Patents by Inventor Ian Shaeffer

Ian Shaeffer 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).

  • Publication number: 20200388310
    Abstract: A system has a plurality of memory devices arranged in a fly-by topology, each having on-die termination (ODT) circuitry for connecting to an address and control (RQ) bus. The ODT circuitry of each memory device includes a set of one or more control registers for controlling on-die termination of one or more signal lines of the RQ bus. A memory controller sends register values, for storage in a plurality of registers of a respective memory device. The register values include register values that represent one or more impedance values of on-die termination (ODT) impedances to apply to the respective inputs of the respective memory device that receive the CA signals, and one or more register values to selectively enable application of a chip select ODT impedance to the chip select input of the respective memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Kyung Suk Oh
  • Patent number: 10861554
    Abstract: A memory system includes an array of non-volatile memory cells and a memory controller having a first port to receive a program command that addresses a number of the memory cells for a programming operation, having a second port coupled to the memory array via a command pipeline, and configured to create a plurality of fractional program commands in response to the program command. Execution of each fractional program command applies a single program pulse to the addressed memory cells to incrementally program the addressed memory cells with program data, where the duration of the program pulse associated with each fractional program command is a selected fraction of the total programming time typically required to program the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Brent S. Haukness, Ian Shaeffer, Gary Bela Bronner
  • Publication number: 20200349996
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas J. Giovannini, Alok Gupta, Ian Shaeffer, Steven C. Woo
  • Publication number: 20200349997
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a physical layer interface having a control timing domain and a data timing domain, and circuits that enable the control timing domain during a change in power conservation mode in response to a first event, and that enable the data timing domain in response to a second event. The control timing domain can include interface circuits coupled to a command and address path, and the data timing domain can include interface circuits coupled to a data path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Lei Luo, Liji Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20200350914
    Abstract: Local on-die termination controllers for effecting termination of a high-speed signaling links simultaneously engage on-die termination structures within multiple integrated-circuit memory devices disposed on the same memory module, and/or within the same integrated-circuit package, and coupled to the high-speed signaling link. A termination control bus is coupled to memory devices on a module, and provides for peer-to-peer communication of termination control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventor: Ian Shaeffer
  • Patent number: 10810139
    Abstract: A multi-rank memory system in which calibration operations are performed between a memory controller and one rank of memory while data is transferred between the controller and other ranks of memory. A memory controller performs a calibration operation that calibrates parameters pertaining to transmission of data via a first data bus between the memory controller and a memory device in a first rank of memory. While the controller performs the calibration operation, the controller also transfers data with a memory device in a second rank of memory via a second data bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 10770124
    Abstract: A memory device comprising a programmable command-and-address (CA) interface and/or a programmable data interface is described. In an operational mode, two or more CA interfaces may be active. In another operational mode, at least one, but not all, CA interfaces may be active. In an operational mode, all of the data interfaces may be active. In another operational mode, at least one, but not all, data interfaces may be active. The memory device can include circuitry to select: an operational mode; a sub-mode within an operational mode; one or more CA interfaces as the active CA interface(s); a main CA interface from multiple active CA interfaces; and/or one or more data interfaces as the active data interfaces. The circuitry may perform these selection(s) based on one or more bits in one or more registers and/or one or more signals received on one or more pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Lawrence Lai, Fan Ho, David A. Secker, Wayne S. Richardson, Akash Bansal, Brian S. Leibowitz, Kyung Suk Oh
  • Patent number: 10754799
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Best, Ian Shaeffer
  • Patent number: 10747703
    Abstract: A memory device or module selects between alternative command ports. Memory systems with memory modules incorporating such memory devices support point-to-point connectivity and efficient interconnect usage for different numbers of modules. The memory devices and modules can be of programmable data widths. Devices on the same module can be configured select different command ports to facilitate memory threading. Modules can likewise be configured to select different command ports for the same purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Liji Gopalakrishnan, Ian Shaeffer, Yi Lu
  • Publication number: 20200258557
    Abstract: A first timing reference signal and a second timing reference signal are sent to a memory device. The second timing reference signal has approximately a quadrature phase relationship with respect to the first timing reference signal. A plurality of serial data patterns are received from the memory device. The transitions of the first timing reference and the second timing reference determining when transitions occur between the bits of the plurality of data patterns. Timing indicators associated with when received transitions occur between the bits of the plurality of data patterns are received from the memory device. The timing indicators are each measured using a single sampler. Based on the timing indicators, a first duty cycle adjustment for the first timing reference signal, a second duty cycle adjustment for the second timing reference signal, and a quadrature phase adjustment are determined and applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas GIOVANNINI, Scott C. BEST, Lei LUO, Ian SHAEFFER
  • Publication number: 20200234756
    Abstract: Systems, among other embodiments, include topologies (data and/or control/address information) between an integrated circuit buffer device (that may be coupled to a master, such as a memory controller) and a plurality of integrated circuit memory devices. For example, data may be provided between the plurality of integrated circuit memory devices and the integrated circuit buffer device using separate segmented (or point-to-point link) signal paths in response to control/address information provided from the integrated circuit buffer device to the plurality of integrated circuit buffer devices using a single fly-by (or bus) signal path. An integrated circuit buffer device enables configurable effective memory organization of the plurality of integrated circuit memory devices. The memory organization represented by the integrated circuit buffer device to a memory controller may be different than the actual memory organization behind or coupled to the integrated circuit buffer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Ely Tsern, Craig Hampel
  • Patent number: 10720196
    Abstract: A system has a plurality of memory devices arranged in a fly-by topology, each having on-die termination (ODT) circuitry for connecting to an address and control (RQ) bus. The ODT circuitry of each memory device includes a set of one or more control registers for controlling on-die termination of one or more signal lines of the RQ bus. A first memory device includes a first set of one or more control registers storing a first ODT value, for controlling termination of one or more signal lines of the RQ bus by the ODT circuitry of the first memory device, and a second memory device includes a second set of one or more control registers storing a second ODT value different from the first ODT value, for controlling termination of one or more signal lines of the RQ bus by the ODT circuitry of the second memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: RAMBUS INC.
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Kyung Suk Oh
  • Publication number: 20200225878
    Abstract: A memory module comprises a module interface having module data-group ports to communicate data as respective data groups, a command port to receive memory-access commands, a first memory device including a first device data-group port, a second memory device including a second device data-group port, and a signal buffer coupled between the module interface and each of the first and second devices. In a first mode, in response to the memory-access commands, the signal buffer communicates the data group associated with each of the first and second device data-group ports via a respective one of the module data-group ports. In a second mode, in response to the memory-access commands, the signal buffer alternatively communicates the data group associated with the first device data-group port or the data group associated with the second device data-group port via the same one of the module data-group ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventor: Ian Shaeffer
  • Publication number: 20200194052
    Abstract: Systems, among other embodiments, include topologies (data and/or control/address information) between an integrated circuit buffer device (that may be coupled to a master, such as a memory controller) and a plurality of integrated circuit memory devices. For example, data may be provided between the plurality of integrated circuit memory devices and the integrated circuit buffer device using separate segmented (or point-to-point link) signal paths in response to control/address information provided from the integrated circuit buffer device to the plurality of integrated circuit buffer devices using a single fly-by (or bus) signal path. An integrated circuit buffer device enables configurable effective memory organization of the plurality of integrated circuit memory devices. The memory organization represented by the integrated circuit buffer device to a memory controller may be different than the actual memory organization behind or coupled to the integrated circuit buffer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Ely Tsern, Craig Hampel
  • Publication number: 20200194042
    Abstract: A system has a plurality of memory devices arranged in a fly-by topology, each having on-die termination (ODT) circuitry for connecting to an address and control (RQ) bus. The ODT circuitry of each memory device includes a set of one or more control registers for controlling on-die termination of one or more signal lines of the RQ bus. A first memory device includes a first set of one or more control registers storing a first ODT value, for controlling termination of one or more signal lines of the RQ bus by the ODT circuitry of the first memory device, and a second memory device includes a second set of one or more control registers storing a second ODT value different from the first ODT value, for controlling termination of one or more signal lines of the RQ bus by the ODT circuitry of the second memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Kyung Suk Oh
  • Patent number: 10680612
    Abstract: Local on-die termination controllers for effecting termination of a high-speed signaling links simultaneously engage on-die termination structures within multiple integrated-circuit memory devices disposed on the same memory module, and/or within the same integrated-circuit package, and coupled to the high-speed signaling link. A termination control bus is coupled to memory devices on a module, and provides for peer-to-peer communication of termination control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Shaeffer
  • Patent number: 10672458
    Abstract: Systems, among other embodiments, include topologies (data and/or control/address information) between an integrated circuit buffer device (that may be coupled to a master, such as a memory controller) and a plurality of integrated circuit memory devices. For example, data may be provided between the plurality of integrated circuit memory devices and the integrated circuit buffer device using separate segmented (or point-to-point link) signal paths in response to control/address information provided from the integrated circuit buffer device to the plurality of integrated circuit buffer devices using a single fly-by (or bus) signal path. An integrated circuit buffer device enables configurable effective memory organization of the plurality of integrated circuit memory devices. The memory organization represented by the integrated circuit buffer device to a memory controller may be different than the actual memory organization behind or coupled to the integrated circuit buffer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Ely Tsern, Craig Hampel
  • Patent number: 10665289
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a physical layer interface having a control timing domain and a data timing domain, and circuits that enable the control timing domain during a change in power conservation mode in response to a first event, and that enable the data timing domain in response to a second event. The control timing domain can include interface circuits coupled to a command and address path, and the data timing domain can include interface circuits coupled to a data path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Lei Luo, Liji Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20200142819
    Abstract: A method of programming data into a memory device including an array of memory cells is disclosed. The method comprises receiving at least one program command that addresses a number of the memory cells for a programming operation to program data in the memory cells. The at least one program command is executed by iteratively carrying out at least one program/verify cycle to incrementally program the addressed memory cells with the program data. A secondary command may be selectively received after initiating but before completing the programming operation. The programming operation may be selectively resumed by first verifying the memory cells, then carrying out at least one program/verify cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Brent S. Haukness
  • Patent number: 10607685
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Giovannini, Alok Gupta, Ian Shaeffer, Steven C. Woo