Patents by Inventor Timothy Mowry Hollis
Timothy Mowry Hollis 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: 11829267Abstract: Implementations of encoding techniques are disclosed. The encoding technique, such as a Data bus Inversion (DBI) technique, is implementable in a vertically-stacked memory module, but is not limited thereto. The module can be a plurality of memory integrated circuits which are vertically stacked, and which communicate via a bus formed in one embodiment of channels comprising Through-Wafer Interconnects (TWIs), but again is not limited thereto. One such module includes spare channels that are normally used to reroute a data signal on the bus away from faulty data channels. In one disclosed technique, the status of a spare channel or channels is queried, and if one or more are unused, they can be used to carry a DBI bit, thus allowing at least a portion of the bus to be assessed in accordance with a DBI algorithm. Depending on the location and number of spare channels needed for rerouting, DBI can be apportioned across the bus in various manners.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Patent number: 11664057Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed, including memory devices and systems. Example memory devices, systems and methods include a buffer to translate high speed data interactions on a host interface side into slower, wider data interactions on a DRAM interface side. Example memory devices, systems and methods include a multiplexer circuit to further facilitate use of slower, and wider bandwidth memory devices. Devices and methods described may be configured to substantially match the capacity of a narrower, higher speed host interface.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Aparna U. Limaye, Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Publication number: 20230126998Abstract: Implementations of encoding techniques are disclosed. The encoding technique, such as a Data bus Inversion (DBD technique, is implementable in a vertically-stacked memory module, but is not limited thereto. The module can be a plurality of memory integrated circuits which are vertically stacked, and which communicate via a bus formed in one embodiment of channels comprising Through-Wafer Interconnects (TWIs), but again is not limited thereto. One such module includes spare channels that are normally used to reroute a data signal on the bus away from faulty data channels. In one disclosed technique, the status of a spare channel or channels is queried, and if one or more are unused, they can be used to carry a DBI bit, thus allowing at least a portion of the bus to be assessed in accordance with a DBI algorithm. Depending on the location and number of spare channels needed for rerouting, DBI can be apportioned across the bus in various manners.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Patent number: 11494277Abstract: Implementations of encoding techniques are disclosed. The encoding technique, such as a Data bus Inversion (DBI) technique, is implementable in a vertically-stacked memory module, but is riot limited thereto. The module can be a plurality of memory integrated circuits which are vertically stacked, and which communicate via a bus formed in one embodiment of channels comprising Through-Wafer Interconnects (TWIs), but again is not limited thereto. One such module includes spare channels that are normally used to reroute a data signal on the bus away from faulty data channels. In one disclosed technique, the status of a spare channel or channels is queried, and if one or more are unused, they can be used to carry a DBI bit, thus allowing at least a portion of the bus to be assessed in accordance with a DBI algorithm. Depending on the location and number of spare channels needed for rerouting, DBI can be apportioned across the bus in various manners.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Publication number: 20220020403Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed, including memory devices and systems. Example memory devices, systems and methods include a buffer to translate high speed data interactions on a host interface side into slower, wider data interactions on a DRAM interface side. Example memory devices, systems and methods include a multiplexer circuit to further facilitate use of slower, and wider bandwidth memory devices. Devices and methods described may be configured to substantially match the capacity of a narrower, higher speed host interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Aparna U. Limaye, Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Patent number: 10847193Abstract: Various embodiments, disclosed herein, include apparatus and methods to provide separate regulated voltages to an electronic device. Multiple voltage regulators can be provided with phase alignment circuitry coupled to the multiple voltage regulators. The multiple voltage regulators can be structured with each voltage regulator having an output separate from the output of the other voltage regulators. The phase alignment circuitry can provide for relative phases among voltage regulator ripples at the output pins of the multiple voltage regulators to be maintained at a certain relationship. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Publication number: 20200364121Abstract: Implementations of encoding techniques are disclosed. The encoding technique, such as a Data bus Inversion (DBI) technique, is implementable in a vertically-stacked memory module, but is riot limited thereto. The module can be a plurality of memory integrated circuits which are vertically stacked, and which communicate via a bus formed in one embodiment of channels comprising Through-Wafer Interconnects (TWIs), but again is not limited thereto. One such module includes spare channels that are normally used to reroute a data signal on the bus away from faulty data channels. In one disclosed technique, the status of a spare channel or channels is queried, and if one or more are unused, they can be used to carry a DBI bit, thus allowing at least a portion of the bus to be assessed in accordance with a DBI algorithm. Depending on the location and number of spare channels needed for rerouting, DBI can be apportioned across the bus in various manners.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Publication number: 20200341838Abstract: Implementations of Data Bus Inversion (DBI) techniques within a memory system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a set of random access memory (RAM) integrated circuits (ICs) is separated from a logic system by a bus. The logic system can contain many of the logic functions traditionally performed on conventional RAM ICs, and accordingly the RAM ICs can be modified to not include such logic functions. The logic system, which can be a logic integrated circuit intervening between the modified RAM ICs and a traditional memory controller, additionally contains DBI encoding and decoding circuitry. In such a system, data is DBI encoded and at least one DBI bit issued when writing to the modified RAM ICs. The RAM ICs in turn store the DBI bit(s) with the encoded data. When the encoded data is read from the modified RAM ICs, it is transmitted across the bus in its encoded state along with the DBI bit(s). The logic integrated circuit then decodes the data using the DBI bit(s) to return it to its original state.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Patent number: 10698776Abstract: Implementations of encoding techniques are disclosed. The encoding technique, such as a Data bus Inversion (DBI) technique, is implementable in a vertically-stacked memory module, but is not limited thereto. The module can be a plurality of memory integrated circuits which are vertically stacked, and which communicate via a bus formed in one embodiment of channels comprising Through-Wafer Interconnects (TWIs), but again is not limited thereto. One such module includes spare channels that are normally used to reroute a data signal on the bus away from faulty data channels. In one disclosed technique, the status of a spare channel or channels is queried, and if one or more are unused, they can be used to carry a DBI bit, thus allowing at least a portion of the bus to be assessed in accordance with a DBI algorithm. Depending on the location and number of spare channels needed for rerouting, DBI can be apportioned across the bus in various manners.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Patent number: 10649842Abstract: Implementations of Data Bus Inversion (DBI) techniques within a memory system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a set of random access memory (RAM) integrated circuits (ICs) is separated from a logic system by a bus. The logic system can contain many of the logic functions traditionally performed on conventional RAM ICs, and accordingly the RAM ICs can be modified to not include such logic functions. The logic system, which can be a logic integrated circuit intervening between the modified RAM ICs and a traditional memory controller, additionally contains DBI encoding and decoding circuitry. In such a system, data is DBI encoded and at least one DBI bit issued when writing to the modified RAM ICs. The RAM ICs in turn store the DBI bit(s) with the encoded data. When the encoded data is read from the modified RAM ICs, it is transmitted across the bus in its encoded state along with the DBI bit(s). The logic integrated circuit then decodes the data using the DBI bit(s) to return it to its original state.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Patent number: 10523473Abstract: Various embodiments, disclosed herein, can include apparatus and methods to characterize taps of a decision feedback equalizer of a data receiver. In characterizing the taps of the decision feedback equalizer of the data receiver, a signal can be transmitted to the data receiver and the received data can be iteratively sampled at an output of the decision feedback equalizer. The sampling can include stepping a sample time relative to arrival of the received data and stepping a reference voltage level to which the received data is compared. Values of the sampled data can be compared with known correct values and such measurements can be used to characterize the taps. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Publication number: 20190287575Abstract: Various embodiments, disclosed herein, include apparatus and methods to provide separate regulated voltages to an electronic device. Multiple voltage regulators can be provided with phase alignment circuitry coupled to the multiple voltage regulators. The multiple voltage regulators can be structured with each voltage regulator having an output separate from the output of the other voltage regulators. The phase alignment circuitry can provide for relative phases among voltage regulator ripples at the output pins of the multiple voltage regulators to be maintained at a certain relationship. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Patent number: 10347303Abstract: Various embodiments, disclosed herein, include apparatus and methods to provide separate regulated voltages to an electronic device. Multiple voltage regulators can be provided with phase alignment circuitry coupled to the multiple voltage regulators. The multiple voltage regulators can be structured with each voltage regulator having an output separate from the output of the other voltage regulators. The phase alignment circuitry can provide for relative phases among voltage regulator ripples at the output pins of the multiple voltage regulators to be maintained at a certain relationship. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Patent number: 10339075Abstract: A computing system including multiple integrated circuit memory devices is described. One or more command and address buses are connected to the memory devices to transmit command and address signals to each memory device. Multiple clock lines are connected to the multiple memory devices in a tree structure to transmit multiple clock signals to these memory devices. The tree structure allows each distributed clock signal to be individually trained such that the multiple clock signals provide each memory device with a clock signal that is temporally aligned with the command and address signals as received by that memory device.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Roy E. Greeff, George Pax, Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Publication number: 20190138388Abstract: Implementations of Data Bus Inversion (DBI) techniques within a memory system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a set of random access memory (RAM) integrated circuits (ICs) is separated from a logic system by a bus. The logic system can contain many of the logic functions traditionally performed on conventional RAM ICs, and accordingly the RAM ICs can be modified to not include such logic functions. The logic system, which can be a logic integrated circuit intervening between the modified RAM IC's and a traditional memory controller, additionally contains DBI encoding and decoding circuitry. In such a system, data is DBI encoded and at least one DBI bit issued when writing to the modified RAM ICs. The RAM ICs in turn store the DBI bit(s) with the encoded data. When the encoded data is read from the modified RAM ICs, it is transmitted across the bus in its encoded state along with the DBI bit(s). The logic integrated circuit then decodes the data using the DBI bit(s) to return it to its original state.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Publication number: 20190116070Abstract: Various embodiments, disclosed herein, can include apparatus and methods to characterize taps of a decision feedback equalizer of a data receiver. In characterizing the taps of the decision feedback equalizer of the data receiver, signal can be transmitted to the data receiver and the received data can be iteratively sampled at an output of the decision feedback equalizer. The sampling can include stepping a sample time relative to arrival of the received data and stepping a reference voltage level to which the received data is compared. Values of the sampled data can be compared with known correct values and such measurements can be used to characterize the taps. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Publication number: 20190064871Abstract: A computing system including multiple integrated circuit memory devices is described. One or more command and address buses are connected to the memory devices to transmit command and address signals to each memory device. Multiple clock lines are connected to the multiple memory devices in a tree structure to transmit multiple clock signals to these memory devices. The tree structure allows each distributed clock signal to be individually trained such that the multiple clock signals provide each memory device with a clock signal that is temporally aligned with the command and address signals as received by that memory device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Roy E. Greeff, George Pax, Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Publication number: 20190043538Abstract: Various embodiments, disclosed herein, include apparatus and methods to provide separate regulated voltages to an electronic device. Multiple voltage regulators can be provided with phase alignment circuitry coupled to the multiple voltage regulators. The multiple voltage regulators can be structured with each voltage regulator having an output separate from the output of the other voltage regulators. The phase alignment circuitry can provide for relative phases among voltage regulator ripples at the output pins of the multiple voltage regulators to be maintained at a certain relationship. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2017Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Patent number: 10164805Abstract: Various embodiments, disclosed herein, can include apparatus and methods to characterize taps of a decision feedback equalizer of a data receiver. In characterizing the taps of the decision feedback equalizer of the data receiver, a signal can be transmitted to the data receiver and the received data can be iteratively sampled at an output of the decision feedback equalizer. The sampling can include stepping a sample time relative to arrival of the received data and stepping a reference voltage level to which the received data is compared. Values of the sampled data can be compared with known correct values and such measurements can be used to characterize the taps. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis
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Publication number: 20180232289Abstract: Implementations of encoding techniques are disclosed. The encoding technique, such as a Data bus inversion (DBI) technique, is implementable in a vertically-stacked memory module, but is not limited thereto. The module can be a plurality of memory integrated circuits which are vertically stacked, and which communicate via a bus formed in one embodiment of channels comprising Through-Wafer Interconnects (TWIs), but again is not limited thereto. One such module includes spare channels that are normally used to reroute a data signal on the bus away from faulty data channels. In one disclosed technique, the status of a spare channel or channels is queried, and if one or more are unused, they can be used to carry a DBI bit, thus allowing at least a portion of the bus to be assessed in accordance with a DBI algorithm. Depending on the location and number of spare channels needed for rerouting, DBI can be apportioned across the bus in various manners.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventor: Timothy Mowry Hollis