IP Library Granted Patent US 7,564,127
Granted Patent B2
US 7,564,127 · App. 11/404,785 · Granted Jul 21, 2009

Memory module that is capable of controlling input/output in accordance with type of memory chip

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,564,127
App. No.
11/404,785
Granted
Jul 21, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory module of the present invention is provided with a memory core chip that is placed between an interface chip and an interposer chip and has a relay wire for electrically connecting these chips, an interposer chip that transmits type-information, that is information showing the type of the memory core chip, to the interface chip through the relay wire, and the interface chip that controls the memory core chip in accordance with the type-information received from the interposer chip.

Claims (23)

1. A memory module having a memory core chip stored with information, an interface chip for controlling input and output of data of said memory core chip, and an interposer chip for transmitting and receiving said data between said interface chip and an outside:

wherein said memory core chip is placed between said interface chip and said interposer chip and has a relay wire for electrically connecting said interface chip and said interposer chip;

wherein said interposer chip transmits type-information, that is information showing a type of said memory core chip, to said interface chip through said relay wire; and

wherein said interface chip controls said memory core chip in accordance with said type-information received from said interposer chip.

2. The memory module according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said memory core chips is layered and a through-electrode is used as said relay wire.

3. The memory module according to claim 2 , wherein said plurality of memory core chips includes a first memory core chip and a second memory core chip that is different from said first memory core chip, and wherein said type-information indicates whether said first memory core chip or said second memory core chip is to be used.

4. The memory module according to claim 1 , wherein said type-information is a data bus width.

5. The memory module according to claim 4 , wherein said type-information includes at least one bit of information showing a type of said data bus width, and wherein said interface chip is previously stored with the type of said data bus width in accordance with said type-information.

6. The memory module according to claim 5 , wherein said interposer chip includes:

a power supply potential terminal to which a power supply potential is supplied from the outside, and a ground potential terminal that is connected to a ground potential on the outside;

a setting wire that is connected to said power supply potential terminal or said ground potential terminal in accordance with said type-information while a potential is selected from among said power supply potential and said ground potential based on said one bit of information that has been created; and

an electrode for connecting said setting wire to said relay wire.

7. The memory module according to claim 6 , wherein said interposer chip includes a terminal for detecting an electric potential showing said type-information.

8. The memory module according to claim 4 , wherein said relay wire of said memory core chip is arranged so as to correspond to a maximum value of said data bus width, and wherein said interposer chip includes a terminal for inputting and outputting said data from/to the outside and for supporting the maximum value of said data bus width.

9. The memory module according to claim 1 , wherein said interposer chip includes a terminal for receiving said type-information from the outside.

10. The memory module according to claim 1 , further comprising a conversion layer between said interface chip and said memory core chip, for electrically connecting an electrode of the interface chip and said relay wire of the memory core chip.

11. The memory module according to claim 1 , further comprising a conversion layer between said interface chip and said memory core chip.

12. The memory module according to claim 1 , wherein said relay wire comprises a plurality of through electrodes.

13. The memory module according to claim 12 , wherein said plurality of through electrodes comprises electrodes that are not connected to an internal circuit of said memory core chip and electrodes that are connected to the internal circuit of said memory core chip.

14. The memory module according to claim 13 , wherein said electrodes that are not connected to the internal circuit of said memory core chip input and output a control signal and data to and from the outside of the memory module.

15. The memory module according to claim 13 , wherein said electrodes that are connected to the internal circuit of said memory core chip transmit a signal and data to another chip.

16. The memory module according to claim 13 , wherein said electrodes that are not connected to the internal circuit of said memory core chip relay a signal and data between said interface chip and said interposer chip.

17. The memory module according to claim 1 , wherein said interface chip is laid over said memory core chip so that a circuit information surface of said interface chip is on a side of a circuit information surface of said memory core chip.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2014
From: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 032645/0422 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2006
From: IKEDA, HIROAKI; ISHINO, MASAKAZU
To: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 017796/0464 →