Patents by Inventor Tonia G. Morris
Tonia G. Morris 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: 11435909Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for providing communications which facilitate link training. In an embodiment, a memory controller includes, or couples to, trainer circuitry which is configured to provide instructions to generate memory access commands. The instructions are accessed at the circuitry in response to an indication that link training is performed, where the accessing is independent of communication with a processor coupled to the memory controller. Based on the instructions, memory access commands are communicated via a link between the memory controller and a memory device. Link training is performed based on an evaluation of one or more characteristics of the link communications. In another embodiment, memory access commands are generated, based on the instructions, while a validity of data at the memory device is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Tonia G. Morris, Moshe Jacob Finkelstein, Ramesh Subashchandrabose, Lohit R. Yerva
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Patent number: 11360874Abstract: A method is described. The method includes receiving from a memory controller configuration information for a testing sequence and storing the configuration information in configuration register space of the driver circuit. The method also includes controlling the next testing sequence. The testing sequence includes sweeping values of a tap coefficient of a DFE circuit of the driver circuit and sweeping a voltage of a slicer of the driver circuit. The method includes sending results of the testing sequence to the memory controller. The results are to determine a value for the DFE tap coefficient.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: Tonia G. Morris
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Publication number: 20220148639Abstract: A reference voltage value and a chip select (CS) signal timing delay provided to memory devices can be determined based on samples of the CS signal received by the memory devices. The CS signal can be provided to the memory devices with varying time delays and for various reference voltages. Various samples of the CS signal from the memory devices can indicate different times for rising and falling edges of the CS signal. A composite signal eye can be generated by the latest occurring rising edge and the earliest occurring falling edge of the CS signal. The reference voltage value and timing delay can be chosen based on the composite signal eye width that is the closest to a reference eye width.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2019Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventors: Zhenglong WU, Tonia G. MORRIS, Christina JUE, Daniel BECERRA PEREZ, David G. ELLIS
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Patent number: 11061590Abstract: A chip select training mode (CSTM) enables a memory subsystem to train a chip select signal separately from command bus training. A memory device and a memory controller can connect via a command bus including a chip select signal line. Instead of training the chip select along with other signal lines of the command bus, a CSTM mode enables the memory subsystem to more accurately train the chip select. The memory device can be triggered for CSTM mode with a command, and then train voltage margining for the CS signal line to align chip select signaling with the memory subsystem clock signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Tonia G. Morris, Christopher P. Mozak, Christopher E. Cox
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Patent number: 10997096Abstract: A memory subsystem enables per device addressability (PDA) to target configuration commands to one of multiple memory devices that share a select line or buffer devices that share an enable line. The system includes a host and multiple memory devices that can be coupled over a command bus and a data bus. The devices include a configuration or mode register to store a value to indicate whether PDA enumeration is enabled. When enabled, the host can provide an enumeration identifier (ID) command via the command bus with a signal via the data bus to assign an enumeration ID. After assignment of the enumeration ID, the host can send PDA commands via the command bus with the enumeration ID, without a signal on the data bus. Devices only process PDA commands that match their assigned enumeration ID, enabling the setting of device-specific configuration settings without needing to use the data bus on every PDA command.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Tonia G. Morris, Bill Nale
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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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Publication number: 20200334121Abstract: A method is described. The method includes receiving from a memory controller configuration information for a testing sequence and storing the configuration information in configuration register space of the driver circuit. The method also includes controlling the next testing sequence. The testing sequence includes sweeping values of a tap coefficient of a DFE circuit of the driver circuit and sweeping a voltage of a slicer of the driver circuit. The method includes sending results of the testing sequence to the memory controller. The results are to determine a value for the DFE tap coefficient.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventor: Tonia G. MORRIS
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Publication number: 20200110551Abstract: A chip select training mode (CSTM) enables a memory subsystem to train a chip select signal separately from command bus training. A memory device and a memory controller can connect via a command bus including a chip select signal line. Instead of training the chip select along with other signal lines of the command bus, a CSTM mode enables the memory subsystem to more accurately train the chip select. The memory device can be triggered for CSTM mode with a command, and then train voltage margining for the CS signal line to align chip select signaling with the memory subsystem clock signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Applicant: Intel CorporationInventors: Tonia G. MORRIS, Christopher P. MOZAK, Christopher E. COX
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Publication number: 20200065266Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2019Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Tonia G. MORRIS, John V. LOVELACE, John R. GOLES
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Publication number: 20200042209Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for providing communications which facilitate link training. In an embodiment, a memory controller includes, or couples to, trainer circuitry which is configured to provide instructions to generate memory access commands. The instructions are accessed at the circuitry in response to an indication that link training is performed, where the accessing is independent of communication with a processor coupled to the memory controller. Based on the instructions, memory access commands are communicated via a link between the memory controller and a memory device. Link training is performed based on an evaluation of one or more characteristics of the link communications. In another embodiment, memory access commands are generated, based on the instructions, while a validity of data at the memory device is maintained.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: Intel CorporationInventors: Tonia G. Morris, Moshe Jacob Finkelstein, Ramesh Subashchandrabose, Lohit R. Yerva
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Patent number: 10482041Abstract: Provided are a device and computer readable storage medium for programming a memory module to initiate a training mode in which the memory module transmits continuous bit patterns on a side band lane of the bus interface; receiving the bit patterns over the bus interface; determining from the received bit patterns a transition of values in the bit pattern to determine a data eye between the determined transitions of the values; and determining a setting to control a phase interpolator to generate interpolated signals used to sample data within the determined data eye.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: INTEL CORPORATIONInventors: Tonia G. Morris, Jonathan C. Jasper, Arnaud J. Forestier
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Patent number: 10416912Abstract: A chip select training mode (CSTM) enables a memory subsystem to train a chip select signal separately from command bus training. A memory device and a memory controller can connect via a command bus including a chip select signal line. Instead of training the chip select along with other signal lines of the command bus, a CSTM mode enables the memory subsystem to more accurately train the chip select. The memory device can be triggered for CSTM mode with a command, and then train voltage margining for the CS signal line to align chip select signaling with the memory subsystem clock signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Tonia G. Morris, Christopher P. Mozak, Christopher E. Cox
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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: 10331585Abstract: Provided are a device and computer readable storage medium for programming a memory module to initiate a training mode in which the memory module transmits continuous bit patterns on a side band lane of the bus interface; receiving the bit patterns over the bus interface; determining from the received bit patterns a transition of values in the bit pattern to determine a data eye between the determined transitions of the values; and determining a setting to control a phase interpolator to generate interpolated signals used to sample data within the determined data eye.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: INTEL CORPORATIONInventors: Tonia G. Morris, Jonathan C. Jasper, Arnaud J. Forestier
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Publication number: 20190095361Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Tonia G. MORRIS, John V. LOVELACE, John R. GOLES
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Publication number: 20190095308Abstract: A method is described. The method includes receiving from a memory controller configuration information for a testing sequence and storing the configuration information in configuration register space of the driver circuit. The method also includes controlling the next testing sequence. The testing sequence includes sweeping values of a tap coefficient of a DFE circuit of the driver circuit and sweeping a voltage of a slicer of the driver circuit. The method includes sending results of the testing sequence to the memory controller. The results are to determine a value for the DFE tap coefficient.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventor: Tonia G. MORRIS
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Publication number: 20190042498Abstract: A memory subsystem enables per device addressability (PDA) to target configuration commands to one of multiple memory devices that share a select line or buffer devices that share an enable line. The system includes a host and multiple memory devices that can be coupled over a command bus and a data bus. The devices include a configuration or mode register to store a value to indicate whether PDA enumeration is enabled. When enabled, the host can provide an enumeration identifier (ID) command via the command bus with a signal via the data bus to assign an enumeration ID. After assignment of the enumeration ID, the host can send PDA commands via the command bus with the enumeration ID, without a signal on the data bus. Devices only process PDA commands that match their assigned enumeration ID, enabling the setting of device-specific configuration settings without needing to use the data bus on every PDA command.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2018Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Tonia G. MORRIS, Bill NALE
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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: 20180121123Abstract: A chip select training mode (CSTM) enables a memory subsystem to train a chip select signal separately from command bus training. A memory device and a memory controller can connect via a command bus including a chip select signal line. Instead of training the chip select along with other signal lines of the command bus, a CSTM mode enables the memory subsystem to more accurately train the chip select. The memory device can be triggered for CSTM mode with a command, and then train voltage margining for the CS signal line to align chip select signaling with the memory subsystem clock signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Tonia G. MORRIS, Christopher P. MOZAK, Christopher E. COX