Abstract: One or more memory systems, architectural structures, and/or methods of storing information in memory devices is disclosed to improve the data bandwidth and or to reduce the load on the communication links. The system may include one or more memory devices, one or more memory control circuits and one or more data buffer circuits. The memory system, architectural structure and/or method improves the ability of the communications links to transfer data downstream to the data buffer circuits. In one aspect, the memory control circuit receives a store command and a store data tag (Host tag) from a Host and sends the store data command and the store data tag to the data buffer circuits. No store data tag or control signal is sent over the communication links between the Host and the data buffer circuits, only data is sent over the communication links between the Host and the data buffer circuits.

Abstract: A memory system, architecture, and method for storing data in response to commands received from a host is disclosed. The memory system includes a memory control circuit configured to receive commands from the host; at least one memory device configured to store data; and at least one data buffer circuit associated with the at least one memory device and the memory control circuit, the data buffer circuit having data buffers and at least one register. The system preferably includes communication links between the host, the at least one memory control circuit, the at least one data buffer circuit, and the at least one memory device. The system preferably is configured so that register access commands are sent by the host to the memory control circuit over the communication links between the host and the memory control circuit.

Abstract: A host divides a dataset into stripes and sends the stripes to respective data chips of a distributed memory buffer system, where the data chips buffer the respective slices. Each data chip can buffer stripes from multiple datasets. Through the use of: (i) error detection methods; (ii) tagging the stripes for identification; and (iii) acknowledgement responses from the data chips, the host keeps track of the status of each slice at the data chips. If errors are detected for a given stripe, the host resends the stripe in the next store cycle, concurrently with stripes for the next dataset. Once all stripes have been received error-free across all the data chips, the host issues a store command which triggers the data chips to move the respective stripes from buffer to memory.

Abstract: A calibration controller determines a latest arriving data strobe at a first data buffer in a read data path between at least one memory chip and a host on a high speed interface. The calibration controller aligns a chip clock distributed to a second data buffer in the read data path with the latest arriving data strobe, wherein data crosses a first clock boundary from the first data buffer to the second data buffer, to minimize a latency in the read data path across the first clock boundary. The calibration controller aligns the chip clock with a high speed clock for controlling an unload pointer to unload data from the second data buffer to a serializer in the read data path, wherein data crosses a second clock boundary from the second data buffer to the serializer, to minimize a latency in the read data path across a second clock boundary.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system testing a plurality of semiconductor chips in a distributed memory buffer system is provided. Embodiments of the present invention recognize improvements to testing signals through the chip substrate and motherboard. This invention overloads the shared broadcast bus by using it for test purposes rather than its normal mainline function. One of the main components of this invention is the A/C chip. In test mode, the AC chip converts JTAG commands into an internal test format and sends test data over the shared broadcast bus. Each data chip determines whether the scan data is for itself or if it should ignore it. The corresponding data chip then processes the data, and if necessary sends return data back to the address and command chip, where it is converted back into JTAG format and can be seen by the tester.

Abstract: One or more memory systems, architectural structures, and/or methods of storing information in memory devices is disclosed to improve the data bandwidth and or to reduce the load on the communication links. The system may include one or more memory devices, one or more memory control circuits and one or more data buffer circuits. The memory system, architectural structure and/or method improves the ability of the communications links to transfer data downstream to the data buffer circuits. In one aspect, the memory control circuit receives a store command and a store data tag (Host tag) from a Host and sends the store data command and the store data tag to the data buffer circuits. No store data tag or control signal is sent over the communication links between the Host and the data buffer circuits, only data is sent over the communication links between the Host and the data buffer circuits.

Abstract: One or more memory systems, architectural structures, and/or methods of storing information in memory devices is disclosed to improve the data bandwidth and or to reduce the load on the communications links in a memory system. The system may include one or more memory devices, one or more memory control circuits and one or more data buffer circuits. In one embodiment, the Host only transmits data over its communications link with the data buffer circuit. In one aspect, the memory control circuit does not send a control signal to the data buffer circuits. In one aspect, the memory control circuit and the data buffer circuits each maintain a separate state machine-driven address pointer or local address sequencer, which contains the same tags in the same sequence. In another aspect, a resynchronization method is disclosed.

Abstract: One or more memory systems, architectural structures, and/or methods of storing information in memory devices is disclosed to improve the data bandwidth and or to reduce the load on the communications links in a memory system. The system may include one or more memory devices, one or more memory control circuits and one or more data buffer circuits. In one embodiment, the Host only transmits data (and CRC) and does not transmit control signals, over its communications link with the data buffer circuits. In one aspect, the memory control circuit does not send the store data tag to the data buffer circuits. In one embodiment, the Host and the data buffer circuits each maintain a separate state machine-driven address pointer or local address sequencer, e.g., local store tag FIFO, which contains the same tags in the same sequence. A periodic system check and resynchronization method is also disclosed.

Abstract: One or more memory systems, architectural structures, and/or methods of storing information in memory devices is disclosed to improve the data bandwidth and or to reduce the load on the communication links. The system may include one or more memory devices, one or more memory control circuits and one or more data buffer circuits. In one aspect, the data buffer circuit receives a next to be used store data tag from a Host wherein the store data tag specifies the data buffer location in the data buffer circuit to store data, and in response to receiving store data from the Host, moves the data received at the data buffer circuit into the data buffer pointed to by the previously received store data tag.

Abstract: A host divides a dataset into stripes and sends the stripes to respective data chips of a distributed memory buffer system, where the data chips buffer the respective slices. Each data chip can buffer stripes from multiple datasets. Through the use of: (i) error detection methods; (ii) tagging the stripes for identification; and (iii) acknowledgement responses from the data chips, the host keeps track of the status of each slice at the data chips. If errors are detected for a given stripe, the host resends the stripe in the next store cycle, concurrently with stripes for the next dataset. Once all stripes have been received error-free across all the data chips, the host issues a store command which triggers the data chips to move the respective stripes from buffer to memory.

Abstract: A system for memory management includes an incoming memory data strobe connecting a memory data interface, and a clock distribution network. The clock distribution network includes an internal clock aligned to the incoming memory data strobe. The system also includes an asynchronous clock domain that is asynchronous with the clock distribution network; and a strobe select circuit configured to align to the incoming memory data strobe. The clock distribution network is configured to propagate read data with reduced latency from the memory data interface to a second interface.

Abstract: A host divides a dataset into stripes and sends the stripes to respective data chips of a distributed memory buffer system, where the data chips buffer the respective slices. Each data chip can buffer stripes from multiple datasets. Through the use of: (i) error detection methods; (ii) tagging the stripes for identification; and (iii) acknowledgement responses from the data chips, the host keeps track of the status of each slice at the data chips. If errors are detected for a given stripe, the host resends the stripe in the next store cycle, concurrently with stripes for the next dataset. Once all stripes have been received error-free across all the data chips, the host issues a store command which triggers the data chips to move the respective stripes from buffer to memory.

Abstract: A communications link includes multiple continuously calibrated parallel lines, wherein one or more lines are at least partially powered down while being continuously calibrated to reduce power consumption. In one aspect, at least N+1 lines (where N is the logical bus width) are periodically recalibrated, and at least one redundant line is powered down between calibrations. The redundant line could be either a true spare available for use as a replacement, or an extra line which carries functional data while other lines are being calibrated in turn. In another aspect, the logical bus width is variable, but does not exceed NMAX. When N<NMAX, lines not carrying functional data are partially powered down between calibrations.

Abstract: A communications link includes multiple continuously calibrated parallel lines, wherein one or more lines are at least partially powered down while being continuously calibrated to reduce power consumption. In one aspect, at least N+1 lines (where N is the logical bus width) are periodically recalibrated, and at least one redundant line is powered down between calibrations. The redundant line could be either a true spare available for use as a replacement, or an extra line which carries functional data while other lines are being calibrated in turn. In another aspect, the logical bus width is variable, but does not exceed NMAX. When N<NMAX, lines not carrying functional data are partially powered down between calibrations.