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: 9323711
    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: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Horowitz, Craig E. Hampel, Alfredo Moncayo, Kevin S. Donnelly, Jared L. Zerbe
  • Patent number: 9311976
    Abstract: A memory module having integrated circuit (IC) components, a termination structure, an address/control signal path, a clock signal path, multiple data signal paths and multiple strobe signal paths. The strobe signal paths and data signal paths are coupled to respective IC components, and the address/control signal path and clock signal path are coupled in common to all the IC components. The address/control signal path extends along the IC components to the termination structure such that control signals propagating toward the termination structure arrive at address/control inputs of respective IC components at progressively later times corresponding to relative positions of the IC components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Ely K. Tsern, Richard E. Perego, Craig E. Hampel
  • Patent number: 9292223
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Craig E. Hampel, Wayne S. Richardson, Chad A. Bellows, Lawrence Lai
  • Publication number: 20160056948
    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: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Richard E. Perego, Craig E. Hampel
  • Patent number: 9257151
    Abstract: Described is a printed-circuit board (PCB) that supports memory systems in which the memory core organization changes with device width. The PCB includes a memory-controller mounting location and module connectors to receive respective memory modules. Each module connector connects directly to the controller mounting location via a respective set of system data lines that does not connect to any other module connector. System data lines also extend directly between module connectors to support memory configurations with different numbers of modules. The memory systems support one memory module of a wide data width or multiple memory modules of narrower data widths. The number of physical memory banks accessed reduces with device data width, resulting in reduced power usage for relatively narrow memory configurations. Increasing the number of logic memory banks for narrow memory widths reduces the likelihood of bank conflicts, and consequently improves speed performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Perego, Donald C. Stark, Frederick A. Ware, Ely K. Tsern, Craig E. Hampel
  • Patent number: 9257159
    Abstract: A method of operation within a memory device is disclosed. The method comprises receiving address information and corresponding enable information in association with a memory access request. The address information includes a row address that specifies a row of storage cells within a storage array of the memory device, and the enable information includes first and second enable values that correspond respectively to first and second storage locations within the row of storage cells. The method involves selectively transferring data between the first and second storage locations and sense amplifier circuitry according to states of the first and second enable values. This includes transferring data between the first storage location and the sense amplifier circuitry if the first enable value is in an enable state and transferring data between the second storage location and the sense amplifier circuitry if the second enable value is in the enable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Ely K. Tsern, Craig E. Hampel
  • Patent number: 9256557
    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: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Frederick A. Ware
  • Publication number: 20160028728
    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: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Jean-Michel Cioranesco, Rodrigo Portella do Canto, Guilherme Ozari de Almeida, Christopher Gori
  • Publication number: 20160026599
    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: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Mark A. Horowitz, Craig E. Hampel, Alfredo Moncayo, Kevin S. Donnelly, Jared L. Zerbe
  • Publication number: 20160011933
    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: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Craig E. Hampel
  • Patent number: 9170894
    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. The error indication causes the memory device to remove the received address and prevent a memory operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Craig E. Hampel
  • Patent number: 9160466
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Frederick A. Ware, Richard E. Perego
  • Publication number: 20150286408
    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 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Richard E. Perego, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Ely K. Tsern, Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 9152581
    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: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Horowitz, Craig E. Hampel, Alfredo Moncayo, Kevin S. Donnelly, Jared L. Zerbe
  • Publication number: 20150260786
    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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Scott C. Best
  • Patent number: 9135967
    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: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Inventors: Mark A. Horowitz, Craig E. Hampel, Alfredo Moncayo, Kevin S. Donnelly, Jared L. Zerbe
  • Patent number: 9135186
    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: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Horowitz, Craig E. Hampel, Alfredo Moncayo, Kevin S. Donnelly, Jared L. Zerbe
  • Publication number: 20150256325
    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: May 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Frederick A. Ware, Richard E. Perego
  • Patent number: 9123433
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: RAMBUS INC.
    Inventors: Craig E. Hampel, Richard E. Perego, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Ely K. Tsern, Frederick A. Ware
  • Publication number: 20150234738
    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: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Craig E. Hampel