公开(公告)号：US20210350870A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-11

申请号：US17269999

申请日：2019-08-30

Applicant: RAMBUS INC.

Inventor： Frederick A. Ware ,  John Eric Lindstadt

IPC: G11C29/42 ,  G11C29/44 ,  G11C29/18 ,  G11C29/12

Abstract: 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 operation, the memory device outputs the error codes over the error detection code link to the memory controller together with the read data. The memory controller performs error detection, and in some cases correction, on the received read data based on the error codes.

公开(公告)号：US20210350838A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-11

申请号：US17328211

申请日：2021-05-24

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Scott C. Best ,  Frederick A. Ware ,  William N. Ng

IPC: G11C7/10 ,  G11C5/04

Abstract: A memory module can be programmed to deliver relatively wide, low-latency data in a first access mode, or to sacrifice some latency in return for a narrower data width, a narrower command width, or both, in a second access mode. The narrow, higher-latency mode requires fewer connections and traces. A controller can therefore support more modules, and thus increased system capacity. Programmable modules thus allow computer manufacturers to strike a desired balance between memory latency, capacity, and cost.

公开(公告)号：US11146269B1

公开(公告)日：2021-10-12

申请号：US16266244

申请日：2019-02-04

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Frederick A. Ware ,  Carl W. Werner

IPC: H03K17/92 ,  H03K19/173 ,  G06F1/26 ,  H03K19/195 ,  F25D29/00

Abstract: An signal switching integrated-circuit die includes an array of switch cells, control signal contacts, data input contacts and data output contacts. Switch control signals are received from an external control-signal source via respective control signal contacts, inbound data signals are received from one or more external data-signal sources via respective data input contacts and outbound data signals are conveyed to one or more external data-signal destinations via respective data output contacts. The array of switch cells receives the control signals directly from the control signal contacts and response to the control signals by switchably interconnecting the data input contacts with selected ones of the data output contacts.

公开(公告)号：US11132307B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-28

申请号：US16418553

申请日：2019-05-21

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Frederick A. Ware

IPC: G06F13/16

Abstract: 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 be received and initiated by the memory core before the memory device has finished exiting the low power state. Because the row operation is begun before the exit wait time has elapsed, the latency of one or more accesses (or other operations) following the exit from the low power state is reduced.

公开(公告)号：US20210294531A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-23

申请号：US17235629

申请日：2021-04-20

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Frederick A. Ware ,  Scott C. Best

IPC: G06F3/06 ,  G11C5/04 ,  G06F13/16

Abstract: A memory module with multiple memory devices includes a buffer system that manages communication between a memory controller and the memory devices. The memory module additionally includes a command input port to receive command and address signals from a controller and, also in support of capacity extensions, a command relay circuit coupled to the command port to convey the commands and addresses from the memory module to another module or modules. Relaying commands and addresses introduces a delay, and the buffer system that manages communication between the memory controller and the memory devices can be configured to time data communication to account for that delay.

公开(公告)号：US20210232203A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-29

申请号：US17117388

申请日：2020-12-10

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Frederick A. Ware ,  Robert E. Palmer ,  John W. Poulton ,  Andrew M. Fuller

IPC: G06F1/3237 ,  G11C7/04 ,  G11C7/10 ,  G11C7/22 ,  G11C11/4076 ,  G11C11/4096 ,  G06F13/16 ,  G06F1/12 ,  G06F1/3225 ,  G06F1/324 ,  G06F3/06

Abstract: A memory controller component of a memory system stores memory access requests within a transaction queue until serviced so that, over time, the transaction queue alternates between occupied and empty states. The memory controller transitions the memory system to a low power mode in response to detecting the transaction queue is has remained in the empty state for a predetermined time. In the transition to the low power mode, the memory controller disables oscillation of one or more timing signals required to time data signaling operations within synchronous communication circuits of one or more attached memory devices and also disables one or more power consuming circuits within the synchronous communication circuits of the one or more memory devices.

公开(公告)号：US11068017B2

公开(公告)日：2021-07-20

申请号：US15863703

申请日：2018-01-05

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Frederick A. Ware

IPC: G06F1/04 ,  G06F1/08 ,  G11C7/02 ,  G11C7/04 ,  G11C7/10 ,  G11C7/22 ,  G06F1/10 ,  G06F1/06 ,  G06F1/12

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a memory system that generates a multiplied timing signal from a reference timing signal. During operation, the system receives a reference timing signal. Next, the system produces a multiplied timing signal from the reference timing signal by generating a burst comprising multiple timing events for each timing event in the reference timing signal, wherein consecutive timing events in each burst of timing events are separated by a bit time. Then, as the reference clock frequency changes, the interval between bursts of timing events changes while the bit time remains substantially constant.

公开(公告)号：US11049532B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-29

申请号：US15721755

申请日：2017-09-30

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Scott C. Best ,  Frederick A. Ware ,  William N. Ng

IPC: G11C7/10 ,  G11C5/04

Abstract: A memory module can be programmed to deliver relatively wide, low-latency data in a first access mode, or to sacrifice some latency in return for a narrower data width, a narrower command width, or both, in a second access mode. The narrow, higher-latency mode requires fewer connections and traces. A controller can therefore support more modules, and thus increased system capacity. Programmable modules thus allow computer manufacturers to strike a desired balance between memory latency, capacity, and cost.

公开(公告)号：US20210091862A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-25

申请号：US17024835

申请日：2020-09-18

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Craig E. Hampel ,  Frederick A. Ware ,  Richard E. Perego

IPC: H04B17/11 ,  H04L7/00 ,  H04L7/04 ,  H04L7/10 ,  H04L27/00 ,  H04B17/21 ,  H04B17/00

Abstract: A method and system that provides for execution of a first calibration sequence, such as upon initialization of a system, to establish an operation value, which utilizes an algorithm intended to be exhaustive, and executing a second calibration sequence from time to time, to measure drift in the parameter, and to update the operation value in response to the measured drift. The second calibration sequence utilizes less resources of the communication channel than does the first calibration sequence. In one embodiment, the first calibration sequence for measurement and convergence on the operation value utilizes long calibration patterns, such as codes that are greater than 30 bytes, or pseudorandom bit sequences having lengths of 2N−1 bits, where N is equal to or greater than 7, while the second calibration sequence utilizes short calibration patterns, such as fixed codes less than 16 bytes, and for example as short as 2 bytes long.

公开(公告)号：US20210073122A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-11

申请号：US17065082

申请日：2020-10-07

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Frederick A. Ware ,  Ely K. Tsern

IPC: G06F12/02 ,  G06F12/0804 ,  G06F12/08 ,  G06F12/0802 ,  G06F12/0891 ,  G06F12/1009

Abstract: A memory system includes nonvolatile physical memory, such as flash memory, that exhibits a wear mechanism asymmetrically associated with write operations. A relatively small cache of volatile memory reduces the number of writes, and wear-leveling memory access methods distribute writes evenly over the nonvolatile memory.