Patents Assigned to Rambus
  • Patent number: 9934194
    Abstract: A memory appliance system is described that includes a memory unit comprising a memory unit controller and a plurality of memory devices. A reconfigurable memory structure is stored in the plurality of memory devices, wherein the memory structure comprises a plurality of variably sized containers. Each container of data includes metadata, payload, and relationship information that associates a corresponding container with one or more other containers stored in the memory structure. The controller is data structure aware such that the controller is configured to traverse the memory structure and perform operations on the memory structure based on the metadata and relationship information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Lowery, Vlad Fruchter
  • Patent number: 9934142
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for replacing one or more pages of a memory to level wear on the memory. In one embodiment, a system includes a page fault handling function and a memory address mapping function. Upon receipt of a page fault, the page fault handling function maps an evicted virtual memory address to a stressed page and maps a stressed virtual memory address to a free page using the memory address mapping function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus, Inc.
    Inventors: Trung Diep, Eric Linstadt
  • Patent number: 9929883
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is disclosed that includes a receiver circuit to receive duobinary data symbols from a first signaling lane. The receiver circuit includes sampling circuitry to determine symbol state, and a duobinary decoder. The duobinary decoder is coupled to the sampling circuitry and converts the detected states to a PAM2 coded symbol stream. A decision-feedback equalizer (DFE) is provided that has inputs coupled to the sampling circuitry in parallel with the duobinary decoder. The DFE cooperates with the sampling circuitry to form a feedback path, such that the duobinary decoder is external to the feedback path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: E-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 9921751
    Abstract: A memory system includes a CPU that communicates commands and addresses to a main-memory module. The module includes a buffer circuit that relays commands and data between the CPU and the main memory. The memory module additionally includes an embedded processor that shares access to main memory in support of peripheral functionality, such as graphics processing, for improved overall system performance. The buffer circuit facilitates the communication of instructions and data between CPU and the peripheral processor in a manner that minimizes or eliminates the need to modify CPU, and consequently reduces practical barriers to the adoption of main-memory modules with integrated processing power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Perego, Pradeep Batra, Steven Woo, Lawrence Lai, Chi-Ming Yeung
  • Patent number: 9923602
    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: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Poulton, Frederick A. Ware, Carl W. Werner
  • Patent number: 9923711
    Abstract: An integrated circuit receiver is disclosed comprising a data receiving circuit responsive to a timing signal to detect a data signal and an edge receiving circuit responsive to the timing signal to detect a transition of the data signal. One of the data or edge receiving circuits comprises an integrating receiver circuit while the other of the data or edge sampling circuits comprises a sampling receiver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Jared L. Zerbe
  • Publication number: 20180074758
    Abstract: Memory devices and a memory controller that controls such memory devices. Multiple memory devices receive commands and addresses on a command/address (C/A) bus that is relayed point-to-point by each memory device. Data is received and sent from these devices to/from a memory controller in a point-to-point configuration by adjusting the width of each individual data bus coupled between the individual memory devices and the memory controller. Along with the C/A bus are clock signals that are regenerated by each memory device and relayed. The memory controller and memory devices may be packaged on a single substrate using package-on-package technology. Using package-on-package technology allows the relayed C/A signals to connect from memory device to memory device using wire bonding. Wirebond connections provide a short, high-performance signaling environment for the chip-to-chip relaying of the C/A signals and clocks from one memory device to the next in the daisy-chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick Ware
  • Patent number: 9916873
    Abstract: A memory module uses dynamic data buffers for providing extended capacity for computing systems. The memory module comprises an external interface having a first set of data pins and a second set of data pins. The memory module includes a first set of memory chips and a second set of memory chips. The memory module includes a first registering clock driver to control the first set of memory chips and a second registering clock driver to control the second set of memory chips. The memory module further includes a first data buffer to connect the first set of memory chips to the first set of data pins and a second data buffer to connect the second set of memory chips to the second set of data pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Giovannini, John Eric Linstadt
  • Patent number: 9916196
    Abstract: A memory module includes a substrate, and respective first, second and third memory devices. The first memory device is of a first type disposed on the substrate and has addressable storage locations. The second memory device is also of the first type, and includes storage cells dedicated to store failure address information associated with defective storage locations in the first memory device. The third memory device is of the first type and includes storage cells dedicated to substitute as storage locations for the defective storage locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Brent S. Haukness, John Eric Linstadt, Scott C. Best
  • Patent number: 9916877
    Abstract: A packaged semiconductor device includes a data pin, a first memory die, and a second memory die stacked with the first memory die. The first memory die includes a first data interface coupled to the data pin and a first memory core having a plurality of banks. The second memory die includes a second memory core having a plurality of banks. A respective bank of the first memory core and a respective bank of the second memory core perform parallel row access operations in response to a first command signal and parallel column access operations in response to a second command signal. The first data interface of the first die provides aggregated data from the parallel column access operations in the first and second die to the data pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Yohan Frans
  • Patent number: 9917708
    Abstract: A signaling system is described. The signaling system comprises a transmit device, a receive device including a partial response receive circuit, and a signaling path coupling the transmit device and the receive device. The receive device observes an equalized signal from the signaling path, and includes circuitry to use feedback from the most recent previously resolved symbol to sample a currently incoming symbol. The transmit device equalizes transmit data to transmit the equalized signal, by applying weighting based on one or more data values not associated with the most recent previously resolved symbol value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir M. Stojanovic, Andrew C. Ho, Anthony Bessios, Bruno W. Garlepp, Grace Tsang, Mark A. Horowitz, Jared L. Zerbe, Jason C. Wei
  • Patent number: 9910612
    Abstract: The present memory system includes a memory buffer having an interface arranged to buffer data and/or command bytes being written to or read from the RAM chips residing on a DIMM by a host controller. The memory buffer further includes at least one additional interface arranged to buffer data and/or command bytes between the host controller or RAM chips and one or more external devices coupled to the at least one additional interface. For example, the memory buffer may include a SATA interface and be arranged to convey data between the host controller or RAM chips and FLASH memory devices coupled to the SATA interface. The memory buffer may be employed in various types of systems, such as a computer server system, a network system, or a data center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Haywood
  • Patent number: 9911468
    Abstract: Row activation operations within a memory component are carried out with respect to subrows instead of complete storage rows to reduce power consumption. Further, instead of activating subrows in response to row commands, subrow activation operations are deferred until receipt of column commands that specify the column operation to be performed and the subrow to be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Harris, Thomas Vogelsang, Frederick A. Ware, Ian P. Shaeffer
  • Patent number: 9913363
    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: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Suk Oh, Ralf M. Schmitt, Yijiong Feng
  • Patent number: 9910206
    Abstract: A light guide includes a first major surface; a second major surface opposed the first major surface and spaced apart from the first major surface in a thickness direction; a light input edge extending between the major surfaces; and light extracting elements at the first major surface. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the light extracting elements each include: a proximal end at the first major surface and a distal end in the thickness direction; and first and second surfaces, the first surface being a side surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end and having a curvature about a direction extending in a plane parallel to the first major surface. In some embodiments, the major surface of the light guide is curved and the first surface has a curvature about a direction extending along a surface contour of the first major surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventor: Dane A. Sahlhoff
  • Patent number: 9905297
    Abstract: A method of controlling a memory device includes receiving an address value that indicates a range of addresses within the memory device, each address within the range of addresses corresponding to storage locations within each of two distinct storage dice within the memory device. The address value is stored within a programmable register within the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Scott C. Best
  • Patent number: 9906335
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a plurality of receivers, each having a clock and data recovery circuit. A first local clock recovery circuit in a first receiver can be caused to produce a test clock which simulates a condition to be tested, and while a second receiver in the plurality of receivers that includes a second local clock recovery circuit is caused to use the test clock in place of the reference clock while receiving a test data sequence at its input. The clock and data recovery circuits in the receivers can include clock control loops responsive to loop control signals to modify the selected reference clock to generate the local clock in response to selective one of (i) a corresponding data signal for normal operation or during a test, and (ii) a test signal applied to the clock control loop in which case the test clock is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivasaraman Chandrasekaran, Kunal Desai
  • Patent number: 9905286
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) memory controller is disclosed. The memory controller includes a receiver to receive a strobe signal and provide an internal strobe signal. An adjustable delay circuit delays an enable signal to generate a delayed enable signal. A gate circuit generates a gated strobe signal using the delayed enable signal that masks transitions of the internal strobe signal that occur prior to a valid region of the internal strobe signal. A sample circuit samples data using the gated strobe signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Jade M. Kizer, Sivakumar Doraiswamy, Benedict Lau
  • Patent number: 9899312
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for reducing power consumption or signal distortions in a semiconductor device package. The semiconductor device package includes a semiconductor device, a first electric path, a second electric path, and an isolation element in the first electric path. The second electric path is electrically connected to the first electric path and a functional unit of the device. The isolation element separates an isolated portion in the first electric path from the second electric path, where the isolation element is configured to reduce current in the isolated portion when a signal is passing through the second electric path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian E. Ong, Dong Sik Jeong
  • Patent number: 9898400
    Abstract: A memory access command, column address and plurality of write data values are received within an integrated-circuit memory chip via external signaling links. In response to the memory access command, the integrated-circuit memory chip (i) decodes the column address to select address-specified sense amplifiers from among a plurality of sense amplifiers that constitute a sense amplifier bank, (ii) reads first data, constituted by a plurality of read data values, out of the address-specified sense amplifiers, and (iii) overwrites the first data within the address-specified sense amplifiers with second data constituted by one or more of the write data values and by one or more of the read data values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Sheffler, Lawrence Lai, Liang Peng, Bohuslav Rychlik