Patents by Inventor Kenneth L. Wright

Kenneth L. Wright 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).

  • Publication number: 20150331767
    Abstract: A system for memory device control may include a stacked memory device and a memory controller. The stacked memory device may include a stack of chips connected to a package substrate by electrical interconnects. The stack may include a plurality of memory chips, a primary control chip, and a secondary control chip. The primary and secondary control chips may be electrically connected to the plurality of memory chips by an internal data bus. The primary control chip may have logic to provide an interface between the internal data bus and a first external data bus. The secondary control chip may have logic to provide an interface between the internal data bus and a second external data bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Venkatraghavan Bringivijayaraghavan, Saurabh Chadha, Abhijit Saurabh, Saravanan Sethuraman, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20150331764
    Abstract: Data is retrieved from a stacked memory device having a plurality of slave memory chips in response to recognizing a problem in the stacked memory device. The problem is determined to be associated with a primary driver module in the stacked memory device. In response, the primary driver module is disabled and an emergency driver module is enabled. Each of the plurality of slave memory chips are selected using a multiplexing unit to retrieve data using the emergency driver module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Saurabh Chadha, Hillery C. Hunter, Kyu-hyoun Kim, Abhijit Saurabh, Saravanan Sethuraman, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20150331768
    Abstract: Data is retrieved from a stacked memory device having a plurality of slave memory chips in response to recognizing a problem in the stacked memory device. The problem is determined to be associated with a primary driver module in the stacked memory device. In response, the primary driver module is disabled and an emergency driver module is enabled. Each of the plurality of slave memory chips are selected using a multiplexing unit to retrieve data using the emergency driver module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Saurabh Chadha, Hillery C. Hunter, Kyu-hyoun Kim, Abhijit Saurabh, Saravanan Sethuraman, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Patent number: 9189327
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a plurality of memory devices and a memory controller operatively coupled to the memory devices. The memory controller is configured to partition write data into a plurality of data blocks, where each data block is associated with one of the memory devices. The memory controller is further configured to generate an instance of a local error-correcting code (ECC) corresponding to each data block, and merge each data block with the corresponding instance of the local ECC to form an encoded data block for each memory device. Additionally, the memory controller is configured to write each encoded data block to the memory devices such that each memory device stores one of the data blocks with the corresponding instance of the local ECC. A global ECC and a local ECC of the global ECC can also be included in the memory system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul W. Coteus, Hillery C. Hunter, Charles A. Kilmer, Kyu-hyoun Kim, Warren E. Maule, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20150324529
    Abstract: Systems and methods realize the benefit of portable storage devices by taking advantage of PCs including an optical disk drive, optical disks, such as a CD or a DVD, and the Internet. An individual patient provides personal data to a healthcare service center. The healthcare service center can then create a portable optical disk for the patient to carry. The personal data written onto the portable optical disk is stored on a database management server database and is readable and updateable by the individual patient using his/her PC with an optical disk drive and connected to the Internet. The individual patient can choose to update his/her personal data on the portable optical disk and can receive a new portable optical disk that includes the update. The new portable optical disk containing the latest update is created and delivered to the patient by the database management server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher M. Duma, Kenneth L. Wright, Chet La Guardia
  • Patent number: 9170639
    Abstract: An approach for saving power in a memory subsystem that uses memory access idle timer to enable low power mode and memory scrub operation within computing system has been provided. The computing system determines that a memory subsystem is switched out of low power operation mode due to a memory scrub operation. In addition, the computing system bypasses the low power operation mode of an idle timer of the memory subsystem such that the memory subsystem is returned to the low power operation mode upon completion of the memory scrub operation. The computing system further sets a scrub flag of the memory subsystem to a high state, and clears the scrub flag to a low state to track if the idle timer should be bypassed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joab D. Henderson, Richard Nicholas, Stephen J. Powell, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Patent number: 9164572
    Abstract: An approach for saving power in a memory subsystem that uses memory access idle timer to enable low power mode and memory scrub operation within computing system has been provided. The computing system determines that a memory subsystem is switched out of low power operation mode due to a memory scrub operation. In addition, the computing system bypasses the low power operation mode of an idle timer of the memory subsystem such that the memory subsystem is returned to the low power operation mode upon completion of the memory scrub operation. The computing system further sets a scrub flag of the memory subsystem to a high state, and clears the scrub flag to a low state to track if the idle timer should be bypassed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joab D. Henderson, Richard Nicolas, Stephen J. Powell, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Patent number: 9128834
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing ECC (Error Correction Codes) memory module communications with a host processor in multi-ported memory configurations in a computer system. Each of multiple memory modules operating in unison is enabled to identify which memory module is the one required to communicate module specific information back to the host processor. All of the multiple memory modules operating in unison are enabled to generate back to the host processor a valid ECC word, while other multiple memory modules individually being unaware of data contents of the one memory module required to communicate back to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Dodson, Luis A. Lastras-Montano, Warren E. Maule, Adam J. McPadden, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Patent number: 9111017
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods to realize the potential benefit of portable storage devices by taking advantage of standard PCs including an optical disk drive capable of reading an optical disk, such as a CD or a DVD, cost effective optical disks, and the Internet. In a preferred embodiment, an individual patient provides personal data to a healthcare service center. The healthcare service center then creates a portable optical disk for the patient to carry, if he/she so desires. The personal data that is written onto the portable optical disk is stored on a database management server database and is readable and updateable by the individual patient using his/her PC with an optical disk drive and connected to the Internet. The individual patient can choose to update his/her personal data on the portable optical disk and can receive a new portable optical disk that includes the update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: DatCard Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Duma, Kenneth L. Wright, Chet La Guardia
  • Patent number: 9092312
    Abstract: A method includes modifying, at a bit error injection circuit, a multiplier value by a first value according to an occurrence of a first event. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the modified multiplier value matches a first threshold, modifying, at the bit error injection circuit, the offset value according to an occurrence of a second event. The method further includes, in response to a determination that the modified offset value matches a second threshold, asserting, at the bit error injection circuit, an error injection signal. The method further includes asserting a first error pattern to be transmitted via a bus lane based on the error injection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Meaney, Michael B. Spear, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Patent number: 9086997
    Abstract: Techniques for handling uncorrectable errors occurring during memory accesses reduce the likelihood of mis-correction of errors due to the presence of noise. When an uncorrectable memory error is detected in response to an access to a memory device, a memory controller managing the interface to the memory halts issuing of access requests to the memory device until a predetermined time period has elapsed. In-flight memory requests are marked for retry, and responses to pending request are flushed. A calibration command may be issued after the predetermined time period has elapsed. After the predetermined time period has elapsed and any calibration performed, the requests marked for retry are issued to the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Steven Dodson, Benjiman L. Goodman, Stephen J. Powell, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Patent number: 9086998
    Abstract: Techniques for handling uncorrectable errors occurring during memory accesses reduce the likelihood of mis-correction of errors due to the presence of noise. When an uncorrectable memory error is detected in response to an access to a memory device, a memory controller managing the interface to the memory halts issuing of access requests to the memory device until a predetermined time period has elapsed. In-flight memory requests are marked for retry, and responses to pending request are flushed. A calibration command may be issued after the predetermined time period has elapsed. After the predetermined time period has elapsed and any calibration performed, the requests marked for retry are issued to the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Steven Dodson, Benjiman L. Goodman, Stephen J. Powell, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20150168972
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a three dimensional (3D) integrated device comprising a first die having a first supply line and a second die having a second supply line, a power header, and voltage selection logic. The power header is connected to the first die and the second die and configured to generate a first voltage on a first voltage line and a second voltage on a second voltage line. The voltage selection logic is connected to the first supply line and the second supply line and configured to select between the first voltage line and the second voltage line for each of the first supply line and the second supply line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vijay A. Mathiyalagan, Siva Rama K. Pullelli, Saravanan Sethuraman, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20150143201
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a plurality of memory devices and a memory controller operatively coupled to the memory devices. The memory controller is configured to partition write data into a plurality of data blocks, where each data block is associated with one of the memory devices. The memory controller is further configured to generate an instance of a local error-correcting code (ECC) corresponding to each data block, and merge each data block with the corresponding instance of the local ECC to form an encoded data block for each memory device. Additionally, the memory controller is configured to write each encoded data block to the memory devices such that each memory device stores one of the data blocks with the corresponding instance of the local ECC. A global ECC and a local ECC of the global ECC can also be included in the memory system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul W. Coteus, Hillery C. Hunter, Charles A. Kilmer, Kyu-hyoun Kim, Warren E. Maule, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20150121167
    Abstract: A memory controller is equipped with multiple error correction circuits for different complexity levels of errors, but requested data is initially sent to a requesting unit (e.g., processor) via a bypass path which provides the lowest memory latency. The requesting unit performs error detection and, if an error is found, sends a retry select signal to the memory controller. The retry select signal provides an indication of which error correction unit should be used to provide complete correction of the error but add the minimum latency necessary. On the retry transmission, the controller uses the particular error correction unit indicated by the retry select signal. The memory controller can also have a persistent error detection circuit which identifies an address as being defective when an error is repeatedly indicated by multiple retry select signals, and the control logic can automatically transmits the requested data using the appropriate error correction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Benjiman L. Goodman, Luis A. Lastras-Montano, Eric E. Retter, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20150121166
    Abstract: A memory controller is equipped with multiple error correction circuits for different complexity levels of errors, but requested data is initially sent to a requesting unit (e.g., processor) via a bypass path which provides the lowest memory latency. The requesting unit performs error detection and, if an error is found, sends a retry select signal to the memory controller. The retry select signal provides an indication of which error correction unit should be used to provide complete correction of the error but add the minimum latency necessary. On the retry transmission, the controller uses the particular error correction unit indicated by the retry select signal. The memory controller can also have a persistent error detection circuit which identifies an address as being defective when an error is repeatedly indicated by multiple retry select signals, and the control logic can automatically transmits the requested data using the appropriate error correction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Benjiman L. Goodman, Luis A. Lastras-Montano, Eric E. Retter, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Patent number: 9009548
    Abstract: A method includes reading, at a memory controller, data from a first dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) die layer of a DRAM stack. The method also includes writing the data to a second DRAM die layer of the DRAM stack. The method further includes sending a request to a test engine to test the first DRAM die layer after writing the data to the second DRAM die layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marc A. Gollub, Girisankar Paulraj, Diyanesh B. Vidyapoornachary, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20150089279
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing ECC (Error Correction Codes) memory module communications with a host processor in multi-ported memory configurations in a computer system. Each of multiple memory modules operating in unison is enabled to identify which memory module is the one required to communicate module specific information back to the host processor. All of the multiple memory modules operating in unison are enabled to generate back to the host processor a valid ECC word, while other multiple memory modules individually being unaware of data contents of the one memory module required to communicate back to the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Dodson, Luis A. Lastras-Montano, Warren E. Maule, Adam J. McPadden, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20150089263
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for system-wide power conservation using memory cache are provided. A memory access request is received at a location in a memory architecture where processing the memory access request has to use a last level of cache before reaching a memory device holding a requested data. Using a memory controller, the memory access request is caused to wait, omitting adding the memory access request to a queue of existing memory access requests accepted for processing using the last level of cache. All the existing memory access requests in the queue are processed using the last level of cache. The last level of cache is purged to the memory device. The memory access request is processed using an alternative path to the memory device that avoids the last level of cache. A cache device used as the last level of cache is powered down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: MALCOLM S. ALLEN-WARE, John Steven Dodson, Jordan Ross Keuseman, Karthick Rajamani, Srinivasan Ramani, Todd Jon Rosedahl, Gregory Scott Still, Kenneth L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20140380096
    Abstract: Techniques for handling uncorrectable errors occurring during memory accesses reduce the likelihood of mis-correction of errors due to the presence of noise. When an uncorrectable memory error is detected in response to an access to a memory device, a memory controller managing the interface to the memory halts issuing of access requests to the memory device until a predetermined time period has elapsed. In-flight memory requests are marked for retry, and responses to pending request are flushed. A calibration command may be issued after the predetermined time period has elapsed. After the predetermined time period has elapsed and any calibration performed, the requests marked for retry are issued to the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Steven Dodson, Benjiman L. Goodman, Stephen J. Powell, Kenneth L. Wright