公开(公告)号：US20220123969A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-21

申请号：US17516502

申请日：2021-11-01

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Thomas J. Giovannini ,  Abhijit Abhyankar

IPC: H04L25/03 ,  G06F3/05 ,  G06F3/06 ,  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：US10970240B2

公开(公告)日：2021-04-06

申请号：US16405421

申请日：2019-05-07

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Ian Shaeffer ,  Thomas J. Giovannini

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

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：US20210049119A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-18

申请号：US17021024

申请日：2020-09-15

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Thomas J. Giovannini ,  John Eric Linstadt ,  Catherine Chen

IPC: G06F13/16 ,  G06F13/42 ,  G06F13/40

Abstract: A memory system supports single- and dual-memory-module configurations, both supporting point-to-point communication between a host (e.g., a memory controller) and the memory module or modules. Each memory module includes an address-buffer component, data-buffer components, and two sets of memory dies, each set termed a “timing rank,” that can be accessed independently. The one memory module is configured in a wide mode for the single-memory-module configuration, in which case both timing ranks work together, as a “package rank,” to communicate full-width data. Each of two memory modules are configured in a narrow mode for the dual-memory-module configuration, in which case one timing rank from each memory module communicates data in parallel to appear to the host as single package ranks. The data-buffer components support separate and configurable write and read delays for the different timing ranks on each module to provide read and write leveling within and between memory modules.

公开(公告)号：US10607685B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-31

申请号：US16408368

申请日：2019-05-09

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

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

IPC: G06F12/00 ,  G11C11/4076 ,  G06F5/06 ,  G06F1/08 ,  G11C7/10 ,  G11C29/02 ,  G06F13/16 ,  G06F3/06 ,  G06F12/06 ,  G11C11/409 ,  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：US10146608B2

公开(公告)日：2018-12-04

申请号：US15090399

申请日：2016-04-04

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

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

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

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：US20180294999A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-11

申请号：US15570703

申请日：2016-07-22

Applicant: Rambus Inc.

Inventor： Thomas J. Giovannini ,  Abhijit Abhyankar

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

CPC classification number: H04L25/03057 ,  G06F3/0604 ,  G06F3/0644 ,  G06F3/0673 ,  G11C19/00 ,  H04L25/03146 ,  H04L25/03878

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：US20180218764A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-02

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: G11C11/4076 ,  G11C11/409 ,  G06F5/06 ,  G06F1/08 ,  G06F13/16 ,  G06F12/06 ,  G11C7/10 ,  G06F3/06 ,  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 ,  G11C29/023 ,  G11C29/028 ,  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：US09881662B2

公开(公告)日：2018-01-30

申请号：US15406373

申请日：2017-01-13

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 ,  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：US20170337144A1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-23

申请号：US15525379

申请日：2015-11-11

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：US20170200489A1

公开(公告)日：2017-07-13

申请号：US15406373

申请日：2017-01-13

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.