Patents by Inventor John W. Poulton

John W. Poulton 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: 11960344
    Abstract: A memory controller component of a memory system stores memory access requests within a transaction queue until serviced so that, over time, the transaction queue alternates between occupied and empty states. The memory controller transitions the memory system to a low power mode in response to detecting the transaction queue is has remained in the empty state for a predetermined time. In the transition to the low power mode, the memory controller disables oscillation of one or more timing signals required to time data signaling operations within synchronous communication circuits of one or more attached memory devices and also disables one or more power consuming circuits within the synchronous communication circuits of the one or more memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Robert E. Palmer, John W. Poulton, Andrew M. Fuller
  • Patent number: 11941256
    Abstract: A system includes a memory controller and a memory device having a command interface, refresh circuitry, control logic, and a plurality of memory banks, each with a plurality of rows of memory cells. The command interface is operable to receive a refresh command from a memory controller and the refresh circuitry is configured to perform one or more refresh operations to refresh data stored in at least one bank of the plurality of memory banks during a refresh time interval in response to the refresh command from the memory controller. The control logic is to configure the command interface to enter a calibration mode during the refresh time interval, and the command interface is configured to perform a calibration operation in the calibration mode during the refresh time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: RAMBUS INC.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Robert E. Palmer, John W. Poulton
  • Patent number: 11875870
    Abstract: In a data transmission system, one or more signal supply voltages for generating the signaling voltage of a signal to be transmitted are generated in a first circuit and forwarded from the first circuit to a second circuit. The second circuit may use the forwarded signal supply voltages to generate another signal to be transmitted back from the second circuit to the first circuit, thereby obviating the need to generate signal supply voltages separately in the second circuit. The first circuit may also adjust the signal supply voltages based on the signal transmitted back from the second circuit to the first circuit. The data transmission system may employ a single-ended signaling system in which the signaling voltage is referenced to a reference voltage that is a power supply voltage such as ground, shared by the first circuit and the second circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Best, John W. Poulton
  • Publication number: 20230412213
    Abstract: A single-ended data transmission system transmits a signal having a signal voltage that is referenced to a power supply voltage and that swings above and below the power supply voltage. The power supply voltage is coupled to a power supply rail that also serves as a signal return path. The signal voltage is derived from two signal supply voltages generated by a pair of charge pumps that draw substantially same amount of current from a power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: John W. POULTON, Frederick A. WARE, Carl W. WERNER
  • Patent number: 11829170
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed related to low-power dynamic offset calibration of an error amplifier. An analog linear voltage regulator circuit tracks changes between a reference voltage and a regulated voltage to keep the regulated voltage as close as possible to the reference voltage. The analog linear voltage regulator includes an error amplifier that measures the error between the reference and regulated voltages and feedback circuitry. The error amplifier and feedback circuitry should be calibrated to correct for any offset within the circuits. The described offset calibration technique not only compensates for the offset in the error amplifier but also cancels any mismatch in the feedback network. During operation, conditions such as temperature and supply voltage may vary causing the offset to change. The technique is low power and dynamically cancels the offset even when the linear regulator is operating to supply the desired voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Poulton, Sudhir Shrikantha Kudva, John Michael Wilson
  • Publication number: 20230244293
    Abstract: A memory controller component of a memory system stores memory access requests within a transaction queue until serviced so that, over time, the transaction queue alternates between occupied and empty states. The memory controller transitions the memory system to a low power mode in response to detecting the transaction queue is has remained in the empty state for a predetermined time. In the transition to the low power mode, the memory controller disables oscillation of one or more timing signals required to time data signaling operations within synchronous communication circuits of one or more attached memory devices and also disables one or more power consuming circuits within the synchronous communication circuits of the one or more memory devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Robert E. Palmer, John W. Poulton, Andrew M. Fuller
  • Patent number: 11689246
    Abstract: A single-ended data transmission system transmits a signal having a signal voltage that is referenced to a power supply voltage and that swings above and below the power supply voltage. The power supply voltage is coupled to a power supply rail that also serves as a signal return path. The signal voltage is derived from two signal supply voltages generated by a pair of charge pumps that draw substantially same amount of current from a power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Poulton, Frederick A. Ware, Carl W. Werner
  • Publication number: 20230145487
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed related to low-power dynamic offset calibration of an error amplifier. An analog linear voltage regulator circuit tracks changes between a reference voltage and a regulated voltage to keep the regulated voltage as close as possible to the reference voltage. The analog linear voltage regulator includes an error amplifier that measures the error between the reference and regulated voltages and feedback circuitry. The error amplifier and feedback circuitry should be calibrated to correct for any offset within the circuits. The described offset calibration technique not only compensates for the offset in the error amplifier but also cancels any mismatch in the feedback network. During operation, conditions such as temperature and supply voltage may vary causing the offset to change. The technique is low power and dynamically cancels the offset even when the linear regulator is operating to supply the desired voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: John W. Poulton, Sudhir Shrikantha Kudva, John Michael Wilson
  • Patent number: 11556164
    Abstract: A memory controller component of a memory system stores memory access requests within a transaction queue until serviced so that, over time, the transaction queue alternates between occupied and empty states. The memory controller transitions the memory system to a low power mode in response to detecting the transaction queue is has remained in the empty state for a predetermined time. In the transition to the low power mode, the memory controller disables oscillation of one or more timing signals required to time data signaling operations within synchronous communication circuits of one or more attached memory devices and also disables one or more power consuming circuits within the synchronous communication circuits of the one or more memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Robert E. Palmer, John W. Poulton, Andrew M. Fuller
  • Patent number: 11507280
    Abstract: A system includes a memory controller and a memory device having a command interface and a plurality of memory banks, each with a plurality of rows of memory cells. The memory controller transmits an auto-refresh command to the memory device. Responsive to the auto-refresh command, during a first time interval, the memory device performs refresh operations to refresh the memory cells and the command interface of the memory device is placed into a calibration mode for the duration of the first time interval. Concurrently, during at least a portion of the first time interval, the memory controller performs a calibration of a data interface circuit of the memory device. The auto-refresh command may specify an order in which memory banks of the memory device are to be refreshed, such that the memory device sequentially refreshes a respective row in the plurality of memory banks in the specified bank order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: RAMBUS INC.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Robert E. Palmer, John W. Poulton
  • Publication number: 20220343953
    Abstract: In a data transmission system, one or more signal supply voltages for generating the signaling voltage of a signal to be transmitted are generated in a first circuit and forwarded from the first circuit to a second circuit. The second circuit may use the forwarded signal supply voltages to generate another signal to be transmitted back from the second circuit to the first circuit, thereby obviating the need to generate signal supply voltages separately in the second circuit. The first circuit may also adjust the signal supply voltages based on the signal transmitted back from the second circuit to the first circuit. The data transmission system may employ a single-ended signaling system in which the signaling voltage is referenced to a reference voltage that is a power supply voltage such as ground, shared by the first circuit and the second circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Scott C. BEST, John W. POULTON
  • Publication number: 20220291848
    Abstract: A system includes a memory controller and a memory device having a command interface, refresh circuitry, control logic, and a plurality of memory banks, each with a plurality of rows of memory cells. The command interface is operable to receive a refresh command from a memory controller and the refresh circuitry is configured to perform one or more refresh operations to refresh data stored in at least one bank of the plurality of memory banks during a refresh time interval in response to the refresh command from the memory controller. The control logic is to configure the command interface to enter a calibration mode during the refresh time interval, and the command interface is configured to perform a calibration operation in the calibration mode during the refresh time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Robert E. Palmer, John W. Poulton
  • Publication number: 20220103405
    Abstract: A signaling system includes a pre-emphasizing transmitter and an equalizing receiver coupled to one another via a high-speed signal path. The receiver measures the quality of data conveyed from the transmitter. A controller uses this information and other information to adaptively establish appropriate transmit pre-emphasis and receive equalization settings, e.g. to select the lowest power setting for which the signaling system provides some minimum communication bandwidth without exceeding a desired bit-error rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Jared L. Zerbe, Fred F. Chen, Andrew Ho, Ramin Farjad-Rad, John W. Poulton, Kevin S. Donnelly, Brian S. Leibowitz, Vladimir Stojanovic
  • Patent number: 11282549
    Abstract: In a data transmission system, one or more signal supply voltages for generating the signaling voltage of a signal to be transmitted are generated in a first circuit and forwarded from the first circuit to a second circuit. The second circuit may use the forwarded signal supply voltages to generate another signal to be transmitted back from the second circuit to the first circuit, thereby obviating the need to generate signal supply voltages separately in the second circuit. The first circuit may also adjust the signal supply voltages based on the signal transmitted back from the second circuit to the first circuit. The data transmission system may employ a single-ended signaling system in which the signaling voltage is referenced to a reference voltage that is a power supply voltage such as ground, shared by the first circuit and the second circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Best, John W. Poulton
  • Publication number: 20220045719
    Abstract: A single-ended data transmission system transmits a signal having a signal voltage that is referenced to a power supply voltage and that swings above and below the power supply voltage. The power supply voltage is coupled to a power supply rail that also serves as a signal return path. The signal voltage is derived from two signal supply voltages generated by a pair of charge pumps that draw substantially same amount of current from a power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: John W. POULTON, Frederick A. WARE, Carl W. WERNER
  • Patent number: 11165613
    Abstract: A signaling system includes a pre-emphasizing transmitter and an equalizing receiver coupled to one another via a high-speed signal path. The receiver measures the quality of data conveyed from the transmitter. A controller uses this information and other information to adaptively establish appropriate transmit pre-emphasis and receive equalization settings, e.g. to select the lowest power setting for which the signaling system provides some minimum communication bandwidth without exceeding a desired bit-error rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Jared L. Zerbe, Fred F. Chen, Andrew Ho, Ramin Farjad-Rad, John W. Poulton, Kevin S. Donnelly, Brian S. Leibowitz, Vladimir Stojanovic
  • Publication number: 20210232203
    Abstract: A memory controller component of a memory system stores memory access requests within a transaction queue until serviced so that, over time, the transaction queue alternates between occupied and empty states. The memory controller transitions the memory system to a low power mode in response to detecting the transaction queue is has remained in the empty state for a predetermined time. In the transition to the low power mode, the memory controller disables oscillation of one or more timing signals required to time data signaling operations within synchronous communication circuits of one or more attached memory devices and also disables one or more power consuming circuits within the synchronous communication circuits of the one or more memory devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Robert E. Palmer, John W. Poulton, Andrew M. Fuller
  • Patent number: 11075671
    Abstract: A single-ended data transmission system transmits a signal having a signal voltage that is referenced to a power supply voltage and that swings above and below the power supply voltage. The power supply voltage is coupled to a power supply rail that also serves as a signal return path. The signal voltage is derived from two signal supply voltages generated by a pair of charge pumps that draw substantially same amount of current from a power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Poulton, Frederick A. Ware, Carl W. Werner
  • Publication number: 20210090614
    Abstract: In a data transmission system, one or more signal supply voltages for generating the signaling voltage of a signal to be transmitted are generated in a first circuit and forwarded from the first circuit to a second circuit. The second circuit may use the forwarded signal supply voltages to generate another signal to be transmitted back from the second circuit to the first circuit, thereby obviating the need to generate signal supply voltages separately in the second circuit. The first circuit may also adjust the signal supply voltages based on the signal transmitted back from the second circuit to the first circuit. The data transmission system may employ a single-ended signaling system in which the signaling voltage is referenced to a reference voltage that is a power supply voltage such as ground, shared by the first circuit and the second circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Scott C. BEST, John W. POULTON
  • Patent number: 10901485
    Abstract: A memory controller component of a memory system stores memory access requests within a transaction queue until serviced so that, over time, the transaction queue alternates between occupied and empty states. The memory controller transitions the memory system to a low power mode in response to detecting the transaction queue is has remained in the empty state for a predetermined time. In the transition to the low power mode, the memory controller disables oscillation of one or more timing signals required to time data signaling operations within synchronous communication circuits of one or more attached memory devices and also disables one or more power consuming circuits within the synchronous communication circuits of the one or more memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Robert E. Palmer, John W. Poulton, Andrew M. Fuller