Abstract:
A clock mode configuration circuit for a memory device is described. A memory system includes any number of memory devices serially connected to each other, where each memory device receives a clock signal. The clock signal can be provided either in parallel to all the memory devices or serially from memory device to memory device through a common clock input. The clock mode configuration circuit in each memory device is set to a parallel mode for receiving the parallel clock signal, and to a serial mode for receiving a source synchronous clock signal from a prior memory device. Depending on the set operating mode, the data input circuits will be configured for the corresponding data signal format, and the corresponding clock input circuits will be either enabled or disabled. The parallel mode and the serial mode is set by sensing a voltage level of a reference voltage provided to each memory device.
Abstract:
A memory controller of a data storage device which communicates with a host, has channel control modules each being configurable to have at three different pinout assignments for interfacing with two different types of memory devices operating with different memory interface protocols. One pinout assignment corresponds to a memory interface protocol where memory devices can be connected in parallel with each other. Two other pinout assignments correspond respectively to inbound and outbound signals of another memory interface protocol where memory devices are serially connected with each other. In this mode of operation, one channel control module is configured to provide the outbound signals while another channel control module is configured to receive the inbound signals. Each memory port of the channel control modules includes port buffer circuitry configurable for different functional signal assignments. The configuration of each channel control module is selectable by setting predetermined ports or registers.
Abstract:
An apparatus for selecting operating conditions of a genset, the apparatus including a processor circuit configured to select a set of operating points from a plurality of operating points of the genset each comprising an engine speed in a generator electrical output value and a plurality of cost values associated with operating the genset at respective operating points such that the sum of the cost values associated with the operating points in said set is minimized and such that the engine speed increases or decreases monotonically with monotonically increasing or decreasing electrical power output values.
Abstract:
A threshold voltage distribution scheme for multi-level Flash cells where an erase threshold voltage and at least one programmed threshold voltage lie in an erase voltage domain. Having at least one programmed threshold voltage in the erase voltage domain reduces the Vread voltage level to minimize read disturb effects, while extending the life span of the multi-level Flash cells as the threshold voltage distance between programmed states is maximized. The erase voltage domain can be less than 0V while a program voltage domain is greater than 0V. Accordingly, circuits for program verifying and reading multi-level Flash cells having a programmed threshold voltage in the erase voltage domain and the program voltage domain use negative and positive high voltages.
Abstract:
In an integrated circuit (IC) adapted for use in a stack of interconnected ICs, interrupted through-silicon-vias (TSVs) are provided in addition to uninterrupted TSVs. The interrupted TSVs provide signal paths other than common parallel paths between the ICs of the stack. This permits IC identification schemes and other functionalities to be implemented using TSVs, without requiring angular rotation of alternate ICs of the stack.
Abstract:
In a ring-of-clusters network topology, groups of slave devices are accessed in parallel, such that the latency around the ring is proportional to the number of clusters and not proportional to the number of integrated circuits. The devices of a cluster share input and output ring segments such that packets arriving on the input segment are received and interpreted by all the devices in a cluster. In other embodiments, none, some or all but one slaves per cluster are asleep or otherwise disabled so that they do not input and interpret incoming packets. Regardless, in all embodiments, the slaves of a cluster cooperate, potentially under the controller's direction, to ensure that at most one of them is actively driving the output segment at any given time. The devices may be addressed through a device ID, a cluster ID, or a combination thereof. Embodiments of the invention are suited to exploit multi-chip module implementations and forms of vertical circuit stacking.
Abstract:
A memory controller of a data storage device, which communicates with a host, is configurable to have at least two different pinout assignments for interfacing with respective different types of memory devices. Each pinout assignment corresponds to a specific memory interface protocol. Each memory interface port of the memory controller includes port buffer circuitry configurable for different functional signal assignments, based on the selected memory interface protocol to be used. The interface circuitry configuration for each memory interface port is selectable by setting a predetermined port or registers of the memory controller.
Abstract:
A network for carrying out control, sensing and data communications, composed of a plurality of nodes. Each node may be connected to a payload, which includes sensors, actuators and DTE's. The network is formed using a plurality of independent communication links, each based on electrically-conducting communication media composed of at least two conductors and interconnecting two nodes, in a point-to-point configuration. During network operation, nodes can be dynamically configured as either data-generating nodes, wherein data is generated and transmitted into the network, or as receiver/repeater/router nodes, wherein received data is repeated from a receiver port to all output ports.
Abstract:
A memory module that includes a buffer and a plurality of synchronous memory devices. The memory module also includes bidirectional bus lines, and each of the synchronous memory devices has bidirectional data terminals. The buffer is configured to regenerate signals received on the bus lines for receipt by the synchronous memory devices, and to regenerate signals received from any one of the synchronous memory devices for receipt by the bus lines. The memory module may further include command lines and a clock line for providing commands and a clock signal to the synchronous memory devices via a command buffer. The combined data bus width of the memory module may be greater than the data bus width of any single one of synchronous memory device, and the total address space provided by the memory module may be larger than the data space for any single synchronous memory device.
Abstract:
A controller for an arrangement of memory devices may issue a write command without waiting for the receipt of a previously issued read command. An addressed memory device may read data out onto the data bus according to a read command while, simultaneously, writing data according to a write command received subsequent to the read command.