Memory systems, modules, and methods for improved capacity

    公开(公告)号:US11010098B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-05-18

    申请号:US16599891

    申请日:2019-10-11

    Applicant: Rambus Inc.

    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.

    Coordinating memory operations using memory-device-generated reference signals

    公开(公告)号:US10754799B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-08-25

    申请号:US16436368

    申请日:2019-06-10

    Applicant: Rambus Inc.

    Abstract: A memory system includes a memory controller coupled to multiple memory devices. Each memory device includes an oscillator that generates an internal reference signal that oscillates at a frequency that is a function of physical device structures within the memory device. The frequencies of the internal reference signals are thus device specific. Each memory device develops a shared reference signal from its internal reference signal and communicates the shared reference signal to the common memory controller. The memory controller uses the shared reference signals to recover device-specific frequency information from each memory device, and then communicates with each memory device at a frequency compatible with the corresponding internal reference signal.

    Buffer circuit with data bit inversion

    公开(公告)号:US10747468B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-08-18

    申请号:US16543870

    申请日:2019-08-19

    Applicant: Rambus Inc.

    Inventor: Scott C. Best

    Abstract: A buffer circuit includes a primary interface, a secondary interface, and an encoder/decoder circuit. The primary interface is configured to communicate on an n-bit channel, wherein n parallel bits on the n-bit channel are coded using data bit inversion (DBI). The secondary interface is configured to communicate with a plurality of integrated circuit devices on a plurality of m-bit channels, each m-bit channel transmitting m parallel bits without using DBI. And the encoder/decoder circuit is configured to translate data words between the n-bit channel of the primary interface and the plurality of m-bit channels of the secondary interface.

    BUFFER CIRCUIT WITH ADAPTIVE REPAIR CAPABILITY

    公开(公告)号:US20200035323A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-01-30

    申请号:US16537021

    申请日:2019-08-09

    Applicant: Rambus Inc.

    Abstract: A buffer circuit is disclosed. The buffer circuit includes a command address (C/A) interface to receive an incoming activate (ACT) command and an incoming column address strobe (CAS) command. A first match circuit includes first storage to store failure row address information associated with the memory, and first compare logic. The first compare logic is responsive to the ACT command, to compare incoming row address information to the stored failure row address information. A second match circuit includes second storage to store failure column address information associated with the memory, and second compare logic. The second compare logic is responsive to the CAS command, to compare the incoming column address information to the stored failure column address information. Gating logic maintains a state of a matching row address identified by the first compare logic during the comparison carried out by the second compare logic.

    Stacked semiconductor device assembly in computer system

    公开(公告)号:US10114775B2

    公开(公告)日:2018-10-30

    申请号:US15277949

    申请日:2016-09-27

    Applicant: Rambus Inc.

    Inventor: Scott C. Best

    Abstract: This application is directed to a stacked semiconductor device assembly including first and second integrated circuit (IC) devices. Each of the first and second IC devices further includes a master interface, a channel master circuit configured to receive read/write data using the master interface, a slave interface, a channel slave circuit configured to receive read/write data using the slave interface, a memory core coupled to the channel salve circuit, and a modal pad. The first and second IC devices are configured such that in response to at least a modal selection signal received at one of the modal pads of the first and second IC devices, one of the first and second IC devices is configured to receive read/write data using its respective charnel master circuit, and the other of the first and second IC devices is configured to receive read/write data using its respective channel slave circuit.

    Forwarding signal supply voltage in data transmission system

    公开(公告)号:US10102885B2

    公开(公告)日:2018-10-16

    申请号:US15841049

    申请日:2017-12-13

    Applicant: Rambus Inc.

    Abstract: In a data transmission system, one or more signal supply voltages for generating the signaling voltage of a signal to be transmitted are generated in a first circuit and forwarded from the first circuit to a second circuit. The second circuit may use the forwarded signal supply voltages to generate another signal to be transmitted back from the second circuit to the first circuit, thereby obviating the need to generate signal supply voltages separately in the second circuit. The first circuit may also adjust the signal supply voltages based on the signal transmitted back from the second circuit to the first circuit. The data transmission system may employ a single-ended signaling system in which the signaling voltage is referenced to a reference voltage that is a power supply voltage such as ground, shared by the first circuit and the second circuit.

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