Patents Assigned to Rambus
  • Patent number: 11048410
    Abstract: Nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory, solid-state disk) is included on memory modules that are on a DRAM memory channel. Nonvolatile memory residing on a DRAM memory channel may be integrated into the existing file system structures of operating systems. The nonvolatile memory residing on a DRAM memory channel may be presented as part or all of a distributed file system. Requests and/or remote procedure call (RPC) requests, or information associated with requests and/or RPCs, may be routed to the memory modules over the DRAM memory channel in order to service compute and/or distributed file system commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Woo
  • Patent number: 11044073
    Abstract: In a general aspect, a countermeasure method implemented in a microcircuit can include selecting, at each cycle of a clock signal, a supply mode of a component internal to the microcircuit, the supply mode can be selected from among a first supply mode in which the component is fully supplied by a first supply circuit connected to a supply input of the microcircuit, and at least one second supply mode in which the component is at least partially supplied by a second supply circuit internal to the microcircuit. The second supply circuit can be isolated from the exterior of the microcircuit while it is supplying the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus, Inc.
    Inventor: Michel Martin
  • Patent number: 11042492
    Abstract: A memory module includes a plurality of memory integrated circuit (IC) packages to store data and a command buffer IC to buffer one or more memory commands destined for the memory IC packages. The command buffer IC includes a first interface circuit and one or more second interface circuits. The first interface circuit receives the one or more memory commands. The one or more second interface circuits output a pre-programmed command sequence to one or more devices separate from the command buffer IC, the pre-programmed command sequence output in response to the one or more memory commands matching a pre-programmed reference command pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Aws Shallal, Larry Grant Giddens
  • Patent number: 11043258
    Abstract: Systems, among other embodiments, include topologies (data and/or control/address information) between an integrated circuit buffer device (that may be coupled to a master, such as a memory controller) and a plurality of integrated circuit memory devices. For example, data may be provided between the plurality of integrated circuit memory devices and the integrated circuit buffer device using separate segmented (or point-to-point link) signal paths in response to control/address information provided from the integrated circuit buffer device to the plurality of integrated circuit buffer devices using a single fly-by (or bus) signal path. An integrated circuit buffer device enables configurable effective memory organization of the plurality of integrated circuit memory devices. The memory organization represented by the integrated circuit buffer device to a memory controller may be different than the actual memory organization behind or coupled to the integrated circuit buffer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Ely Tsern, Craig Hampel
  • Patent number: 11035989
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a phase grating overlying a two-dimensional array of pixels, which may be thermally sensitive pixels for use in infrared imaging. The phase grating comprises a two-dimensional array of identical subgratings that define a system of Cartesian coordinates. The subgrating and pixel arrays are sized and oriented such that the pixels are evenly distributed with respect to the row and column intersections of the subgratings. The location of each pixel thus maps to a unique location beneath a virtual archetypical subgrating. Portions of the phase grating extend beyond the edges of the pixels array to interference pattern in support of Fourier-domain imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork, John Eric Linstadt
  • Patent number: 11036398
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for implementing high-throughput low-latency hybrid memory modules with improved data backup and restore throughput, enhanced non-volatile memory controller (NVC) resource access, and enhanced mode register setting programmability. Embodiments comprise a command replicator to generate sequences of one or more DRAM read and/or write and/or other commands to be executed in response to certain local commands from a non-volatile memory controller (NVC) during data backup and data restore operations. Other embodiments comprise an access engine to enable an NVC in a host control mode to trigger entry into a special mode and issue commands to access a protected register space. Some embodiments comprise a mode register controller to capture and store the data comprising mode register setting commands issued during a host control mode, such that an NVC can program the DRAM mode registers in an NVC control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus, Inc.
    Inventors: Aws Shallal, Michael Miller, Stephen Horn
  • Patent number: 11038514
    Abstract: A receiver includes a variable resolution analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and variable resolution processing logic/circuitry. The processing logic may use feed-forward equalization (FFE) techniques to process the outputs from the ADC. When receiving data from a channel having low attenuation, distortion, and/or noise, the ADC and processing logic may be configured to sample and process the received signal using fewer bits, and therefore less logic, than when configured to receiving data from a channel having a higher attenuation, distortion, and/or noise. Thus, the number of (valid) bits output by the ADC, and subsequently processed (e.g., for FFE equalization) can be reduced when a receiver of this type is coupled to a low loss channel. These reductions can reduce power consumption when compared to operating the receiver using the full (i.e., maximum) number of bits the ADC and processing logic is capable of processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Masum Hossain, Kenneth C. Dyer, Nhat Nguyen, Shankar Tangirala
  • Patent number: 11037652
    Abstract: A controller includes an internal memory to store an address and a memory control unit operatively coupled with the internal memory. The memory control unit includes logic to identify a malfunctioning address of primary data storage elements within an external memory device, the external memory device being another semiconductor device separate from the controller, store the malfunctioning address in the internal memory, and transmit, to the external memory device, a command to initiate a repair of the malfunctioning address using redundant data storage elements and an indication of an address associated with the malfunctioning address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian E. Ong, Fan Ho
  • Patent number: 11038725
    Abstract: A multi-PAM equalizer receives an input signal distorted by inter-symbol interference (ISI) and expressing a series of symbols each representing one of four pulse amplitudes to convey two binary bits of data per symbol. High-order circuitry resolves the most-significant bit (MSB) of each two-bit symbol, whereas low-order circuitry 115 resolves the immediate least-significant bit (LSB). The MSB is used without the LSB for timing recovery and to calculate tap values for both MSB and LSB evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Masum Hossain, Nhat Nguyen, Charles Walter Boecker
  • Patent number: 11029216
    Abstract: During operation of an IC component within a first range of temperatures, a first bias voltage is applied to a first substrate region disposed adjacent a first plurality of transistors to effect a first threshold voltage for the first plurality of transistors. During operation of the IC component within a second range of temperatures that is distinct from and lower than the first range of temperatures, a second bias voltage is applied to the first substrate region to effect a second threshold voltage for the first plurality of transistors that is at least as low as the first threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Vogelsang, Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 11029459
    Abstract: Image-sensing devices include odd-symmetry gratings that cast interference patterns over a photodetector array. Grating features offer considerable insensitivity to the wavelength of incident light, and also to the manufactured distance between the grating and the photodetector array. Photographs and other image information can be extracted from interference patterns captured by the photodetector array. Images can be captured without a lens, and cameras can be made smaller than those that are reliant on lenses and ray-optical focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork
  • Patent number: 11030118
    Abstract: In a memory module, encryption information is received from an external source and stored exclusively within a non-persistent storage element such that the encryption information is expunged from the memory module upon power loss. Write data is received and encrypted using the encryption information stored within the non-persistent storage element to produce encrypted data which is stored, in turn, within a nonvolatile storage of the memory module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Aws Shallal, Larry Grant Giddens, Sarvagya Kochak
  • Patent number: 11029715
    Abstract: A voltage converter includes first and second inputs to receive a supply voltage and a reference voltage, respectively, from a power supply component, the supply voltage being higher than the reference voltage by a scaling factor of at least five. The voltage converter iteratively charges an internal filter capacitor to produce a converted voltage that follows the reference voltage by switchably coupling the first input to the filter capacitor while the converted voltage is less than the reference voltage to raise the converted voltage, and by switchably decoupling the first input from the filter capacitor while the converted voltage exceeds the reference voltage to enable the converted voltage to decay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, John Eric Linstadt
  • Patent number: 11032495
    Abstract: An image sensor generates first digital samples and second digital samples during respective first and second sampling intervals, the first digital samples including at least one digital sample of each pixel of a first plurality of pixels, and the second digital samples including at least one digital sample of each pixel of a second plurality of pixels. A sum of the first digital samples is accumulated within a first counter as the first sampling interval transpires, and a sum of the second digital samples is accumulated within the first counter as the second sampling interval transpires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Vogelsang
  • Patent number: 11022639
    Abstract: An integrated circuit capable of on-chip jitter tolerance measurement includes a jitter generator circuit to produce a controlled amount of jitter that is injected into at least one clock signal, and a receive circuit to sample an input signal according to the at least one clock signal. The sampled data values output from the receiver are used to evaluate the integrated circuit's jitter tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Hae-Chang Lee, Jaeha Kim, Brian Leibowitz
  • Patent number: 11025274
    Abstract: Memory controllers, devices and associated methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory controller includes write circuitry to transmit write data to a memory device, the write circuitry includes a write error detection correction (EDC) encoder to generate first error information associated with the write data. Data bus inversion (DBI) circuitry conditionally inverts data bits associated with each of the write data words based on threshold criteria. Read circuitry receives read data from the memory device. The read circuitry includes a read EDC encoder to generate second error information associated with the received read data. Logic evaluates the first and second error information and conditionally reverse-inverts at least a portion of the read data based on the decoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, John Eric Linstadt
  • Patent number: 11024362
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein describe technologies for using the memory modules in different modes of operation, such as in a standard multi-drop mode or as in a dynamic point-to-point (DPP) mode (also referred to herein as an enhanced mode). The memory modules can also be inserted in the sockets of the memory system in different configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Suresh Rajan, Scott C. Best
  • Patent number: 11018907
    Abstract: In a PAM-N receiver, sampler reference levels, DC offset and AFE gain may be jointly adapted to achieve optimal or near-optimal boundaries for the symbol decisions of the PAM-N signal. For reference level adaptation, the hamming distances between two consecutive data samples and their in-between edge sample are evaluated. Reference levels for symbol decisions are adjusted accordingly such that on a data transition, an edge sample has on average, equal hamming distance to its adjacent data samples. DC offset may be compensated to ensure detectable data transitions for reference level adaptation. AFE gains may be jointly adapted with sampler reference levels such that the difference between a reference level and a pre-determined target voltage is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Nanyan Wang
  • Patent number: 11016837
    Abstract: During system initialization, each data buffer device and/or memory device on a memory module is configured with a unique (at least to the module) device identification number. In order to access a single device (rather than multiple buffers and/or memory devices), a target identification number is written to all of the devices using a command bus connected to all of the data buffer devices or memory devices, respectively. The devices whose respective device identification numbers do not match the target identification number are configured to ignore future command bus transactions (at least until the debug mode is turned off.) The selected device that is configured with a device identification number matching the target identification number is configured to respond to command bus transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Giovannini, Catherine Chen, Scott C. Best, John Eric Linstadt, Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 11011248
    Abstract: A method of operation in an integrated circuit (IC) memory device is disclosed. The method includes refreshing a first group of storage rows in the IC memory device at a first refresh rate. A retention time for each of the rows is tested. The testing for a given row under test includes refreshing at a second refresh rate that is slower than the first refresh rate. The testing is interruptible based on an access request for data stored in the given row under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ely Tsern, Frederick A Ware, Suresh Rajan, Thomas Vogelsang