IP Library Granted Patent US 7,777,517
Granted Patent B2
US 7,777,517 · App. 12/292,664 · Granted Aug 17, 2010

Signal transmission circuit and characteristic adjustment method thereof, memory module, and manufacturing method of circuit board

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 7,777,517
App. No.
12/292,664
Granted
Aug 17, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A signal transmission circuit comprising: first and second transmission lines connected to each other; a first impedance storage circuit storing an impedance of the first transmission line; and a control circuit that outputs match information between an impedance of the second transmission line and the impedance stored in the first impedance storage circuit.

Claims (48)

1. A signal transmission circuit comprising:

first and second transmission lines connected to each other;

a first impedance storage circuit storing an impedance of the first transmission line; and

a control circuit that outputs match information between an impedance of the second transmission line and the impedance stored in the first impedance storage circuit,

wherein the first transmission line is formed on a substrate on which a measurement pattern that is used to measure the impedance of the first transmission line is formed.

2. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a second impedance storage circuit storing the impedance of the second transmission line, wherein

the match information outputted by the control circuit indicates a relationship between the impedance stored in the first impedance storage circuit and the impedance stored in the second impedance storage circuit.

3. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first transmission line and the second transmission line are formed on substrates different from each other.

4. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control circuit informs a user of the match information.

5. A signal transmission circuit comprising:

first and second transmission lines connected to each other;

a first impedance storage circuit storing an impedance of the first transmission line;

a control circuit that outputs match information between an impedance of the second transmission line and the impedance stored in the first impedance storage circuit; and

a semiconductor chip connected on a signal path including the first and second transmission lines, wherein

the semiconductor chip includes an input/output circuit that inputs and outputs data via the signal path, and

the control circuit supplies the match information to the semiconductor chip to change a circuit characteristic of the input/output circuit.

6. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 5 , wherein

the input/output circuit includes a variable termination resistor circuit that changes a termination resistance value, and

the control circuit supplies the match information to the semiconductor chip to change the termination resistance value of the variable termination resistor circuit.

7. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the semiconductor chip is a semiconductor memory device.

8. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 5 , wherein

the semiconductor chip is mounted on a module substrate,

one of the first and second transmission lines is formed on the module substrate, and

another one of the first and second transmission lines is formed on a mother board on which the module substrate is mounted.

9. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the first impedance storage circuit is configured by a nonvolatile memory device mounted on the module substrate.

10. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a second impedance storage circuit storing the impedance of the second transmission line, wherein

the match information outputted by the control circuit indicates a relationship between the impedance stored in the first impedance storage circuit and the impedance stored in the second impedance storage circuit.

11. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the first transmission line and the second transmission line are formed on substrates different from each other.

12. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the first transmission line is formed on a substrate on which a measurement pattern that is used to measure the impedance of the first transmission line is formed.

13. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the control circuit informs a user of the match information.

14. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the semiconductor chip is a semiconductor memory device.

15. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 6 , wherein

the semiconductor chip is mounted on a module substrate,

one of the first and second transmission lines is formed on the module substrate, and

another one of the first and second transmission lines is formed on a mother board on which the module substrate is mounted.

16. The signal transmission circuit as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the first impedance storage circuit is configured by a nonvolatile memory device mounted on the module substrate.

17. A memory module comprising:

a module substrate;

a plurality of semiconductor memory devices mounted on the module substrate;

a nonvolatile memory device in which information about the semiconductor memory devices are stored; and

a transmission line formed on the module substrate and connected at least to the semiconductor memory devices, wherein

the nonvolatile memory device stores information about an impedance of the transmission line.

18. The memory module as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising a measurement pattern formed on the module substrate to measure the impedance of the transmission line.

19. The memory module as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the semiconductor memory devices include an ODT function.

20. A manufacturing method of a circuit board, comprising:

forming a transmission line and a measurement pattern that is used to measure an impedance of the transmission line on a substrate;

measuring the impedance of the transmission line by using the measurement pattern; and

recording the measured impedance in a nonvolatile memory device mounted on the substrate.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2018
From: LONGITUDE SEMICONDUCTOR S.A.R.L.
To: LONGITUDE LICENSING LIMITED
Reel/Frame 046865/0667 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 24, 2016
From: PS5 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
To: LONGITUDE SEMICONDUCTOR S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 039793/0880 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2016
From: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
To: PS5 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 039818/0506 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2014
From: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
To: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 032896/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2013
From: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
To: ELPIDA MEMORY INC.
Reel/Frame 032414/0261 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 24, 2008
From: HIRAISHI, ATSUSHI; SUGANO, TOSHIO
To: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 021928/0936 →