IP Library Granted Patent US 12676174
Granted Patent B2
US 12676174 · App. 18/909,444 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Method and device for setting io parameters for communication between system on chip and memory

Inventors: Hyun Min Lee (Gwangju-si, KR); Yong Soo Kim (Hwaseong-si, KR); Seung Chul Kang (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: SEMIFIVE INC.
G11C11/406G11C11/4076
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12676174
App. No.
18/909,444
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus enabling setting of I/O parameters for communication between a system-on-chip and a memory. The method according to the present disclosure includes: a process of setting an initial combination of IO parameter values that can be accessed from the system-on-chip to the memory through signal lines including a command/address signal line and a data signal line; a process of detecting IO parameter values that can access the memory and have a largest margin as IO parameter values for the command/address signal line while changing only IO parameter values for the command/address signal line in the initial combination of IO parameter values; a process of detecting IO parameter values that can access the memory and have a largest margin as IO parameter values for the data signal line in operation of writing while changing only IO parameter values for the data signal line in the operation of writing data in the initial combination of IO parameter values; a process of detecting IO parameter values that can access the memory and have a largest margin as IO parameter values for the data signal line in operation of reading while changing only IO parameter values for the data signal line in the operation of reading data in the initial combination of IO parameter values; and a process of creating a final combination of IO parameter values using the IO parameter values for the command/address signal line, the IO parameter values for the data signal line in the operation of writing, and the IO parameter values for the data signal line in the operation of reading.

Claims (22)

1 . A method of setting IO parameters for communication between a system-on-chip and a memory, the method comprising:

setting a combination of IO parameter values that can be accessed from the system-on-chip to the memory as an initial combination of IO parameter values through signal lines including a command/address signal line and a data signal line;

detecting IO parameter values that can access the memory and have a largest margin as IO parameter values for the command/address signal line while changing only IO parameter values for the command/address signal line in the initial combination of IO parameter values;

detecting IO parameter values that can access the memory and have a largest margin as IO parameter values for the data signal line in operation of writing while changing only IO parameter values for the data signal line in the operation of writing data in the initial combination of IO parameter values;

detecting IO parameter values that can access the memory and have a largest margin as IO parameter values for the data signal line in operation of reading while changing only IO parameter values for the data signal line in the operation of reading data in the initial combination of IO parameter values; and

creating a final combination of IO parameter values using the IO parameter values for the command/address signal line, the IO parameter values for the data signal line in the operation of writing, and the IO parameter values for the data signal line in the operation of reading.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting IO parameters for a signal line connecting the system-on-chip and the memory using the final combination of IO parameter values.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a process of detecting IO parameter values with the largest margin in the command/address signal line performs detection while changing a generation position of a strobe signal that is used to recognize a command/address signal.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a process of detecting IO parameter values with the largest margin in the data signal line performs detection while changing a generation position of a strobe signal that is used to recognize a data signal.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the IO parameters include drive strength, ODT, and reference voltage.

6 . A recording medium that can be read by a processor on which a program for performing the method of claim 1 on a processor is recorded.

7 . An apparatus for setting parameters, comprising:

a system-on-chip;

a memory that is connected with the system-on-chip memory through signal lines including a command/address signal line and a data signal line;

a parameter detector

that detects IO parameter values which can access the memory and have a largest margin as IO parameter values for the command/address signal line while changing only IO parameter values for the command/address signal line in an initial combination of IO parameter values which is a combination of IO parameter values which can be accessed from the system-on-chip to the memory,

that detects IO parameter values which can access the memory and have a largest margin as IO parameter values for the data signal line in operation of writing while changing only IO parameter values for the data signal line in the operation of writing data in the initial combination of IO parameter values, and

that detects IO parameter values which can access the memory and have a largest margin as IO parameter values for the data signal line in operation of reading while changing only IO parameter values for the data signal line in the operation of reading data in the initial combination of IO parameter values; and

a controller that sets the initial combination of IO parameters and creates a final combination of IO parameter values using the IO parameter values for the command/address signal line, the IO parameter values for the data signal line in the operation of writing, and the IO parameter values for the data signal line in the operation of reading.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the controller sets IO parameters for a signal line connecting the system-on-chip and the memory using the final combination of IO parameter values.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a communication unit that provides a communication interface for communication with an external device.

10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a storage unit that stores IO parameter values that can be set in the system-on-chip and the memory.