Patents by Inventor Craig E. Hampel

Craig E. Hampel 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: 10241940
    Abstract: A memory module includes a substrate, plural memory devices, and a buffer. The plural memory devices are organized into at least one rank, each memory device having plural banks. The buffer includes a primary interface for communicating with a memory controller and a secondary interface coupled to the plural memory devices. For each bank of each rank of memory devices, the buffer includes data buffer circuitry and address buffer circuitry. The data buffer circuitry includes first storage to store write data transferred during a bank cycle interval (tRR). The address buffer circuitry includes second storage to store address information corresponding to the data stored in the first storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Craig E. Hampel
  • Patent number: 10236051
    Abstract: A memory controller component includes transmit circuitry and adjusting circuitry. The transmit circuitry transmits a clock signal and write data to a DRAM, the write data to be sampled by the DRAM using a timing signal. The adjusting circuitry adjusts transmit timing of the write data and of the timing signal such that an edge transition of the timing signal is aligned with an edge transition of the clock signal at the DRAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Ely K. Tsern, Richard E. Perego, Craig E. Hampel
  • Patent number: 10191866
    Abstract: A memory module having reduced access granularity. The memory module includes a substrate having signal lines thereon that form a control path and first and second data paths, and further includes first and second memory devices coupled in common to the control path and coupled respectively to the first and second data paths. The first and second memory devices include control circuitry to receive respective first and second memory access commands via the control path and to effect concurrent data transfer on the first and second data paths in response to the first and second memory access commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 10192609
    Abstract: A memory component includes a memory core comprising dynamic random access memory (DRAM) storage cells and a first circuit to receive external commands. The external commands include a read command that specifies transmitting data accessed from the memory core. The memory component also includes a second circuit to transmit data onto an external bus in response to a read command and pattern register circuitry operable during calibration to provide at least a first data pattern and a second data pattern. During the calibration, a selected one of the first data pattern and the second data pattern is transmitted by the second circuit onto the external bus in response to a read command received during the calibration. Further, at least one of the first and second data patterns is written to the pattern register circuitry in response to a write command received during the calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Richard E. Perego, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Ely K. Tsern, Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 10152408
    Abstract: Improvements are disclosed for “leveling” or averaging out more evenly the number of activate/precharge cycles seen by the rows of a memory component, so that one or more particular rows are not excessively stressed (relative to the other rows). In one embodiment, a memory controller includes remapping facilities arranged to move data stored in a physical row from RPK to RPK? and modify the mapping from logical row RLK while minimizing impact on normal read/write operations. Remapping operations may be scheduled relative to refresh or other maintenance operations. Remapping operations may be conditionally deferred so as to minimize performance impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Craig E. Hampel
  • Publication number: 20180203759
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting and correcting address errors in a memory system. In the memory system, a memory device generates an error-detection code based on an address transmitted via an address bus and transmits the error-detection code to a memory controller. The memory controller transmits an error indication to the memory device in response to the error-detection code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Craig E. Hampel
  • Publication number: 20180157615
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a transmitter circuit including an output driver. The integrated circuit device includes a first register to store a value representative of a drive strength setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the drive strength setting. The integrated circuit device also includes a second register to store a value representative of an equalization setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the equalization setting. The integrated circuit device further includes a third register to store a value representative of a slew rate setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the slew rate setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Mark A. Horowitz, Craig E. Hampel, Alfredo Moncayo, Kevin S. Donnelly, Jared L. Zerbe
  • Patent number: 9970986
    Abstract: Systems and methods for authenticating integrated circuits. An example integrated circuit may comprise: a plurality of functional units electrically coupled to a power source; and an authenticating circuit comprising a plurality of voltage measurement units, each voltage measurement unit to measure, at one or more frequencies over one or more periods of time, a local voltage at a respective functional unit of the plurality of functional units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Cryptography Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Scott C. Best
  • Patent number: 9870283
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting and correcting address errors in a memory system. In the memory system, a memory device generates an error-detection code based on an address transmitted via an address bus and transmits the error-detection code to a memory controller. The memory controller transmits an error indication to the memory device in response to the error-detection code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Craig E. Hampel
  • Publication number: 20180012644
    Abstract: A memory controller component includes transmit circuitry and adjusting circuitry. The transmit circuitry transmits a clock signal and write data to a DRAM, the write data to be sampled by the DRAM using a timing signal. The adjusting circuitry adjusts transmit timing of the write data and of the timing signal such that an edge transition of the timing signal is aligned with an edge transition of the clock signal at the DRAM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Ely K. Tsern, Richard E. Perego, Craig E. Hampel
  • Publication number: 20180012643
    Abstract: A memory component includes a memory core comprising dynamic random access memory (DRAM) storage cells and a first circuit to receive external commands. The external commands include a read command that specifies transmitting data accessed from the memory core. The memory component also includes a second circuit to transmit data onto an external bus in response to a read command and pattern register circuitry operable during calibration to provide at least a first data pattern and a second data pattern. During the calibration, a selected one of the first data pattern and the second data pattern is transmitted by the second circuit onto the external bus in response to a read command received during the calibration. Further, at least one of the first and second data patterns is written to the pattern register circuitry in response to a write command received during the calibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Richard E. Perego, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Ely K. Tsern, Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 9853974
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing access control by systems-on-chip (SoCs). An example SoC may comprise an access control unit employed to: receive a message comprising an access control data item; validate the message using a value of a message digest function of contents of the message and a value of a state variable reflecting a state of communications between the access control unit and a programming agent that has initiated the message, wherein the value of the state variable is derived from a previous value of the message digest function calculated within a current communication session between the access control unit and the programming agent; update the state variable using the value of the message digest function of the contents of the message; and control, using the access control data item, access by an initiator device to a target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Cryptography Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Jean-Michel Cioranesco, Rodrigo Portella do Canto, Guilherme Ozari de Almeida, Christopher Gori
  • Patent number: 9852105
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a transmitter circuit including an output driver. The integrated circuit device includes a first register to store a value representative of a drive strength setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the drive strength setting. The integrated circuit device also includes a second register to store a value representative of an equalization setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the equalization setting. The integrated circuit device further includes a third register to store a value representative of a slew rate setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the slew rate setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Horowitz, Craig E. Hampel, Alfredo Moncayo, Kevin S. Donnelly, Jared L. Zerbe
  • Publication number: 20170337144
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Ely Tsern, John Eric Linstadt, Thomas J. Giovannini, Craig E. Hampel, Scott C. Best, John Yan
  • Patent number: 9824036
    Abstract: Described are memory systems in which a memory controller issues commands and addresses to multiple memory modules that collectively support each read and write transactions. A common set of control signal lines from the controller communicates the same command and address signals to the modules. For write commands, the controller sends subsets of write data to each module over a respective subset of data lines. For read commands, each module responds with a subset of the requested data over the respective subset of data lines. The memory modules can be width configurable so that a single full-width module can connect to both subsets of data lines to convey full-width data, or two half-width modules can connect one each to the subsets of data lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Perego, Donald C. Stark, Frederick A. Ware, Ely K. Tsern, Craig E. Hampel
  • Publication number: 20170331615
    Abstract: A method and system provides for execution of calibration cycles from time to time during normal operation of the communication channel. A calibration cycle includes de-coupling the normal data source from the transmitter and supplying a calibration pattern in its place. The calibration pattern is received from the communication link using the receiver on the second component. A calibrated value of a parameter of the communication channel is determined in response to the received calibration pattern. The steps involved in calibration cycles can be reordered to account for utilization patterns of the communication channel. For bidirectional links, calibration cycles are executed which include the step of storing received calibration patterns on the second component, and retransmitting such calibration patterns back to the first component for use in adjusting parameters of the channel at first component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Richard E. Perego, Craig E. Hampel
  • Publication number: 20170329719
    Abstract: A memory module having reduced access granularity. The memory module includes a substrate having signal lines thereon that form a control path and first and second data paths, and further includes first and second memory devices coupled in common to the control path and coupled respectively to the first and second data paths. The first and second memory devices include control circuitry to receive respective first and second memory access commands via the control path and to effect concurrent data transfer on the first and second data paths in response to the first and second memory access commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Frederick A. Ware
  • Publication number: 20170317768
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Frederick A. Ware, Richard E. Perego
  • Publication number: 20170286017
    Abstract: A micro-threaded memory device. A plurality of storage banks are provided, each including a plurality of rows of storage cells and having an access restriction in that at least a minimum access time interval must transpire between successive accesses to a given row of the storage cells. Transfer control circuitry is provided to transfer a first amount of data between the plurality of storage banks and an external signal path in response to a first memory access request, the first amount of data being less than a product of the external signal path bandwidth and the minimum access time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Craig E. Hampel, Wayne S. Richardson, Chad A. Bellows, Lawrence Lai
  • Patent number: 9741424
    Abstract: A memory controller component includes transmit circuitry and adjusting circuitry. The transmit circuitry transmits a clock signal and write data to a DRAM, the write data to be sampled by the DRAM using a timing signal. The adjusting circuitry adjusts transmit timing of the write data and of the timing signal such that an edge transition of the timing signal is aligned with an edge transition of the clock signal at the DRAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Ely K. Tsern, Richard E. Perego, Craig E. Hampel