Method and apparatus for calibrating driver impedance

1. A method, comprising:

providing a signal from a synchronous circuit that is indicative of an impedance mismatch between a driver circuit and a load; and

selecting one of a plurality of impedances of the driver circuit to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the signal indicative of the impedance mismatch comprises providing a signal indicative of a change in at least one of a temperature, a voltage, and a process of the synchronous circuit.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting one of the plurality of impedances of the driver circuit comprises selecting one of the plurality of impedances of the driver circuit using a test driver circuit.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting one of the plurality of impedances comprises providing a signal to at least one transistor.

5. The method of claims 1 , wherein selecting one of the plurality of impedances comprises changing a bias voltage of at least one transistor.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the selected one of the plurality of impedances to the driver circuit.

7. A method, comprising:

providing a signal from a synchronous circuit that is indicative of an impedance mismatch between a driver circuit and a load, wherein providing the signal from the synchronous circuit that is indicative of the impedance mismatch comprises providing a signal indicative of a phase difference between a first and a second clock signal of the synchronous circuit; and

selecting one of a plurality of impedances of the driver circuit to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein providing the signal from the synchronous circuit that is indicative of the phase difference between the first and the second clock signal comprises providing the signal from the synchronous circuit that is indicative of the phase difference between the first and the second clock signal using at least one of a delay-locked loop, a phase-locked loop, and a synchronous mirror delay.

9. A method, comprising:

providing a signal from a synchronous circuit that is indicative of an impedance mismatch between a driver circuit and a load; and

selecting one of a plurality of impedances of the driver circuit to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal, wherein the driver circuit comprises a plurality of drivers, and wherein selecting one of the plurality of impedances of the driver circuit comprises selecting a portion of the plurality of drivers.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein selecting one of the plurality of impedances of the driver circuit comprises coupling the selected portion of the plurality of drivers in parallel.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein selecting one of the plurality of impedances of the driver circuit comprises storing data indicative of the selected portion of the plurality of drivers in a register.

12. A method, comprising:

providing a signal from a synchronous circuit that is indicative of an impedance mismatch between a driver circuit and a load;

selecting one of a plurality of impedances of the driver circuit to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal; and

applying the selected one of the plurality of impedances to the driver circuit, wherein applying the selected one of the plurality of impedances to the driver circuit comprises:

determining whether the driver circuit is in at least one of an active state and a pre-active state; and

applying the selected one of the plurality of impedances to the driver circuit in response to determining that the driver circuit is not in the at least one of the active state and the pre-active state.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver circuit and the load; and

a controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the driver circuit comprises a plurality of drivers having a second plurality of impedances.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the controller is capable of applying the selected one of the plurality of impedances to the driver circuit.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a test driver circuit, wherein the controller is capable of determining if an impedance mismatch exists using the test driver circuit.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a register capable of storing data indicative of the selected one of the plurality of impedances.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances, wherein the driver circuit comprises a plurality of drivers having a second plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver circuit and the load; and

a controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal, wherein the plurality of drivers are capable of being coupled such that the selected one of the first plurality of impedances is formed from a selected portion of the plurality of drivers.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the selected portion of the plurality of drivers are capable of being coupled in parallel such that the selected one of the first plurality of impedances is formed from the selected portion of the plurality of drives.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the synchronous circuit is capable of providing the signal indicative of the impedance mismatch in response to detecting a phase difference between a first and a second clock signal.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the synchronous circuit is capable of providing the signal indicative of the impedance mismatch in response to detecting the phase difference, wherein the phase difference and the signal are indicative of a change in at least one of a temperature and a voltage.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the synchronous circuit is capable of providing the signal indicative of the impedance mismatch in response to detecting two consecutive positive phase differences between the first and the second clock signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the synchronous circuit is capable of providing the signal indicative of the impedance mismatch in response to detecting two consecutive negative phase differences between the first and the second clock signal.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver circuit and the load, wherein the synchronous circuit comprises at least one of a delay-locked loop, a phase-locked loop, and a synchronous mirror delay; and

a controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver circuit and the load and

a controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal, wherein the controller is capable of applying the selected one of the plurality of impedances to the driver circuit, and wherein the controller is capable of:

determining whether the driver circuit is at least one of an active state and a pre-active state; and

applying the selected one of the plurality of impedances to the driver circuit in response to determining that the driver circuit is not in the at least one of the active state and the pre-active state.

26. An apparatus, comprising:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver circuit and the load;

a register capable of storing data indicative of the selected one of the plurality of impedances; and

a controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal, wherein the controller is capable of storing data indicative of the selected one of the plurality of impedances in the register.

27. A system, comprising:

an integrated circuit;

a plurality of pads;

a plurality of loads coupled to the pads;

a plurality of driver circuits each capable of having a first plurality of impedances, wherein the driver circuits are capable of receiving signals from the integrated circuit and the pads;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing an update signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the at least one driver circuit and the at least one load; and

a controller capable of selecting one of the first plurality of impedances in response to receiving the update signal.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein each of the plurality of driver circuits comprises a plurality of drivers having a second plurality of impedances.

29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the plurality of drivers are capable of being coupled such that the selected one of the first plurality of impedances is formed from a selected portion of the plurality of drivers.

30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the selected portion of the plurality of drivers are capable of being coupled in parallel such that the selected one of the first plurality of impedances is formed from the selected portion of the plurality of drives.

31. The system of claim 27 , wherein the synchronous circuit is capable of providing the signal indicative of the impedance mismatch in response to detecting a phase difference between a first and a second clock signal.

32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the phase difference is indicative of a change in at least one of a temperature and a voltage.

33. The system of claim 32 , wherein the synchronous circuit is capable of providing the signal indicative of the impedance mismatch in response to detecting two consecutive positive phase differences between the first and the second clock signal.

34. The system of claim 31 , wherein the synchronous circuit is capable of providing the signal indicative of the impedance mismatch in response to detecting two consecutive negative phase differences between the first and the second clock signal.

35. The system of claim 27 , wherein the synchronous circuit comprises at least one of a delay-locked loop, a phase-locked loop, and a synchronous mirror delay.

36. The system of claim 27 , wherein the controller is capable of selecting one of the plurality of impedances using at least one of the plurality of driver circuits.

37. The system of claim 27 , further comprising a test driver circuit, wherein the controller is capable of selecting one of the plurality of impedances using the test driver circuit.

38. The system of claim 27 , wherein the controller is capable of applying the selected one of the plurality of impedances to at least one of the plurality of driver circuits.

39. The system of claim 38 , wherein the controller is capable of:

determining whether the driver circuits are in at least one of an active state and a pre-active state; and

applying the selected one of the plurality of impedances to at least one of the driver circuits in response to determining that said at least one driver circuit is not in the at least one of the active state and the pre-active state.

40. A computer system, comprising:

at least one printed circuit board;

at least one electronics package coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the at least one electronics package comprises:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver circuit and the load; and

a controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal.

41. A computer system, comprising:

at least one printed circuit board;

at least one electronics package coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the at least one electronics package comprises:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver circuit and the load; and

a controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal, wherein the driver circuits each comprise a plurality of drivers having a second plurality of impedances, and wherein the plurality of drivers are capable of being coupled such that the selected one of the first plurality of impedances is formed from a selected portion of the plurality of drivers.

42. A computer system, comprising:

at least one printed circuit board;

at least one electronics package coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the at least one electronics package comprises:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver circuit and the load; and

a controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal, wherein the synchronous circuits are each capable of providing the signal indicative of the impedance mismatch in response to detecting a phase difference between a first and a second clock signal.

43. The computer system of claim 42 , wherein the synchronous circuits are each capable of providing the signal indicative of the impedance mismatch in response to detecting the phase difference, wherein the phase difference and the signal are indicative of a change in at least one of a temperature and a voltage.

44. A computer system, comprising:

at least one printed circuit board;

at least one electronics package coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the at least one electronics package comprises:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver circuit and the load; and

a controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal wherein the synchronous circuits comprise at least one of a delay-locked loop, a phase-locked loop, and a synchronous mirror delay.

45. A memory device, comprising:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver circuit and the load; and

a memory controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal.

46. A memory device, comprising:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver circuit and the load; and

a memory controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal, wherein the driver circuit comprises a plurality of drivers having a second plurality of impedances, and wherein the plurality of drivers are capable of being coupled such that the selected one of the first plurality of impedances is formed from a selected portion of the plurality of drivers.

47. A memory device, comprising:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver circuit and the load; and

a memory controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal, wherein the synchronous circuit is capable of providing the signal indicative of the impedance mismatch in response to detecting a phase difference between a first and a second clock signal, wherein the phase difference and the signal are indicative of a change in at least one of a temperature and a voltage.

48. A memory device, comprising:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver and the load; and

a memory controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal, wherein the synchronous circuit comprises at least one of a delay-locked loop, a phase-locked loop, and a synchronous mirror delay.

49. A memory device, comprising:

a driver circuit having a first plurality of impedances;

a load coupled to the driver circuit;

a synchronous circuit capable of providing a signal indicative of an impedance mismatch between the driver circuit and the load; and

a memory controller for selecting one of the first plurality of impedances to reduce the impedance mismatch in response to the signal, wherein the controller is capable of:

determining whether the driver circuit is in at least one of an active state and a pre-active state; and

applying the selected one of the plurality of impedances to the driver circuit in response to determining that the driver circuit is not in the at least one of the active state and the pre-active state.

50. A method, comprising:

detecting an update signal from a synchronous circuit, wherein the update signal is indicative of an impedance mismatch between a driver circuit and a load; and

modifying an impedance of the driver circuit in response to detecting said signal.

51. A method, comprising:

detecting an update signal from a synchronous circuit, wherein the update signal is indicative of an impedance mismatch between a driver circuit and a load; and

modifying an impedance of the driver circuit in response to detecting said signal, wherein detecting the update signal comprises:

detecting a phase difference between a first and a second clock signal using the synchronous circuit, wherein the phase difference is indicative of a change in at least one of a temperature and a voltage; and

providing the update signal indicative of the impedance mismatch in response to detecting the phase difference.

52. The method of claim 51 , wherein modifying the impedance of the driver circuit comprises:

selecting a new impedance in response to the update signal; and

implementing the new impedance in the driver circuit.

53. The method of claim 52 , further comprising:

determining if said driver circuit is in at least one of an active state and a pre-active state; and

implementing the new impedance in response to determining that said drive circuit is not in the at least one of the active state and the pre-active state.

54. The method of claim 53 , further comprising storing said new impedance in response to determining that said drive circuit is active.

55. An article comprising one or more machine-readable storage media containing instructions that when executed enable a processor to:

detect an update signal from a synchronous circuit, wherein the update signal is indicative of an impedance mismatch between a driver circuit and a load; and

modify an impedance of the driver circuit in response to detecting the update signal.

56. An article comprising one or more machine-readable storage media contain instructions that when executed enable the processor to:

detect an update signal from a synchronous circuit, wherein the update signal is indicative of an impedance mismatch between a driver circuit and a load;

modify an impedance of the driver circuit in response to detecting the update signal;

detect a phase difference between a first and a second clock signal using the synchronous circuit, wherein the phase difference is indicative of a change in at least one of a temperature and a voltage; and

provide the update signal indicative of the impedance mismatch in response to detecting the phase difference.

57. The article of claim 56 , wherein the one or more machine-readable storage media contain instructions that when executed enable the processor to:

select a new impedance in response to the update signal; and

implement the new impedance in the driver circuit.

58. The article of claim 57 , wherein the one or more machine-readable storage media contain instructions that when executed enable the processor to:

determine if said driver circuit is in at least one of an active state and a pre-active state; and

implement the new impedance in response to determining that said drive circuit is not in the at least one of the active state and to pre-active state.

59. The article of claim 58 , wherein the one or more machine-readable storage media contain instructions that when executed enable the processor to store said new impedance in response to determining that said drive circuit is active.