Patents by Inventor Ian P. Shaeffer

Ian P. Shaeffer 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: 9946664
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include a socket interposer having a plurality of connectors configured to attach to a server board, the server board including: a first processor socket having a processor form factor, and a first memory associated with the first processor socket, a processor inserted into the at least first processor socket, the processor having access to the first memory, and a second processor socket having the processor form factor, and a second memory associated with the second processor socket, wherein the plurality of connectors are configured to fit the processor form factor; and a multi-modal I/O interface having a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode provides processor-to-processor communication, and the second mode provides the first processor with accessibility to the second memory associated with the second processor socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ian P. Shaeffer, Zhan Ping
  • Publication number: 20180082884
    Abstract: This application is directed to a system including a plurality of devices that are stacked one on top of another. Each device includes a substrate having two opposing surfaces. A first row of contacts is coupled on a first surface and includes a first contact and a second contact that are adjacent to each other. A second row of contacts is coupled on a respective second surface and includes a third contact. Each contact in the second row of contacts is physically aligned with an opposite contact in the first row. The third contact is disposed opposite and physically aligned with the first contact in the first row, and electrically coupled to the second contact in the first row. Operational circuitry is electrically coupled to at least the first contact on the first row, and at least two of the plurality of devices have distinct operational circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Ely K. Tsern, Ian P. Shaeffer
  • Publication number: 20180082725
    Abstract: A memory controller includes an interface to receive a data strobe signal and corresponding read data. The data strobe signal and the read data correspond to a read command issued by the memory controller, and the read data is received in accordance with the data strobe signal and an enable signal. A circuit in the memory controller is to dynamically adjust a timing offset between the enable signal and the data strobe signal, and control logic is to issue a supplemental read command in accordance with a determination that a time interval since a last read command issued by the memory controller exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Bret Stott, Frederick A. Ware, Ian P. Shaeffer, Yuanlong Wang
  • 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: 9847248
    Abstract: Multiple devices, including a first device and a second device, have operational circuitry and opposing first and second surfaces. First and second electrical contacts are formed at the first surface, while a third electrical contact is formed at the second surface opposite the first electrical contact. The first electrical contact is electrically connected to the operational circuitry, and the second electrical contact is electrically connected to the third electrical contact. The first device and the second device are subsequently stacked such that the first surface of the second device is located adjacent the second surface of the first device such that the first electrical contact of the second device is aligned with the third electrical contact of the first device. The first electrical contact of the second device is electrically connected to the third electrical contact of the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Ely K. Tsern, Ian P. Shaeffer
  • Publication number: 20170352390
    Abstract: A memory controller having a time-staggered request signal output. A first timing signal is generated while a second timing signal is generated having a first phase difference relative to the first timing signal. An address value is transmitted in response to the first timing signal and a control value is transmitted in response to the second timing signal, the address value and control value constituting portions of a first memory access request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Ian P. Shaeffer, Bret Stott, Benedict C. Lau
  • Publication number: 20170331477
    Abstract: A memory control component outputs a memory write command to a memory IC and also outputs write data to be received via data inputs of the memory IC. Prior to reception of the write data within the memory IC, the memory control component asserts a termination control signal that causes the memory IC to apply to the data inputs a first on-die termination impedance during reception of the write data followed by a second on-die termination impedance after the write data has been received. The memory control component deasserts the termination control signal to cause the memory IC to apply no termination impedance to the data inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Kyung Suk Oh, Ian P. Shaeffer
  • Publication number: 20170323672
    Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, the memory circuit includes first and second data paths on which data is transferred for read and write memory operations and first and second mixer circuits for adjusting the phase of clock signals applied to their inputs. The mixer circuits are cross-coupled so that the outputs of the first and second mixers are both available to both the first and second data paths. One mixer is used to provide a first phase adjusted clock signal for use by the operating circuit and the other mixer is used to provide a second phase adjusted clock signal for use by a following operation whatever that may be.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Ian P. Shaeffer, Lei Luo
  • Publication number: 20170249265
    Abstract: A memory-control integrated circuit includes internal data conductors, steering circuitry and distinct first and second data interfaces, the first data interface having twice as many input/output (I/O) transceivers as the second data interface. In a first memory system configuration in which only the first data interface is coupled to a memory module, the steering circuitry couples all the internal data conductors exclusively to the I/O transceivers of the first data interface. In a second memory system configuration in which the first and second data interfaces are coupled to respective memory modules, the steering circuitry couples a first half of the internal data conductors exclusively to the I/O transceivers of the second data interface while a second half of the internal data conductors remains exclusively coupled to half the I/O transceivers of the first data interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Ian P. Shaeffer, Arun Vaidyanath, Sanku Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 9721630
    Abstract: A memory controller includes an interface to receive a data strobe signal and corresponding read data. The data strobe signal and the read data correspond to a read command issued by the memory controller, and the read data is received in accordance with the data strobe signal and an enable signal. A circuit in the memory controller is to dynamically adjust a timing offset between the enable signal and the data strobe signal, and control logic is to issue a supplemental read command in accordance with a determination that a time interval since a last read command issued by the memory controller exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: RAMBUS INC.
    Inventors: Bret Stott, Frederick A. Ware, Ian P. Shaeffer, Yuanlong Wang
  • Publication number: 20170192912
    Abstract: A memory controller includes a clock generator to generate a first clock signal and a timing circuit to generate a second clock signal from the first clock signal. The second clock signal times communications with any of a plurality of memory devices in respective ranks, including a first memory device in a first rank and a second memory device in a second rank. The timing circuit is configured to adjust a phase of the first clock signal, when the memory controller is communicating with the second memory device, based on calibration data associated with the second memory device and timing adjustment data associated with feedback from at least the first memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Jared L. Zerbe, Ian P. Shaeffer, John Eble
  • Patent number: 9691454
    Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, the memory circuit includes first and second data paths on which data is transferred for read and write memory operations and first and second mixer circuits for adjusting the phase of clock signals applied to their inputs. The mixer circuits are cross-coupled so that the outputs of the first and second mixers are both available to both the first and second data paths. One mixer is used to provide a first phase adjusted clock signal for use by the operating circuit and the other mixer is used to provide a second phase adjusted clock signal for use by a following operation whatever that may be.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ian P. Shaeffer, Lei Luo
  • Patent number: 9691447
    Abstract: A memory controller having a time-staggered request signal output. A first timing signal is generated while a second timing signal is generated having a first phase difference relative to the first timing signal. An address value is transmitted in response to the first timing signal and a control value is transmitted in response to the second timing signal, the address value and control value constituting portions of a first memory access request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ian P. Shaeffer, Bret Stott, Benedict C. Lau
  • Publication number: 20170178702
    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: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: James E. Harris, Thomas Vogelsang, Frederick A. Ware, Ian P. Shaeffer
  • Patent number: 9660648
    Abstract: A memory control component outputs a memory write command to a memory IC and also outputs write data to be received via data inputs of the memory IC. Prior to reception of the write data within the memory IC, the memory control component asserts a termination control signal that causes the memory IC to apply to the data inputs a first on-die termination impedance during reception of the write data followed by a second on-die termination impedance after the write data has been received. The memory control component deasserts the termination control signal to cause the memory IC to apply no termination impedance to the data inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Suk Oh, Ian P. Shaeffer
  • Patent number: 9575835
    Abstract: A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) array is configured for selective repair and error correction of a subset of the array. Error-correcting code (ECC) is provided to a selected subset of the array to protect a row or partial row of memory cells where one or more weak memory cells are detected. By adding a sense amplifier stripe to the edge of the memory array, the adjacent edge segment of the array is employed to store ECC information associated with the protected subsets of the array. Bit replacement is also applied to defective memory cells. By implementing ECC selectively rather than to the entire array, integrity of the memory array is maintained at minimal cost to the array in terms of area and energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Vogelsang, Suresh N. Rajan, Ian P. Shaeffer, Frederick A. Ware, Wayne F. Ellis
  • Patent number: 9570126
    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: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Harris, Thomas Vogelsang, Frederick A. Ware, Ian P. Shaeffer
  • Patent number: 9563228
    Abstract: A memory controller includes a clock generator to generate a first clock signal and a timing circuit to generate a second clock signal from the first clock signal. The second clock signal times communications with any of a plurality of memory devices in respective ranks, including a first memory device in a first rank and a second memory device in a second rank. The timing circuit is configured to adjust a phase of the first clock signal, when the memory controller is communicating with the second memory device, based on calibration data associated with the second memory device and timing adjustment data associated with feedback from at least the first memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: RAMBUS INC.
    Inventors: Jared L. Zerbe, Ian P. Shaeffer, John Eble
  • Publication number: 20160343417
    Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, the memory circuit includes first and second data paths on which data is transferred for read and write memory operations and first and second mixer circuits for adjusting the phase of clock signals applied to their inputs. The mixer circuits are cross-coupled so that the outputs of the first and second mixers are both available to both the first and second data paths. One mixer is used to provide a first phase adjusted clock signal for use by the operating circuit and the other mixer is used to provide a second phase adjusted clock signal for use by a following operation whatever that may be.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Ian P. Shaeffer, Lei Luo
  • Publication number: 20160307609
    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: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: James E. Harris, Thomas Vogelsang, Frederick A. Ware, Ian P. Shaeffer