Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Giovannini

Thomas A. Giovannini 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: 10169258
    Abstract: A mother board topology including a processor operable to be coupled to one or more communication channels for communicating commands. The topology includes a first communication channel electrically coupling a first set of two or more dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) and a first primary data buffer on a mother board. The topology includes a second communication channel electrically coupling a second set of two or more DIMMs and a second primary data buffer on the mother board. The topology includes a third channel electrically coupling the first primary data buffer, the primary second data buffer, and the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Chi-Ming Yeung, Yoshie Nakabayashi, Thomas Giovannini, Henry Stracovsky
  • Publication number: 20180137902
    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: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Giovannini, Scott Best, Lei Luo, Ian Shaeffer
  • Patent number: 9824730
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Giovannini, Scott C Best, Lei Luo, Ian Shaeffer
  • Publication number: 20160364347
    Abstract: A mother board topology including a processor operable to be coupled to one or more communication channels for communicating commands. The topology includes a first communication channel electrically coupling a first set of two or more dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) and a first primary data buffer on a mother board. The topology includes a second communication channel electrically coupling a second set of two or more DIMMs and a second primary data buffer on the mother board. The topology includes a third channel electrically coupling the first primary data buffer, the primary second data buffer, and the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Chi-Ming YEUNG, Yoshie NAKABAYASHI, Thomas GIOVANNINI, Henry STRACOVSKY
  • Publication number: 20160343418
    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: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Giovannini, Scott Best, Lei Luo, Ian Shaeffer
  • Publication number: 20160314822
    Abstract: System and method for training and performing operations (e.g., read and write operations) on a double buffered memory topology. In some embodiments, eight DIMMs are coupled to a single channel. The training and operations schemes are configured with timing and signaling to allow training and operations with the double buffered memory topology. In some embodiments, the double buffered memory topology includes one or more buffers on a system board (e.g., motherboard).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Chi-Ming YEUNG, Yoshie NAKABAYASHI, Thomas GIOVANNINI, Henry STRACOVSKY
  • Patent number: 9412428
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Giovannini, Scott Best, Lei Luo, Ian Shaeffer
  • Patent number: 9389637
    Abstract: A source-synchronous communication system in which a first integrated circuit (IC) conveys a data signal and concomitant strobe signal to a second IC. One or both ICs support hysteresis for the strobe channel that allows the second IC to distinguish between strobe preambles and noise, and thus prevent the false triggering of data capture. Hysteresis may also be employed to quickly settle the strobe channel to an inactive level after receipt of a strobe postamble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Huy Nguyen, Vijay Gadde, Kambiz Kaviani, Thomas Giovannini, Todd Bystrom
  • Publication number: 20130346721
    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: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Giovannini, Scott Best, Lei Luo, Ian Shaeffer
  • Publication number: 20130290766
    Abstract: A source-synchronous communication system in which a first integrated circuit (IC) conveys a data signal and concomitant strobe signal to a second IC. One or both ICs support hysteresis for the strobe channel that allows the second IC to distinguish between strobe preambles and noise, and thus prevent the false triggering of data capture. Hysteresis may also be employed to quickly settle the strobe channel to an inactive level after receipt of a strobe postamble.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Huy Nguyen, Vijay Gadde, Kambiz Kaviani, Thomas Giovannini, Todd Bystrom
  • Patent number: 7729621
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a controller coupled to an optical modulator to receive a dither signal, determine a difference between the dither signal and a previous dither signal, determine a derivative of the difference with respect to a bias voltage difference between first and second bias voltages, and control a bias voltage for the optical modulator based on the derivative. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Gevorg Nahapetian, Chih-Hao Chen, Thomas Giovannini
  • Publication number: 20090003840
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a controller coupled to an optical modulator to receive a dither signal, determine a difference between the dither signal and a previous dither signal, determine a derivative of the difference with respect to a bias voltage difference between first and second bias voltages, and control a bias voltage for the optical modulator based on the derivative. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Gevorg Nahapetian, Chih-Hao Chen, Thomas Giovannini
  • Publication number: 20070075215
    Abstract: An apparatus for optical receiver circuit protection includes a bias source, a bias monitor, and a comparator. The bias source is to provide a bias voltage to an optical receiver. The bias monitor is coupled to measure a current through the optical receiver, where the current changes responsive to received optical energy. A comparator is coupled to the bias monitor, where the comparator has a first state if the current is less than a threshold current level and where the comparator has a second state if the current is greater than the threshold current level. The bias source is coupled to be enabled responsive to the comparator switching to the first state and disabled responsive to the comparator switching to the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Giovannini, Craig Schulz, Song Shang