Abstract: In a system comprising a current controlling device and a plurality of signal lines coupled to the current controlling device, wherein the current controlling device has an output driver including a register, an improved method for setting a current of the output driver for at least one of the plurality of signal lines. The improved method determines a reference register-setting for the register of the current controlling device. The reference register-setting corresponds to a reference voltage for at least one of the plurality of signal lines. A target register-setting is then determined for the register based on the reference register-setting. The target register-setting corresponds to a target voltage for at least one of the plurality of signal lines, wherein the target voltage produces an appropriate swing about the reference voltage. An operational register-setting is then determined for the register based on the target register-setting.

Abstract: A chip socket assembly provides for the mechanical and electrical coupling of edge-mountable chips to a bus of a circuit board with relative ease. An edge-mountable chip may be placed in a slot defined by a base. A clip may be attached to the base to retain the chip in the base. Alternatively, the base and the package of the chip may be configured such that the chip mates with the base in retaining the chip in the base. With the chip socket assembly, users may add, remove, or replace single chips and therefore expand the functionality of a system with the granularity of a single chip in a relatively easy manner. A chip file assembly may also be used to provide for the mechanical and electrical coupling of a plurality of edge-mountable chips to a bus of a circuit board with relative ease. Assemblies for securing horizontal chip packages are also described.

Abstract: A system for transmitting information from a source to a destination using multilevel signaling. Multiple conductors are coupled between the transmission source and the transmission destination. Multiple drivers are coupled to the conductors at the transmission source. Each driver is coupled to a pair of conductors. Multiple comparators are coupled to the conductors at the transmission destination. Each comparator is coupled to a pair of conductors. The information is encoded into a sequence of symbols in which each symbol represents a unique permutation of signal levels on the conductors. Each signal level is used at least once for each symbol. All signal levels associated with a particular symbol are transmitted over the conductors simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an integrated circuit package is provided. The integrated circuit package is designed for coupling an integrated circuit to a printed circuit board. The integrated circuit package includes a base having a bottom and a side. A flex circuit having traces therein is coupled to the base. The traces in the flex circuit are designed to couple to the leads of the integrated circuit. The traces further are designed to couple to traces on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: Additional operating modes are provided to enhance the functionality and performance of a memory system. In one embodiment, a unique bit mask is supplied with the write data used in each column access. In an alternate embodiment, a bit mask register and byte mask register are provided to support bit level and byte level masking. The bit mask and write data registers are realized as a single register to provide the functionality while minimizing component space and cost. In another embodiment, a separate bit mask and byte mask are provided. The byte mask is loaded with mask data in one cycle and is used during the next "q" column write accesses. This structure provides for operating modes with no bit masking, with bit masks supplied for every row access, and with bit masks supplied with every column access.

Abstract: Additional operating modes are provided to enhance the functionality and performance of a memory system. In one embodiment, a unique bit mask is supplied with the write data used in each column access. In an alternate embodiment, a bit mask register and byte mask register are provided to support bit level and byte level masking. The bit mask and write data registers are realized as a single register to provide the functionality while minimizing component space and cost. In another embodiment, a separate bit mask and byte mask are provided. The byte mask is loaded with mask data in one cycle and is used during the next "q" column write accesses. This structure provides for operating modes with no bit masking, with bit masks supplied for every row access, and with bit masks supplied with every column access.

Abstract: Additional operating modes are provided to enhance the functionality and performance of a memory system. In one embodiment, a unique bit mask is supplied with the write data used in each column access. In an alternate embodiment, a bit mask register and byte mask register are provided to support bit level and byte level masking. The bit mask and write data registers are realized as a single register to provide the functionality while minimizing component space and cost. In another embodiment, a separate bit mask and byte mask are provided. The byte mask is loaded with mask data in one cycle and is used during the next "q" column write accesses. This structure provides for operating modes with no bit masking, with bit masks supplied for every row access, and with bit masks supplied with every column access.

Abstract: Additional modes are provided to enhance the functionality and performance of a memory system. In one embodiment, a unique bit mask is supplied with the write data used in each column access. In an alternate embodiment, a bit mask register and byte mask register are provided to support bit level and byte level masking. The bit mask and write data registers are realized as a single register to provide the functionality while minimizing component space and cost. In another embodiment, a separate bit mask and byte mask are provided. The byte mask is loaded with mask data in one cycle and is used during the next "q" column write accesses. This structure provides for operating modes with no bit masking, with bit masks supplied for every row access, and with bit masks supplied with every column access.

Abstract: A modular bus permitting single or double termination is described. The bus includes a terminated motherboard data net for communicating data signals between a master and one or more motherboard devices. A socket is used for coupling the data signals between the motherboard data net and a terminated module data net of a removable module. The module data net communicates the data signals between the master and one or more module devices. The data signal swing and level of reflection of the data signals are substantially independent of the presence of the module.

Abstract: A modular bus permitting single or double termination is described. The bus includes a terminated motherboard data net for communicating data signals between a master and one or more motherboard devices. A socket is used for coupling the data signals between the motherboard data net and a terminated module data net of a removable module. The module data net communicates the data signals between the master and one or more module devices. The data signal swing and level of reflection of the data signals are substantially independent of the presence of the module.

Abstract: As interfaces to DRAMs become more advanced and higher performance, the interfaces and signal lines required to support the interface become more expensive to implement. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the number of signal lines and maximize the bandwidth of the signal lines interfacing to the DRAM in order to take advantage of the high performance of the signal lines in the interface. In the DRAM memory system of the present invention, the address and control lines and are combined and the information multiplexed such that the DRAM pins have roughly equal information rate at all times.

Abstract: A synchronous DRAM system with internal refresh is controlled by a refresh signal issued by an oscillator or memory controller coupled to the DRAM. By locating the oscillator on the processor or memory controller better control of the frequency of refresh is achieved, particularly, as the signal can be derived from a crystal which is not sensitive to variations in operating conditions. The oscillator drives a refresh signal on a bus or signal line to the DRAM, such that the refresh address counter is incremented and the row identified by the refresh address counter is refreshed.

Abstract: As interfaces to DRAMs become more advanced and higher performance, the interfaces and signal lines required to support the interface become more expensive to implement. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the number of signal lines and maximize the bandwidth of the signal lines interfacing to the DRAM in order to take advantage of the high performance of the signal lines in the interface. In the DRAM memory system of the present invention, the address and control lines and are combined and the information multiplexed such that the DRAM pins have roughly equal information rate at all times.

Abstract: As interfaces to DRAMs become more advanced and higher performance, the interfaces and signal lines required to support the interface become more expensive to implement. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the number of signal lines and maximize the bandwidth of the signal lines interfacing to the DRAM in order to take advantage of the high performance of the signal lines in the interface. In the DRAM memory system of the present invention, the address and control lines and are combined and the information multiplexed such that the DRAM pins have roughly equal information rate at all times.

Abstract: A power control circuit to minimize power consumption of CMOS circuits by disabling/enabling the clock input to the CMOS circuit. A phase locked loop (PLL) or delay locked loop (DLL) drives a capacitive load of the component and a dummy load comparable to the component load. A standby latch is provided to control the clock input to the component. In a standby state, the clock signal is not provided to the component but the PLL/DLL continues to operate, driving the dummy load. Thus, when it is desirable to power on the circuit, the standby latch is reset and the clock signal is provided to the component, thereby turning on the component with little latency.

Abstract: An emulating data processor includes a host system and an emulating processor with outputs to and inputs from the host system. The emulating processor executes sequences of instructions executable by a PC being emulated, but a host processor independently executes sequences of its instructions which are different from PC instructions. Circuitry monitors the emulating processor outputs and provides information to the host system so that it can emulate the environment of the PC CPU, emulating both memory and I/O devices. The memory accesses of the emulating processor are mapped into the host system memory, so that the host processor is protected from defective PC software on the emulating processor. The display updates of the emulating processor are detected and provide information for the host processor in updating a part of its display which provides the information a PC display would provide simultaneously with the display characteristic of the host system.

Abstract: An emulating data processor includes a host system and an emulating processor with outputs to and inputs from the host system. The emulating processor executes sequences of instructions executable by a PC being emulated, but a host processor independently executes sequences of its instructions which are different from PC instructions. Circuitry monitors the emulating processor outputs and provides information to the host system so that it can emulate the environment of the PC CPU, emulating both memory and I/O devices. The memory accesses of the emulating processor are mapped into the host system memory, so that the host processor is protected from defective PC software on the emulating processor. The display updates of the emulating processor are detected and provide information for the host processor in updating a part of its display which provides the information a PC display would provide simultaneously with the display characteristic of the host system.