公开(公告)号：US10320591B2

公开(公告)日：2019-06-11

申请号：US15570703

申请日：2016-07-22

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Thomas J. Giovannini ,  Abhijit Abhyankar

IPC: G06F3/06 ,  H04L25/03 ,  G11C19/00

Abstract: A first sequence of data bits is shifted into storage elements of a signal receiver during a first sequence of bit-time intervals, and a memory access command indicates that a second sequence of data bits is to be received within the signal receiver during a second sequence of bit-time intervals. Contents of the shift-register storage elements are conditionally overwritten with a predetermined set of seed bits, depending on whether one or more bit-time intervals will transpire between the first and second sequences of bit-time intervals. Equalization signals generated based, at least in part, on contents of the shift-register storage elements are used to adjust respective signal levels representative of one or more bits of the second sequence of data bits.

公开(公告)号：US10304517B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-28

申请号：US15872848

申请日：2018-01-16

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Thomas J. Giovannini ,  Alok Gupta ,  Ian Shaeffer ,  Steven C. Woo

IPC: G06F12/00 ,  G11C11/4076 ,  G06F3/06 ,  G06F5/06 ,  G06F1/08 ,  G11C7/10 ,  G06F13/16 ,  G06F12/06 ,  G11C11/409 ,  G11C29/02 ,  G11C11/4096

Abstract: A system that calibrates timing relationships between signals involved in performing write operations is described. This system includes a memory controller which is coupled to a set of memory chips, wherein each memory chip includes a phase detector configured to calibrate a phase relationship between a data-strobe signal and a clock signal received at the memory chip from the memory controller during a write operation. Furthermore, the memory controller is configured to perform one or more write-read-validate operations to calibrate a clock-cycle relationship between the data-strobe signal and the clock signal, wherein the write-read-validate operations involve varying a delay on the data-strobe signal relative to the clock signal by a multiple of a clock period.

公开(公告)号：US09916873B2

公开(公告)日：2018-03-13

申请号：US15013032

申请日：2016-02-02

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Thomas J. Giovannini ,  John Eric Linstadt

IPC: G11C5/04 ,  G11C5/06 ,  G11C7/10 ,  G11C7/22

CPC classification number: G11C5/04 ,  G11C5/063 ,  G11C7/10 ,  G11C7/22

Abstract: A memory module uses dynamic data buffers for providing extended capacity for computing systems. The memory module comprises an external interface having a first set of data pins and a second set of data pins. The memory module includes a first set of memory chips and a second set of memory chips. The memory module includes a first registering clock driver to control the first set of memory chips and a second registering clock driver to control the second set of memory chips. The memory module further includes a first data buffer to connect the first set of memory chips to the first set of data pins and a second data buffer to connect the second set of memory chips to the second set of data pins.

公开(公告)号：US20180011805A1

公开(公告)日：2018-01-11

申请号：US15498065

申请日：2017-04-26

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Ian Shaeffer ,  Thomas J. Giovannini

IPC: G06F13/16 ,  G11C7/22 ,  G06F12/00 ,  G11C7/10

CPC classification number: G06F13/1689 ,  G06F12/00 ,  G11C7/10 ,  G11C7/1066 ,  G11C7/1093 ,  G11C7/222 ,  G11C2207/2254

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for operation of a memory controller, memory device and system are described. During operation, the memory controller transmits a read command which specifies that a memory device output data accessed from a memory core. This read command contains information which specifies whether the memory device is to commence outputting of a timing reference signal prior to commencing outputting of the data. The memory controller receives the timing reference signal if the information specified that the memory device output the timing reference signal. The memory controller subsequently samples the data output from the memory device based on information provided by the timing reference signal output from the memory device.

公开(公告)号：US20160125930A1

公开(公告)日：2016-05-05

申请号：US14931513

申请日：2015-11-03

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Thomas J. Giovannini ,  Alok Gupta ,  Ian Shaeffer ,  Steven C. Woo

IPC: G11C11/4076 ,  G11C11/4096

CPC classification number: G11C11/4076 ,  G06F1/08 ,  G06F3/0629 ,  G06F3/0634 ,  G06F5/06 ,  G06F12/0646 ,  G06F13/1689 ,  G11C7/1078 ,  G11C7/1087 ,  G11C7/1093 ,  G11C11/409 ,  G11C11/4096 ,  G11C2207/2254

Abstract: A system that calibrates timing relationships between signals involved in performing write operations is described. This system includes a memory controller which is coupled to a set of memory chips, wherein each memory chip includes a phase detector configured to calibrate a phase relationship between a data-strobe signal and a clock signal received at the memory chip from the memory controller during a write operation. Furthermore, the memory controller is configured to perform one or more write-read-validate operations to calibrate a clock-cycle relationship between the data-strobe signal and the clock signal, wherein the write-read-validate operations involve varying a delay on the data-strobe signal relative to the clock signal by a multiple of a clock period.

公开(公告)号：US12298926B2

公开(公告)日：2025-05-13

申请号：US18365696

申请日：2023-08-04

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Frederick A. Ware ,  Ely Tsern ,  John Eric Linstadt ,  Thomas J. Giovannini ,  Craig E. Hampel ,  Scott C. Best ,  John Yan

IPC: G06F13/16

Abstract: Described are motherboards with memory-module sockets that accept legacy memory modules for backward compatibility or accept a greater number of configurable modules in support of increased memory capacity. The configurable modules can be backward compatible with legacy motherboards. Equipped with the configurable modules, the motherboards support memory systems with high signaling rates and capacities.

公开(公告)号：US12298842B2

公开(公告)日：2025-05-13

申请号：US18586907

申请日：2024-02-26

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Thomas J. Giovannini ,  Catherine Chen ,  Scott C. Best ,  John Eric Linstadt ,  Frederick A. Ware

IPC: G06F11/07 ,  G06F13/00 ,  G11C5/04 ,  G11C7/20 ,  G11C8/12 ,  G11C29/26 ,  G11C29/44

Abstract: During system initialization, each data buffer device and/or memory device on a memory module is configured with a unique (at least to the module) device identification number. In order to access a single device (rather than multiple buffers and/or memory devices), a target identification number is written to all of the devices using a command bus connected to all of the data buffer devices or memory devices, respectively. The devices whose respective device identification numbers do not match the target identification number are configured to ignore future command bus transactions (at least until the debug mode is turned off.) The selected device that is configured with a device identification number matching the target identification number is configured to respond to command bus transactions.

公开(公告)号：US20240168873A1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-23

申请号：US18162824

申请日：2021-08-06

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Andrew M. Fuller ,  Barry William Daly ,  Thomas J. Giovannini ,  Lei Luo ,  Masum Hossain

IPC: G06F12/02 ,  G11C11/408

CPC classification number: G06F12/0223 ,  G11C11/4082

Abstract: Described are integrated circuits for equalizing parallel write-data and address signals from a memory controller. The integrated circuits each include a set of decision-feedback equalizers, one equalizer for each received signal. Each equalizer in a set has a main sampler and a monitor sampler, each of which samples the respective input signal on edges of a timing-reference signal (e.g. a clock or strobe) that is common to the set. The main sampler samples the input signal relative to a reference. The monitor sampler samples the input signal relative to an adjustable threshold calibrated to monitor one or more levels of the input signal. A feedback network adjusts the respective input signal responsive to one or more tap values that can be adjusted to equalize the signal. An adaptive tap-value generator for one or a collection of the equalizers adjusts the tap value or values as a function of least-mean squares of errors to one or more of the sampler input ports.

公开(公告)号：US11755508B2

公开(公告)日：2023-09-12

申请号：US17507588

申请日：2021-10-21

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Frederick A. Ware ,  Ely Tsern ,  John Eric Linstadt ,  Thomas J. Giovannini ,  Craig E. Hampel ,  Scott C. Best ,  John Yan

IPC: G06F13/16

CPC classification number: G06F13/1678 ,  G06F13/1673 ,  G06F13/1694

Abstract: Described are motherboards with memory-module sockets that accept legacy memory modules for backward compatibility or accept a greater number of configurable modules in support of increased memory capacity. The configurable modules can be backward compatible with legacy motherboards. Equipped with the configurable modules, the motherboards support memory systems with high signaling rates and capacities.

公开(公告)号：US11682448B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-20

申请号：US17852286

申请日：2022-06-28

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Thomas J. Giovannini ,  Alok Gupta ,  Ian Shaeffer ,  Steven C. Woo

IPC: G06F12/00 ,  G11C11/4076 ,  G06F3/06 ,  G06F5/06 ,  G06F1/08 ,  G11C7/10 ,  G11C29/02 ,  G06F13/16 ,  G06F12/06 ,  G11C11/409 ,  G11C11/4096

CPC classification number: G11C11/4076 ,  G06F1/08 ,  G06F3/0629 ,  G06F3/0634 ,  G06F5/06 ,  G06F12/0646 ,  G06F13/1689 ,  G11C7/1078 ,  G11C7/1087 ,  G11C7/1093 ,  G11C11/409 ,  G11C29/023 ,  G11C29/028 ,  G11C11/4096 ,  G11C2207/2254

Abstract: A system that calibrates timing relationships between signals involved in performing write operations is described. This system includes a memory controller which is coupled to a set of memory chips, wherein each memory chip includes a phase detector configured to calibrate a phase relationship between a data-strobe signal and a clock signal received at the memory chip from the memory controller during a write operation. Furthermore, the memory controller is configured to perform one or more write-read-validate operations to calibrate a clock-cycle relationship between the data-strobe signal and the clock signal, wherein the write-read-validate operations involve varying a delay on the data-strobe signal relative to the clock signal by a multiple of a clock period.