Patents by Inventor John V. Lovelace
John V. Lovelace 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).
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Patent number: 10891243Abstract: A method performed by a memory chip is described. The method includes receiving an activated chip select signal. The method also includes receiving, with the chip select signal being activated, a command code on a command/address (CA) bus that identifies a next portion of an identifier for the memory chip. The method also includes receiving the next portion of the identifier on a portion of the memory chip's data inputs. The method also includes repeating the receiving of the activated chip select signal, the command code and the next portion until the entire identifier has been received and storing the entire identifier in a register.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Tonia G. Morris, John V. Lovelace, John R. Goles
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Patent number: 10621121Abstract: Techniques for training a command/address (C/A) bus, including training internal command/address (C/A) signal lines of a memory module are described. In one example, a method of training a C/A bus involves a memory controller transmitting a first command to a DRAM with parity checking enabled, the first command to include valid parity and chip select asserted. The memory controller transmits commands in cycles before and after the first command to at least one DRAM with parity checking disabled, the commands to include invalid parity and chip select asserted. In response to detecting a parity error, the memory controller modifies a timing parameter to adjust timing for the internal C/A signal lines of the memory module.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: John V. Lovelace, Christina Jue
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Patent number: 10552643Abstract: A method performed by a memory controller is described. The method includes, during boot up, issuing a command to a memory to cause the memory to zero out its content. The method also includes bypassing a descrambler when reading from a location in the memory that has not had its zeroed out content written over the scrambled data. The method also includes processing read data with the descrambler when reading from a location in the memory that has had its zeroed out content written over with scrambled data.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: John V. Lovelace, Sreenivas Mandava, Debaleena Das
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Patent number: 10380043Abstract: A method performed by a memory chip is described. The method includes receiving an activated chip select signal. The method also includes receiving, with the chip select signal being activated, a command code on a command/address (CA) bus that identifies a next portion of an identifier for the memory chip. The method also includes receiving the next portion of the identifier on a portion of the memory chip's data inputs. The method also includes repeating the receiving of the activated chip select signal, the command code and the next portion until the entire identifier has been received and storing the entire identifier in a register.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Tonia G. Morris, John V. Lovelace, John R. Goles
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Patent number: 10347319Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus for dynamically adjusting a voltage reference level for optimizing an I/O system to achieve a certain performance metric. The apparatus comprises: a voltage reference generator to generate a voltage reference; and a dynamic voltage reference control unit, coupled with the voltage reference generator, to dynamically adjust a level of the voltage reference in response to an event. The apparatus is used to perform the method comprising: generating a voltage reference for an input/output (I/O) system; determining a worst case voltage level of the voltage reference; dynamically adjusting, via a dynamic voltage reference control unit, the voltage reference level based on determining the worst case voltage level; and computing a center of an asymmetrical eye based on the dynamically adjusted voltage reference level.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Christopher P. Mozak, Kevin B. Moore, John V. Lovelace, Theodore Z. Schoenborn, Bryan L. Spry, Christopher E. Yunker
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Patent number: 10289431Abstract: Technologies for control and status register (CSR) access include a computing device that starts a firmware initialization phase. The firmware accesses a CSR at an abstract CSR address. The computing device determines whether an upper part of the CSR address matches a cached upper part of a previously accessed CSR address. If the upper parts do not match, the computing device converts the CSR address into a physical address and caches the upper part of the CSR address and the upper part of the physical address. If the upper parts match, the computing device combines a cached upper part of a previously accessed physical address with an offset of the CSR address. The upper part may include 20 bits and the lower part may include 12 bits. The physical address may be a PCIe address of the CSR added with an MMCFG base address. Other embodiments are described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: INTEL CorporationInventors: Xueyan Wang, Wenjuan Mao, Qiang Li, John V. Lovelace, James R. Goffena
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Patent number: 10148416Abstract: Embodiments are generally directed to signal phase optimization in memory interface training. An embodiment of an apparatus includes an interface for at least one signal; and interface training logic capable of automatically adjusting a phase relationship between the signal and a strobe or clock, including establishing a phase delay of the signal and a phase delay of the strobe or clock for training of the interface, wherein the interface training logic is capable of determining a phase delay reduction for the signal subsequent to measurement of an eye margin for the signal, the phase delay reduction to retain a sufficient delay to maintain the eye margin for sampling of the signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Tonia G Morris, Ying Zhou, John V. Lovelace, Alberto David Perez Guevara
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Publication number: 20180188959Abstract: An embodiment of a memory module controller may be communicatively coupled to a storage media to initialize training-related register values, train the storage media independent of a BIOS, calibrate a sense amplifier, and indicate when the storage media is completely trained. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2016Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Shachi K. Thakkar, Richard P. Mangold, Tonia G. Morris, John V. Lovelace
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Publication number: 20180095889Abstract: Technologies for control and status register (CSR) access include a computing device that starts a firmware initialization phase. The firmware accesses a CSR at an abstract CSR address. The computing device determines whether an upper part of the CSR address matches a cached upper part of a previously accessed CSR address. If the upper parts do not match, the computing device converts the CSR address into a physical address and caches the upper part of the CSR address and the upper part of the physical address. If the upper parts match, the computing device combines a cached upper part of a previously accessed physical address with an offset of the CSR address. The upper part may include 20 bits and the lower part may include 12 bits. The physical address may be a PCIe address of the CSR added with an MMCFG base address. Other embodiments are described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2016Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Xueyan Wang, Wenjuan Mao, Qiang Li, John V. Lovelace, James R. Goffena
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Patent number: 9852021Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for method and apparatus for encoding registers in a memory module. A mode register command is sent to the memory module over a bus, initialization of the memory module before the bus to the memory module is trained for bus operations, to program one of a plurality of mode registers in the memory module, wherein the mode register command indicates one of the mode registers and includes data for the indicated mode register.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: INTEL CORPORATIONInventors: Bill Nale, John V. Lovelace, Murugasamy M. Nachimuthu, Tuan M. Quach
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Publication number: 20170168747Abstract: Embodiments are generally directed to intelligent memory support for platform reset operation. An embodiment of a memory module includes a memory module controller and one or more memory banks. The memory module controller is to perform one or more internal reset processes as required for the memory module, and is to support a plurality of host platform reset processes to synchronize with the host platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2015Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: Woojong Han, John V. Lovelace, Priscilla Y. Lam, Richard P. Mangold, Asher M. Altman, Shachi K. Thakkar
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Patent number: 9627029Abstract: A memory controller transmits a control signal to a memory module, where the memory controller continuously transmits a clock signal to the memory module. The memory controller determines adjustments to the control signal with respect to the clock signal, by iteratively analyzing a strobe signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: INTEL CORPORATIONInventors: Tonia G. Morris, Jonathan C. Jasper, John V. Lovelace, Benjamin T. Tyson
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Publication number: 20160232962Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus for dynamically adjusting a voltage reference level for optimizing an I/O system to achieve a certain performance metric. The apparatus comprises: a voltage reference generator to generate a voltage reference; and a dynamic voltage reference control unit, coupled with the voltage reference generator, to dynamically adjust a level of the voltage reference in response to an event. The apparatus is used to perform the method comprising: generating a voltage reference for an input/output (I/O) system; determining a worst case voltage level of the voltage reference; dynamically adjusting, via a dynamic voltage reference control unit, the voltage reference level based on determining the worst case voltage level; and computing a center of an asymmetrical eye based on the dynamically adjusted voltage reference level.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: August 11, 2016Inventors: Christopher P. Mozak, Kevin B. Moore, John V. Lovelace, Theodore Z. Schoenborn, Bryan L. Spry, Christopher E. Yunker
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Patent number: 9373365Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus for dynamically adjusting a voltage reference level for optimizing an I/O system to achieve a certain performance metric. The apparatus comprises: a voltage reference generator to generate a voltage reference; and a dynamic voltage reference control unit, coupled with the voltage reference generator, to dynamically adjust a level of the voltage reference in response to an event. The apparatus is used to perform the method comprising: generating a voltage reference for an input/output (I/O) system; determining a worst case voltage level of the voltage reference; dynamically adjusting, via a dynamic voltage reference control unit, the voltage reference level based on determining the worst case voltage level; and computing a center of an asymmetrical eye based on the dynamically adjusted voltage reference level.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2014Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Christopher P. Mozak, Kevin B. Moore, John V. Lovelace, Theodore Z. Schoenborn, Bryan L. Spry, Christopher E. Yunker
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Patent number: 9330734Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus for dynamically adjusting a voltage reference level for optimizing an I/O system to achieve a certain performance metric. The apparatus comprises: a voltage reference generator to generate a voltage reference; and a dynamic voltage reference control unit, coupled with the voltage reference generator, to dynamically adjust a level of the voltage reference in response to an event. The apparatus is used to perform the method comprising: generating a voltage reference for an input/output (I/O) system; determining a worst case voltage level of the voltage reference; dynamically adjusting, via a dynamic voltage reference control unit, the voltage reference level based on determining the worst case voltage level; and computing a center of an asymmetrical eye based on the dynamically adjusted voltage reference level.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Christopher P. Mozak, Kevin B. Moore, John V. Lovelace, Theodore Z. Schoenborn, Bryan L. Spry, Christopher E. Yunker
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Patent number: 9318182Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms to dynamically adjustment a timing of commands to access a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). In an embodiment, a memory controller monitors an error rate of the DRAM and, based on such monitoring, identifies that the error rate is within a predetermined range. In response to the error rate being within the predetermined range, one or more signals are generated to dynamically modify a command timing setting. In another embodiment, modification of the command timing setting is to transition a memory controller from sending memory refresh commands successively at one rate to sending memory refresh commands successively at a different rate.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2013Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: John V. Lovelace
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Patent number: 9025399Abstract: A memory controller transmits a control signal to a memory module, where the memory controller continuously transmits a clock signal to the memory module. The memory controller determines adjustments to the control signal with respect to the clock signal, by iteratively analyzing a strobe signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Tonia G. Morris, Jonathan C. Jasper, John V. Lovelace, Benjamin T. Tyson
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Patent number: 8843732Abstract: Memory channel training parameters are function of electrical characteristics of memory devices, processor(s) and memory channel(s). Training steps can be skipped if the BIOS can determine that the memory devices, motherboard and processor have not changed since the last boot. Memory devices contain a serial number for tracking purposes and most motherboards contain a serial number. Many processors do not provide a mechanism by which the BIOS can track the processor. Described herein are techniques that allow the BIOS to track a processor and detect a swap without violating privacy/security requirements.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2009Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Mahesh S. Natu, John V. Lovelace, Rajesh P. Banginwar
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Patent number: 8819474Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for the active training of memory command timing. In some embodiments, the CMD/CTL timing is actively trained using active feedback between memory modules and the memory controller. Other embodiments are described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2009Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Theodore Z. Schoenborn, John V. Lovelace, Christopher P. Mozak, Bryan L. Spry
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Publication number: 20140211579Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms to dynamically adjustment a timing of commands to access a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). In an embodiment, a memory controller monitors an error rate of the DRAM and, based on such monitoring, identifies that the error rate is within a predetermined range. In response to the error rate being within the predetermined range, one or more signals are generated to dynamically modify a command timing setting. In another embodiment, modification of the command timing setting is to transition a memory controller from sending memory refresh commands successively at one rate to sending memory refresh commands successively at a different rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Inventor: John V. Lovelace