including core circuitry and interface circuitry. The core circuitry outputs in parallel a set of data bits, while the interface circuitry couples to the core circuitry. The interface circuitry receives in parallel a first number of data bits among the set of data bits from the core circuitry and outputs in parallel a second number of data bits. The ratio of the first number to the second number is a non-power-of-2 value.
Deterministic operation of storage class memory
Granted: April 26, 2022
Patent Number:
11314669
Memory controllers, devices, modules, systems and associated methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory controller is disclosed. The memory controller includes write queue logic that has first storage to temporarily store signal components of a write operation. The signal components include an address and write data. A transfer interface issues the signal components of the write operation to a bank of a storage class memory (SCM) device and generates a time value. The time value…
Memory controller with integrated test circuitry
Granted: April 19, 2022
Patent Number:
11307243
A memory controller instantiated on a semiconductor IC device comprises a timing circuit to transfer a timing signal, the timing circuit being configured to receive a first test signal and to effect a delay in the timing signal in response to the first test signal, the first test signal including a first timing event. The memory controller further comprises an interface circuit configured to transfer the data signal in response to the timing signal, the interface circuit being further…
Interface for memory readout from a memory component in the event of fault
Granted: April 19, 2022
Patent Number:
11308009
Memory controllers, devices, modules, systems and associated methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) memory component is disclosed that includes a memory core, a primary interface, and a secondary interface. The primary interface includes data input/output (I/O) circuitry and control/address (C/A) input circuitry, and accesses the memory core during a normal mode of operation. The secondary interface accesses the memory core during a fault mode of operation.
