Patents Assigned to Rambus Inc.
  • Patent number: 12292601
    Abstract: Command/address and timing information is distributed to buffer integrated circuits on a module using multiple wavelengths of light modulated with the same information. Each individual wavelength of modulated light carrying command/address information is received by a corresponding single buffer device that deserializes the command/address information and communicates it electrically to memory devices(s). Likewise, each individual wavelength of modulated light carrying timing/synchronization/clock information is received by a corresponding single buffer device and used to synchronize accesses to the memory device(s). Thus, multiple buffer integrated circuits on a module each receive information from the CPU using different wavelengths of light transmitted on the same waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Kellam, Dongyun Lee, Thomas Vogelsang, Steven C. Woo
  • Patent number: 12287705
    Abstract: A memory device is disclosed that includes a row of storage locations that form plural columns. The plural columns include data columns to store data and a tag column to store tag information associated with error locations in the data columns. Each data column is associated with an error correction location including an error code bit location. Logic retrieves and stores the tag information associated with the row in response to activation of the row. A bit error in an accessed data column is repaired by a spare bit location based on the tag information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Brent Steven Haukness
  • Patent number: 12287712
    Abstract: Described are memory systems and devices in which each memory die in a three-dimensional stack of memory dies includes drive and receive circuitry that can communicate data signals from the stack on behalf of all the memory dies in the stack. The drive and receive circuitry, if defective on one device in the stack, can be disabled and substituted with the drive and receive circuitry from another. The stack of memory dies can thus function despite a failure of drive or receive circuitry in one or more of the memory dies. Each memory die includes test circuitry to detect defective drive and receive circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Joohee Kim, Dongyun Lee
  • Publication number: 20250131953
    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: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Applicant: 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: 12267187
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a split-path equalizer and a clock recovery circuit. More particularly, clock recovery operation is enhanced, particularly at high-signaling rates, by separately equalizing each of a data path and an edge path. In specific embodiments, the data path is equalized in a manner that maximizes signal-to-noise ratio and the edge path is equalized in a manner that emphasizes symmetric edge response for a single unit interval and zero edge response for other unit intervals (e.g., irrespective of peak voltage margin). Such equalization tightens edge grouping and thus enhances clock recovery, while at the same time optimizing data-path sampling. Techniques are also disclosed for addressing split-path equalization-induced skew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Masum Hossain, Jared L. Zerbe
  • Patent number: 12261625
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device is disclosed. The IC device includes an error encoder to receive a word of k bits and to encode the word using a G-matrix to generate an encoded word of n bits. The n bits include the k bits and n-k check bits. The G matrix is based on a parity check matrix defining a single error correct, double error detect, and burst error detect (SECDEDBED) code. An error decoder receives the encoded word and applies the parity check matrix to the encoded word. The parity check matrix is configured to generate a syndrome from the encoded word. The syndrome being used to detect a random double bit error, a random single bit error, and a burst error of between two and m bits within m adjacent bits of an m-bit subset of the data word starting from an m-bit boundary of the word of k bits, and where m<n-k.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Thomas Imel
  • Patent number: 12253903
    Abstract: A controller includes a link interface that is to couple to a first link to communicate bi-directional data and a second link to transmit unidirectional error-detection information. An encoder is to dynamically add first error-detection information to at least a portion of write data. A transmitter, coupled to the link interface, is to transmit the write data. A delay element is coupled to an output from the encoder. A receiver, coupled to the link interface, is to receive second error-detection information corresponding to at least the portion of the write data. Error-detection logic is coupled to an output from the delay element and an output from the receiver. The error-detection logic is to determine errors in at least the portion of the write data by comparing the first error-detection information and the second error-detection information, and, if an error is detected, is to assert an error condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Yuanlong Wang, Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 12249392
    Abstract: A memory controller includes a register to store phase offset value. The phase offset value represents a phase relationship between a memory request signal component and a reference signal. The phase offset value is established through write and read back testing. Transmit circuitry applies the phase offset value in launching the memory request signal component from the IC memory controller to an IC memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ian P. Shaeffer, Bret Stott, Benedict C. Lau
  • Patent number: 12249399
    Abstract: A memory device includes a set of inputs, and a first register that includes a first register field to store a value for enabling application of one of a plurality of command/address (CA) on-die termination (ODT) impedance values to first inputs that receive the CA signals; and a second register field to store a value for enabling application of one of a plurality of chip select (CS) ODT impedance values to a second input that receives the CS signal. A third register field may store a value for enabling application of a clock (CK) ODT impedance value to third inputs that receive the CK signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: RAMBUS INC.
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Kyung Suk Oh
  • Patent number: 12236111
    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: March 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: RAMBUS INC.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Robert E. Palmer, John W. Poulton
  • Patent number: 12237258
    Abstract: The embodiments herein are directed to technologies for crosstalk cancellation structures. One semiconductor package includes conductive metal layers separated by insulating layers, the conductive metal layers for routing signals between external package terminals and pads on an integrated circuit device. Signal lines formed in the conductive metal layers have electrode structure (capacitor electrode-like structures) formed for at least adjacent signaling lines of the package terminals. Two of the electrode structures from the adjacent signaling lines are formed opposite each other on different metal layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Shahram Nikoukary, Dongwoo Hong, Jonghyun Cho
  • Patent number: 12235712
    Abstract: Bandwidth for information transfers between devices is dynamically changed to accommodate transitions between power modes employed in a system. The bandwidth is changed by selectively enabling and disabling individual control links and data links that carry the information. During a highest bandwidth mode for the system, all of the data and control links are enabled to provide maximum information throughout. During one or more lower bandwidth modes for the system, at least one data link and/or at least one control link is disabled to reduce the power consumption of the devices. At least one data link and at least one control link remain enabled during each low bandwidth mode. For these links, the same signaling rate is used for both bandwidth modes to reduce latency that would otherwise be caused by changing signaling rates. Also, calibration information is generated for disabled links so that these links may be quickly brought back into service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 12237255
    Abstract: The embodiments are directed to technologies for variable pitch vertical interconnect design for scalable escape routing in semiconductor devices. One semiconductor device includes a circuit die, and an array of circuit die interconnects located on the circuit die. The array includes a first triangular octant of interconnects that are organized in rows and columns, each column incrementing its number of interconnects from a first side of the first triangular octant to a second side of the first triangular octant. A pitch size between the columns increases in a first repeating pattern from the first side to the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Kellam, John Eric Linstadt
  • Patent number: 12230350
    Abstract: A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) comprises a plurality of primary data storage elements, a plurality of redundant data storage elements, and circuitry to receive a first register setting command and initiate a repair mode in the DRAM in response to the first register setting command. The circuitry is further to receive an activation command, repair a malfunctioning row address in the DRAM, receive a precharge command, receive a second register setting command, terminate the repair mode in the DRAM in response to the second register setting command, receive a memory access request for data stored at the malfunctioning row address, and redirect the memory access request to a corresponding row address in the plurality of redundant data storage elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian E. Ong, Fan Ho
  • Patent number: 12230362
    Abstract: In a memory component having a command/address interface, timing interface and data interface, the command/address interface receives a first command/address value from a control component during a first interval and a second command/address value from the control component during a second interval. The timing interface receives a data strobe from the control component during the first interval and a data clock from the control component during the second interval, the data strobe departing from a parked voltage level to commence toggling at a time corresponding to reception of the first command/address value, and the data clock toggling throughout the second interval regardless of second command/address value reception-time. The data interface samples first write data corresponding to the first command/address value at times indicated by toggling of the data strobe, and samples second write data corresponding to the second command/address value at times indicated by toggling of the data clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Torsten Partsch
  • Patent number: 12230355
    Abstract: The memory banks of a memory device are arranged and operated in groups and the groups are further arranged and operated as clusters of these groups. Successive accesses to banks that are within different bank group clusters may be issued at a first time interval. Successive accesses to banks that are within different bank groups within the same cluster can be issued no faster than a second time interval. And, successive accesses to banks that are within the same bank group may be issued no faster than a third time interval. The memory banks of a memory device may have multiple rows open at the same time. The rows that can be open at the same time is determined by the rows that are already open. These memory banks are also arranged and operated in groups that have three different minimum time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: John Eric Linstadt, Liji Gopalakrishnan, Thomas Vogelsang
  • Patent number: 12232246
    Abstract: A structure for delivering power is described. In some embodiments, the structure can include conductors disposed on two or more layers. Specifically, the structure can include a first set of interdigitated conductors disposed on a first layer and oriented substantially along an expected direction of current flow. At least one conductor in the first set of interdigitated conductors may be maintained at a first voltage, and at least one conductor in the first set of interdigitated conductors may be maintained at a second voltage, wherein the second voltage is different from the first voltage. The structure may further include a conducting structure disposed on a second layer, wherein the second layer is different from the first layer, and wherein at least one conductor in the conducting structure is maintained at the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Suk Oh, Ralf M. Schmitt, Yijong Feng
  • Patent number: 12229435
    Abstract: First data is read out of a core storage array of a memory component over a first time interval constrained by data output bandwidth of the core storage array. After read out from the core storage array, the first data is output from the memory component over a second time interval that is shorter than the first time interval and that corresponds to a data transfer bandwidth greater than the data output bandwidth of the core storage array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, John Eric Linstadt, Torsten Partsch
  • Patent number: 12228961
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a memory system that generates a multiplied timing signal from a reference timing signal. During operation, the system receives a reference timing signal. Next, the system produces a multiplied timing signal from the reference timing signal by generating a burst comprising multiple timing events for each timing event in the reference timing signal, wherein consecutive timing events in each burst of timing events are separated by a bit time. Then, as the reference clock frequency changes, the interval between bursts of timing events changes while the bit time remains substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 12224032
    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: December 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Best, John W. Poulton