Patents by Inventor Martin L. Schmatz

Martin L. Schmatz 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: 8139430
    Abstract: A memory buffer, memory system and method for power-on initialization and test for a cascade interconnect memory system. The memory buffer includes a bus interface to links in a high-speed channel for communicating with a memory controller via a direct connection or via a cascade interconnection through an other memory buffer. The interface is operable in a SBC mode and a high-speed mode. The memory buffer also includes a field service interface (FSI) slave for receiving FSI signals from a FSI master. In addition, the memory buffer includes logic for executing a power-on and initialization training sequence initiated by the memory controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter L. Buchmann, Frank D. Ferraiolo, Kevin C. Gower, Robert J. Reese, Eric E. Retter, Martin L. Schmatz, Michael B. Spear, Peter M. Thomsen, Michael R. Trombley
  • Patent number: 8054926
    Abstract: The forward error correction based clock and data recovery system includes a data latch for intermediately storing received data, which is triggered by a sampling clock. The system further includes an error determination unit for determining whether which of the sampled received data is wrong, and for generating out of it a phase/frequency correction signal. Furthermore, the system includes a clock generator for generating the sampling clock depending on the correction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hayden Clavie Cranford, Jr., Martin L. Schmatz, Thomas H. Toifl
  • Patent number: 7934115
    Abstract: A computer program product and a hub device for deriving clocks in a memory system are provided. The computer program product includes a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method. The method includes receiving a reference oscillator clock at the hub device. The hub device is in communication with a controller channel via a controller interface and in communication with a memory device via a memory interface. A base clock operating at a base clock frequency is derived from the reference oscillator clock. A memory interface clock is derived by multiplying the base clock by a memory multiplier. A controller interface clock is derived by multiplying the base clock by a controller multiplier. The memory interface clock is applied to the memory interface and the controller interface clock is applied to the controller interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank D. Ferraiolo, Kevn C. Gower, Martin L. Schmatz
  • Patent number: 7885365
    Abstract: A high-speed receiver includes multiple receiver components. Each receiver component includes sampling latches for receiving data, phase rotators for controlling timing of sampling of data by the sampling latches, and a clock-tracking logic stage for providing clock and data recovery. The clock-tracking logic stage is divided into a high-speed early/late (E/L) logic and aggregation counter section and a low-speed logic section, separated by a synchronization logic block. The receiver also includes a delay locked loop (DLL) for receiving an input clock signal corresponding to a data rate of the received data, providing coarse delay adjustment of the clock signal and outputting multiple clock phase vectors corresponding to the adjusted clock signal to the phase rotators on each receiver component. The phase rotators control sampling of the data based on the clock phase vectors received from the DLL. A single regulated power supply regulator regulates power supplied to the DLL and the phase rotators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christoph Hagleitner, Christian I. Menolfi, Martin L. Schmatz, Thomas H. Toifl
  • Patent number: 7839221
    Abstract: A phase locked loop (PLL) which includes a phase frequency detector coupled with a time to digital converter capable of comparing a reference signal with an oscillator signal and generating a digital value representing the phase difference between the reference signal and the oscillator signal. The PLL further includes a state machine for phase acquisition that is capable of generating a control value depending on the digital value, and a controllable oscillator that is capable of generating the oscillator signal depending on the control value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marcel A. Kossel, Thomas E. Morf, Martin L. Schmatz, Silvan Wehrli
  • Patent number: 7809054
    Abstract: Disclosed are a receiver circuit, method and design architecture of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) Clock-And-Data Recovery (CDR) architecture that utilizes/produces one sample-per-bit in the receiver and reduces bit-error-rate (BER). An integrating receiver is combined with a decision feedback equalizer along with the appropriate (CDR) loop phase detector to maintain a single sample per bit requirement. The incoming voltage is converted to a current and connected to a current summing node. Weighted currents determined by the values of previously detected bits and their respective feedback coefficients are also connected to this node. Additionally, the summed currents is integrated and converted to a voltage. A sampler is utilized to make a bit decision based on the resulting voltage. After sampling, the integrator is reset before analysis of the next bit. The necessary amplification is achieved by maximizing the sensitivity of the latch, using integration in front of the data latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Juan A. Carballo, Hayden C. Cranford, Jr., Gareth J. Nicholls, Vernon R. Norman, Martin L. Schmatz
  • Patent number: 7661052
    Abstract: A method and system for testing a high-speed circuit is disclosed. The method and system include obtaining a high-speed statistical signature of the high-speed circuit using a conventional tester. The method and system further include comparing the high-speed statistical signature of the high-speed circuit to an expected signature. Consequently, it can be determined whether the high-speed circuit functions within the desired parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hayden C. Cranford, Jr., Vernon R. Norman, Martin L. Schmatz
  • Publication number: 20100005365
    Abstract: A communication interface device, system, method, and design structure for error correcting code (ECC) protected quasi-static bit communication (SBC) on a high-speed bus are provided. The communication interface device includes high-speed sampling logic to capture high-speed data from the high-speed bus using a high-speed sampling clock and SBC sampling logic to capture SBC samples from the high-speed bus using an SBC sampling clock. The SBC sampling clock is slower than the high-speed sampling clock. The communication interface device also includes an SBC finite state machine (FSM) to detect a received SBC command in response to a static pattern persisting for a predetermined number of the SBC samples and command decoding logic to decode the received SBC command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Buchmann, Kevin C. Gower, Robert J. Reese, Martin L. Schmatz, Michael R. Trombley
  • Publication number: 20100005281
    Abstract: A memory buffer, memory system and method for power-on initialization and test for a cascade interconnect memory system. The memory buffer includes a bus interface to links in a high-speed channel for communicating with a memory controller via a direct connection or via a cascade interconnection through an other memory buffer. The interface is operable in a SBC mode and a high-speed mode. The memory buffer also includes a field service interface (FSI) slave for receiving FSI signals from a FSI master. In addition, the memory buffer includes logic for executing a power-on and initialization training sequence initiated by the memory controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter L. Buchmann, Frank D. Ferraiolo, Kevin C. Gower, Robert J. Reese, Eric E. Retter, Martin L. Schmatz, Michael B. Spear, Peter M. Thomsen, Michael R. Trombley
  • Publication number: 20090202076
    Abstract: A communications system that may include a transmitter, a receiver, connected over a communications network. A communication link on the communications network may transfer data between the transmitter and the receiver. The system may also include a logic unit to scramble a plurality of portions of the data at the transmitter based upon the communication link and may unscramble the plurality of portions of the data at the receiver. As a result, the logic unit may provide improved performance of the communication link and/or reduced power consumption of the communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel M. Dreps, Frank D. Ferralolo, Robert J. Reese, Martin L. Schmatz
  • Publication number: 20090116593
    Abstract: Aspects of providing automatic adaptation to frequency offsets in high speed serial links are described. First signals for phase adjusts in a receiver link are adjusted by detecting trends in the first signals to generate second signals, the second signals improving a rate of compensation for the frequency offsets by the phase adjusts. An up/down counter is included for counting signals for phase adjustments by a clock-data-recovery loop of a serial receiver. An adder is coupled to the up/down counter and outputs accumulated data indicative of a trend in the phase adjustments. Combinatorial logic coupled to the adder adapts the signals based on the accumulated data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: HAYDEN C. CRANFORD, JR., GARETH JOHN NICHOLLS, BOBAK MODARESS-RAZAVI, VERNON R. NORMAN, MARTIN L. SCHMATZ
  • Patent number: 7522687
    Abstract: The forward error correction based clock and data recovery system according to the invention comprises a data latch (16) for intermediately storing received data, which is triggered by a sampling clock (sclk). The system further comprises an error determination unit (20, 21) for determining whether and which of the sampled received data is wrong, and for generating out of it a phase/frequency correction signal (ctrl). Furthermore, the system comprises a clock generator (23, 24, 25) for generating the sampling clock (sclk) depending on the correction signal (ctrl).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hayden Clavie Cranford, Jr., Martin L. Schmatz, Thomas H. Toifl
  • Publication number: 20090094476
    Abstract: A computer program product and a hub device for deriving clocks in a memory system are provided. The computer program product includes a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method. The method includes receiving a reference oscillator clock at the hub device. The hub device is in communication with a controller channel via a controller interface and in communication with a memory device via a memory interface. A base clock operating at a base clock frequency is derived from the reference oscillator clock. A memory interface clock is derived by multiplying the base clock by a memory multiplier. A controller interface clock is derived by multiplying the base clock by a controller multiplier. The memory interface clock is applied to the memory interface and the controller interface clock is applied to the controller interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank D. Ferraiolo, Kevin C. Gower, Martin L. Schmatz
  • Patent number: 7512177
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods comprise a phase shifter, an adjustable capacitance configured to adjust a phase shift of said phase shifter, an arbitrary waveform generator configured to adjust the adjustable capacitance, and a pulse pattern generator coupled to the phase shifter, the phase shifter is configured to control the pulse pattern generator. In one aspect, an adjustable capacitance is at least one varactor diode. In another, a pair of varactor diodes are separated by ?/4 lines, an input and an output of the adjustable capacitance is AC-coupled, and the arbitrary waveform generator is configured to adjust the adjustable capacitance through a gaussian noise signal input to the pair of varactor diodes. A deterministic jitter generator may be coupled to the pulse pattern generator. An open-circuited stub line may be input to the pattern generator, a deterministic jitter content number adjustable varying stub line length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hayden C. Cranford, Jr., Marcel A. Kossel, Vernon R. Norman, Martin L. Schmatz
  • Publication number: 20090060091
    Abstract: A high-speed receiver includes multiple receiver components. Each receiver component includes sampling latches for receiving data, phase rotators for controlling timing of sampling of data by the sampling latches, and a clock-tracking logic stage for providing clock and data recovery. The clock-tracking logic stage is divided into a high-speed early/late (E/L) logic and aggregation counter section and a low-speed logic section, separated by a synchronization logic block. The receiver also includes a delay locked loop (DLL) for receiving an input clock signal corresponding to a data rate of the received data, providing coarse delay adjustment of the clock signal and outputting multiple clock phase vectors corresponding to the adjusted clock signal to the phase rotators on each receiver component. The phase rotators control sampling of the data based on the clock phase vectors received from the DLL. A single regulated power supply regulator regulates power supplied to the DLL and the phase rotators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christoph Hagleitner, Christian I. Menolfi, Martin L. Schmatz, Thomas H. Toifl
  • Publication number: 20090039916
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for a memory input/output (I/O) pin has five different modes of operation. The memory chip is enabled to operate with unbuffered (or registered) dual inline memory modules (DIMMs) as well as fully buffered DIMMs. A T-coil circuit equalizes the capacitive loading of the high-speed functions. An exemplary embodiment provides a memory chip containing a multi-functional physical I/O circuit that can act as power or ground; as a DDR2 or DDR3 interface; as a high-speed differential receiver; or as a high-speed differential transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Buchmann, Christian I. Menolfi, Martin L. Schmatz, Thomas H. Toifl, Jonas R. Weiss
  • Patent number: 7477713
    Abstract: Aspects of providing automatic adaptation to frequency offsets in high speed serial links are described. First signals for phase adjusts in a receiver link are adjusted by detecting trends in the first signals to generate second signals, the second signals improving a rate of compensation for the frequency offsets by the phase adjusts. An up/down counter is included for counting signals for phase adjustments by a clock-data-recovery loop of a serial receiver. An adder is coupled to the up/down counter and outputs accumulated data indicative of a trend in the phase adjustments. Combinatorial logic coupled to the adder adapts the signals based on the accumulated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hayden C. Cranford, Jr., Gareth John Nicholls, Bobak Modaress-Razavi, Vernon R. Norman, Martin L. Schmatz
  • Patent number: 7478259
    Abstract: A system, method and storage medium for deriving clocks in a memory system. The method includes receiving a reference oscillator clock at a hub device. The hub device is in communication with a controller channel via a controller interface and in communication with a memory device via a memory interface. A base clock operating at a base clock frequency is derived from the reference oscillator clock. A memory interface clock is derived by multiplying the base clock by a memory multiplier. A controller interface clock is derived by multiplying the base clock by a controller multiplier. The memory interface clock is applied to the memory interface and the controller interface clock is applied to the controller interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank D. Ferraiolo, Kevin C. Gower, Martin L. Schmatz
  • Publication number: 20080246522
    Abstract: A phase locked loop (PLL) which includes a phase frequency detector coupled with a time to digital converter capable of comparing a reference signal with an oscillator signal and generating a digital value representing the phase difference between the reference signal and the oscillator signal. The PLL further includes a state machine for phase acquisition that is capable of generating a control value depending on the digital value, and a controllable oscillator that is capable of generating the oscillator signal depending on the control value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Marcel A. Kossel, Thomas E. Morf, Martin L. Schmatz, Silvan Wehrli
  • Publication number: 20080240224
    Abstract: A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a design of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) Clock-And-Data Recovery (CDR) architecture that utilizes/produces one sample-per-bit in the receiver and reduces bit-error-rate (BER) is provided. The design generally includes a receiver circuit. The receiver circuit generally includes a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) that produces one sample per bit, and means for automatically self-adjusting the DFE to enable an eye centering process by which peak energy is maintained within the receiver circuit when phase error is a minimum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: JUAN A. CARBALLO, Hayden C. Cranford, Gareth J. Nicholls, Vernon R. Norman, Martin L. Schmatz