Patents Assigned to Rambus
  • Publication number: 20210241822
    Abstract: An integrated circuit memory device includes an array of storage cells configured into multiple banks. Each bank includes multiple segments. Register storage stores per-segment values representing per-segment refresh parameters. Refresh logic refreshes each segment in accordance with the corresponding per-segment value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Vogelsang
  • Patent number: 11080185
    Abstract: A hybrid memory module includes cache of relatively fast and durable dynamic, random-access memory (DRAM) in service of a larger amount of relatively slow and wear-sensitive flash memory. An address buffer on the module maintains a static, random-access memory (SRAM) cache of addresses for data cached in DRAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 11080137
    Abstract: A programmable crossbar matrix or an array of steering multiplexors (MUXs) coalesces (i.e., routes) the data values from multiple known “bad” bit positions within multiple symbols of a codeword, to bit positions within a single codeword symbol. The single codeword symbol receiving the known “bad” bit positions may correspond to a check symbol (vs. a data symbol). Configuration of the routing logic may occur at boot or initialization time. The configuration of the routing logic may be based upon error mapping information retrieved from system non-volatile memory (e.g., memory module serial presence detect information), or from memory tests performed during initialization. The configuration of the routing logic may be changed on a per-rank basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: John Eric Linstadt
  • Patent number: 11083077
    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: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Suk Oh, Ralf M. Schmitt, Yijiong Feng
  • Patent number: 11082268
    Abstract: An integrated receiver supports adaptive receive equalization. An incoming bit stream is sampled using edge and data clock signals derived from a reference clock signal. A phase detector determines whether the edge and data clock signals are in phase with the incoming data, while some clock recovery circuitry adjusts the edge and data clock signals as required to match their phases to the incoming data. The receiver employs the edge and data samples used to recover the edge and data clock signals to note the locations of zero crossings for one or more selected data patterns. The pattern or patterns may be selected from among those apt to produce the greatest timing error. Equalization settings may then be adjusted to align the zero crossings of the selected data patterns with the recovered edge clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Palmer
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11069423
    Abstract: A buffer circuit is disclosed. The buffer circuit includes a command address (C/A) interface to receive an incoming activate (ACT) command and an incoming column address strobe (CAS) command. A first match circuit includes first storage to store failure row address information associated with the memory, and first compare logic. The first compare logic is responsive to the ACT command, to compare incoming row address information to the stored failure row address information. A second match circuit includes second storage to store failure column address information associated with the memory, and second compare logic. The second compare logic is responsive to the CAS command, to compare the incoming column address information to the stored failure column address information. Gating logic maintains a state of a matching row address identified by the first compare logic during the comparison carried out by the second compare logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Best, John Eric Linstadt, Paul William Roukema
  • Patent number: 11068161
    Abstract: In a memory module having a plurality of discrete memory die packages, an N-bit data interface and a command/address buffer, a memory access command and chip-select input signals are received within the command/address buffer. In response to the chip-select input signals, the command/address buffer outputs chip-select output signals greater in quantity than the chip-select input signals to exclusively enable one of a plurality of groups of the discrete memory die packages to respond to the memory access command, each of the plurality of groups of the discrete memory die packages having a collective data interface width less than the N-bit data interface width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Catherine Chen, Thomas J. Giovannini, John Eric Linstadt
  • Patent number: 11069392
    Abstract: A memory component includes a first memory bank. The first memory bank has a plurality of sub-arrays having sub-rows of memory elements. The memory component includes a write driver, coupled to the first memory bank, to perform a write operation of an entire sub-row of a sub-array. To perform the write operation, the write driver is to load a burst of write data to the memory bank. The memory bank may then activate a plurality of sense amplifiers associated with a plurality of memory elements of the entire sub-row to load the burst of write data to the plurality of sense amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, John Eric Linstadt, Brent Steven Haukness, Kenneth L. Wright, Thomas Vogelsang
  • Patent number: 11068388
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Brent S. Haukness
  • Patent number: 11068237
    Abstract: A combinational logic circuit includes input circuitry to receive a first and second input signals that transition between supply voltages of first and second voltage domain, respectively. The input circuitry generates, based on the first and second input signals, a first internal signal that transitions between one of the supply voltages of the first voltage domain and one of the supply voltages of the second voltage domain. Output circuitry within the combinational logic circuit generates an output signal that transitions between the upper and lower supply voltages of the first voltage domain in response to transition of the first internal signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, John Eric Linstadt
  • Patent number: 11068017
    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: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 11061841
    Abstract: A method of implementing a multi-threaded device driver for a computer system is disclosed. A polling device driver is partitioned into a plurality of driver threads for controlling a device of a computer system. The device has a first device state of an unscouted state and a scouted state, and a second device state of an inactive state and an active state. A driver thread of the plurality of driver threads determines that the first device state of the device state is in the unscouted state, and changes the first state of the device to the scouted state. The driver thread further determines that the second device state of the device is in the inactive state and changes the second device state of the device to the active state. The driver thread executes an operation on the device during a pre-determined time slot configured for the driver thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus, Inc.
    Inventors: Bart Trojanowski, Michael L. Takefman, Maher Amer
  • Patent number: 11062743
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a configurable timing control of a memory system is provided. One system has a first interface to receive a DIMM clock and configuration information, a second interface to a first data bus, and a third interface to a second data bus. The system further has flip-flops, a multiplexer coupled to the flip-flops, a first control block for controlling to hold an input data within the flip-flops, and a second control block for controlling a timing of an output data from the flip-flops via the multiplexer with a programmable delay. The input data is received via the second interface. The programmable delay is received via the first interface. The output data is sent out with the timing delay via the third interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Takefman, Maher Amer, Claus Reitlingshoefer, Riccardo Badalone
  • Patent number: 11063791
    Abstract: A receiver is equipped with an adaptive phase-offset controller and associated timing-calibration circuitry that together shift the timing for a data sampler and a digital equalizer. The sample and equalizer timing is shifted to a position with less residual inter-symbol interference (ISI) energy relative to the current symbol. The shifted position may be calculated using a measure of signal quality, such as a receiver bit-error rate or a comparison of filter-tap values, to optimize the timing of data recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Qi Lin, Brian Leibowitz, Hae-Chang Lee, Jihong Ren, Kyung Suk Oh, Jared L. Zerbe
  • Patent number: 11061773
    Abstract: A memory system includes dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) components that include interconnected and redundant component data interfaces. The redundant interfaces facilitate memory interconnect topologies that accommodate considerably more DRAM components per memory channel than do traditional memory systems, and thus offer considerably more memory capacity per channel, without concomitant reductions in signaling speeds. The memory components can be configured to route data around defective data connections to maintain full capacity and continue to support memory transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Wright, Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 11057247
    Abstract: A transmitting device includes an output node, at least one driver circuit and transition equalization circuitry. The driver circuit drives an output data signal including a data transition onto the output node. The output of the transition equalization circuitry is coupled to the output node. The transition equalization circuitry begins to drive the output node at the data transition and ends driving of the output node a pre-determined delay after beginning to drive the output node. The transition equalization circuitry drives the output node by injecting current onto the output node if the data transition is a positive transition, and sinking current from the output node if the data transition is a negative transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Yikui Jen Dong
  • Patent number: 11049532
    Abstract: A memory module can be programmed to deliver relatively wide, low-latency data in a first access mode, or to sacrifice some latency in return for a narrower data width, a narrower command width, or both, in a second access mode. The narrow, higher-latency mode requires fewer connections and traces. A controller can therefore support more modules, and thus increased system capacity. Programmable modules thus allow computer manufacturers to strike a desired balance between memory latency, capacity, and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Best, Frederick A. Ware, William N. Ng
  • Patent number: 11050500
    Abstract: In a general aspect, a network transmission interface can include, within an egress data path, a physical coding sublayer (PCS) operating in a constant bitrate domain for transmitting data frames on a network link; a timestamp unit configured to insert timestamps in payloads of the frames; a transmission media access control (MAC) unit located at a boundary between the constant bitrate domain and a variable bitrate domain, configured to receive the frames at a variable bitrate, encapsulate the frames, and provide the encapsulated frames at a constant bitrate; a MAC layer security unit located downstream from the timestamp unit, configured to sign and optionally encrypt the payloads and expand each frame with a security tag and an integrity check value (ICV). The timestamp unit and the MAC layer security unit (26b) can both operate in the constant bitrate domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus, Inc.
    Inventor: Maksym Demchenko
  • Patent number: 11049546
    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: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Lei Luo, Liji Gopalakrishnan