Patents by Inventor Christopher E. Cox

Christopher E. Cox has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10969979
    Abstract: In a memory system an interface circuit includes an interface to a memory array, and to a data signal. The circuit includes loopback circuitry to enable loopback of received data signals without having to access the data from the memory array. The circuit can be part of a memory device, a register device, or a data buffer. The circuit interfaces to a memory array of a memory device, and performs loopback functions for a host controller that can test the operation of the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Dean-Dexter R. Eugenio, Arvind Kumar, John R. Goles, Christopher E. Cox
  • Patent number: 10950288
    Abstract: A memory device with internal row hammer mitigation couples to a memory controller. The memory controller or host can assist with row hammer mitigation by sending additional refresh cycles or refresh commands. In response to an extra refresh command the memory device can perform refresh for row hammer mitigation instead of refresh for standard data integrity. The memory controller can keep track of the number of activate commands sent to the memory device, and in response to a threshold number of activate commands, the memory controller sends the additional refresh command. With the extra refresh command the memory device can refresh the potential victim rows of a potential aggressor row, instead of simply refreshing a row that has not been accessed for a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Bill Nale, Christopher E. Cox
  • Patent number: 10938161
    Abstract: A device includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and a shield for the PCB. The shield can reduce high frequency electromagnetic frequency (EMF) noise generated by one or more components of the PCB. The PCB includes pads to interface with a corresponding connector. For example, for a dual inline memory module (DIMM) PCB, the PCB includes pads to insert into a DIMM connector. The shield includes a gap in its perimeter that aligns with clips in the corresponding connector. The gaps will correspond to similar features of the PCB that interface with the corresponding connector to allow the shield to attach to the PCB. The shield includes lock fingers to extend from a connector-facing edge of the shield to interface with the corresponding connector to align the shield with the corresponding connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jaejin Lee, Jun Liao, Xiang Li, Christopher E. Cox
  • Patent number: 10923859
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a connector to connect a printed circuit board (PCB) with a memory device, where the connector includes a housing couplable with the PCB; a first signal pin coupled with the housing, where the first signal pin includes a first portion that includes a first curve, and a second portion that extends from the first portion and includes a second curve; and a second signal pin coupled with the housing, where the second signal pin includes a third portion that includes a third curve, and a fourth portion that extends from the third portion and includes a fourth curve, where the first curve is curved in a first opposite direction relative to the third curve, and where the second curve is curved in a second opposite direction relative to the fourth curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jaejin Lee, Jun Liao, Xiang Li, George Vergis, Christopher E. Cox
  • Publication number: 20210020224
    Abstract: A memory subsystem triggers entry and exit of a memory device from low power mode with a chip select (CS) signal line. For a system where the command bus has no clock enable (CKE) signal line, the system can trigger low power modes with CS instead of CKE. The low power mode can include a powerdown state. The low power mode can include a self-refresh state. The memory device includes an interface to the command bus, and receives a CS signal combined with command encoding on the command bus to trigger a low power mode state change. The memory device can be configured to monitor the CS signal and selected other command signals while in low power mode. The system can send an ODT trigger while the memory device is in low power mode, even without a dedicated ODT signal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher E. COX, Kuljit S. BAINS, Christopher P. MOZAK, James A. McCALL, Akshith VASANTH, Bill NALE
  • Publication number: 20210005245
    Abstract: A memory device is described. The memory device includes logic circuitry to perform calibrations of resistive network terminations and data drivers of the memory device while the memory device is within a self refresh mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher E. COX, Bill NALE
  • Patent number: 10839887
    Abstract: A memory subsystem triggers entry and exit of a memory device from low power mode with a chip select (CS) signal line. For a system where the command bus has no clock enable (CKE) signal line, the system can trigger low power modes with CS instead of CKE. The low power mode can include a powerdown state. The low power mode can include a self-refresh state. The memory device includes an interface to the command bus, and receives a CS signal combined with command encoding on the command bus to trigger a low power mode state change. The memory device can be configured to monitor the CS signal and selected other command signals while in low power mode. The system can send an ODT trigger while the memory device is in low power mode, even without a dedicated ODT signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cox, Kuljit S. Bains, Christopher P. Mozak, James A. McCall, Akshith Vasanth, Bill Nale
  • Patent number: 10840045
    Abstract: An invertible optical float switch is provided, comprising a floatable housing having an interior, a central longitudinal axis, a top end and a bottom end; first and second optical fibers each having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the first optical fiber connectable to a light source located remote from the housing, the proximal end of the second optical fiber connectable to a light detector located remote from the housing, the distal ends of the first and optical fibers positioned in the interior of the housing and the distal ends being mounted in the interior on a separator assembly such that the distal ends are optically aligned and separated by a gap; the separator assembly further including a movable member, the movable member adapted to be movable by gravity between a first position where the movable member occupies the gap such that the distal ends are no longer optically aligned, and a second position where the movable member does not occupy the gap; wherein the distal ends and the sepa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventor: Christopher E. Cox
  • Publication number: 20200286543
    Abstract: A method is described. The method includes configuring first register space to establish ODT values of a data strobe signal trace of a DDR data bus. The method also includes configuring second register space to establish ODT values of a data signal trace of the DDR data bus. The ODT values for the data strobe signal trace are different than the ODT values for the data signal trace. The ODT values for the data strobe signal do not change when consecutive write operations of the DDR bus write to different ranks of a same DIMM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: James A. McCALL, Christopher P. MOZAK, Christopher E. COX, Yan FU, Robert J. FRIAR, Hsien-Pao YANG
  • Patent number: 10755753
    Abstract: A memory subsystem is enabled with a write pattern command. The write pattern command can have a different command encoding from other write commands. The write pattern command triggers a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device to write a data pattern that is internally generated, instead of a bit pattern on the data signal lines of the data bus. The internally generated data pattern can be read from a register, such as a mode register. In response to a write pattern command, the DRAM device provides the write pattern data from the register to the memory array to write. Thus, the memory controller does not need to send the data to the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Uksong Kang, Christopher E. Cox
  • Publication number: 20200219825
    Abstract: A memory device includes a grounded molding. The memory device includes a substrate having a first surface for a memory die, where the substrate has ground vias through substrate to connect to a ground reference. The substrate has a ball grid array (BGA) on the opposite surface, including perimeter balls to connect to ground connections. The grounded molding includes an electrically conductive epoxy mold to cover the memory die, where the electrical conductivity of the molding, with the molding grounded can provide radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Jaejin LEE, Christopher E. COX, Jun LIAO, Xiang LI
  • Patent number: 10692560
    Abstract: A memory device is described. The memory device includes logic circuitry to perform calibrations of resistive network terminations and data drivers of the memory device while the memory device is within a self refresh mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cox, Bill Nale
  • Publication number: 20200159429
    Abstract: In a memory system an interface circuit includes an interface to a memory array, and to a data signal. The circuit includes loopback circuitry to enable loopback of received data signals without having to access the data from the memory array. The circuit can be part of a memory device, a register device, or a data buffer. The circuit interfaces to a memory array of a memory device, and performs loopback functions for a host controller that can test the operation of the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Dean-Dexter R. EUGENIO, Arvind KUMAR, John R. GOLES, Christopher E. COX
  • Publication number: 20200110551
    Abstract: A chip select training mode (CSTM) enables a memory subsystem to train a chip select signal separately from command bus training. A memory device and a memory controller can connect via a command bus including a chip select signal line. Instead of training the chip select along with other signal lines of the command bus, a CSTM mode enables the memory subsystem to more accurately train the chip select. The memory device can be triggered for CSTM mode with a command, and then train voltage margining for the CS signal line to align chip select signaling with the memory subsystem clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tonia G. MORRIS, Christopher P. MOZAK, Christopher E. COX
  • Patent number: 10613955
    Abstract: A system includes test control circuitry in parallel with power control circuitry. The power control circuitry enables a core processor and memory interface drivers responsive to a reset. The test control circuitry can enable the memory interface drivers separately from the core processor to enable testing of the connections to the memory devices. The test control circuitry is triggered separately from the other power control circuitry, and can be protected to allow only secured access for testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Lakshminarayana Pappu, Navneet Dour, Christopher E. Cox
  • Patent number: 10599206
    Abstract: Examples include techniques to change a mode of operation for a memory device. Examples include using information stored at a memory array of the memory device to program mode registers at the memory device to change the mode of operation to a first mode of operation that corresponds to a frequency set point associated with dynamic voltage and frequency scaling for a processor coupled with the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cox, Uksong Kang
  • Patent number: 10592445
    Abstract: Examples include techniques to access or operate a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) via one or multiple data channels. In some examples, memory devices at or on the DIMM may be accessed via one or more data channels. The one or more data channels arranged such that the DIMM is configured to operate in a dual channel mode that includes two data channels or to operate in a single channel mode that includes a single data channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Bill Nale, Christopher E. Cox, Kuljit S. Bains, George Vergis, James A. McCall, Chong J. Zhao, Suneeta Sah, Pete D. Vogt, John R. Goles
  • Publication number: 20200057718
    Abstract: A cache controller with a pattern recognition mechanism can identify patterns in cache lines. Instead of transmitting the entire data of the cache line to a destination device, the cache controller can generate a meta signal to represent the identified bit pattern. The cache controller transmits the meta signal to the destination in place of at least part of the cache line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Saher Abu RAHME, Christopher E. COX, Joydeep RAY
  • Patent number: 10541018
    Abstract: A method is described. The method includes configuring first register space to establish ODT values of a data strobe signal trace of a DDR data bus. The method also includes configuring second register space to establish ODT values of a data signal trace of the DDR data bus. The ODT values for the data strobe signal trace are different than the ODT values for the data signal trace. The ODT values for the data strobe signal do not change when consecutive write operations of the DDR bus write to different ranks of a same DIMM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: James A. McCall, Christopher P. Mozak, Christopher E. Cox, Yan Fu, Robert J. Friar, Hsien-Pao Yang
  • Publication number: 20190392886
    Abstract: A memory subsystem triggers entry and exit of a memory device from low power mode with a chip select (CS) signal line. For a system where the command bus has no clock enable (CKE) signal line, the system can trigger low power modes with CS instead of CKE. The low power mode can include a powerdown state. The low power mode can include a self-refresh state. The memory device includes an interface to the command bus, and receives a CS signal combined with command encoding on the command bus to trigger a low power mode state change. The memory device can be configured to monitor the CS signal and selected other command signals while in low power mode. The system can send an ODT trigger while the memory device is in low power mode, even without a dedicated ODT signal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher E. COX, Kuljit S. BAINS, Christopher P. MOZAK, James A. McCALL, Akshith VASANTH, Bill NALE