IP Library Granted Patent US 9,135,186
Granted Patent B2
US 9,135,186 · App. 14/683,290 · Granted Sep 15, 2015

Chip having port to receive value that represents adjustment to output driver parameter

Inventors: Mark A. Horowitz (Menlo Park, CA); Craig E. Hampel (Los Altos, CA); Alfredo Moncayo (Camarillo, CA); Kevin S. Donnelly (Los Altos, CA); Jared L. Zerbe (Woodside, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc.
G06F12/1081G06F13/364G06F13/4086G06F13/4234
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,135,186
App. No.
14/683,290
Granted
Sep 15, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated circuit device includes a transmitter circuit including an output driver. The integrated circuit device includes a first register to store a value representative of a drive strength setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the drive strength setting. The integrated circuit device also includes a second register to store a value representative of an equalization setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the equalization setting. The integrated circuit device further includes a third register to store a value representative of a slew rate setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the slew rate setting.

Claims (34)

1. A flash memory device, comprising:

a port to receive, from a controller, information representing at least one parameter for data transfer over a bidirectional bus;

a register to store the information;

parameter adjustment circuitry to adjust a parameter control signal in accordance with the information; and,

an output driver to drive an output signal onto the bidirectional bus via the port, the output driver setting a transmission parameter of the output signal in accordance with the parameter control signal.

2. The flash memory device of claim 1 , wherein the information is to set the at least one parameter in accordance with a count of memory devices on the bidirectional bus.

3. The flash memory device of claim 1 , wherein the transmission parameter of the output signal corresponds to a drive strength of the output driver.

4. The flash memory device of claim 3 , wherein the drive strength of the output driver can be set to at least three different values.

5. The flash memory device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is at least one of a drive strength, transmit timing, slew rate, and equalization of the output driver.

6. The flash memory device of claim 1 , wherein variations of the transmission parameter result in variation of a slew rate of the output signal.

7. The flash memory device of claim 1 , wherein the information is to be selected based on a topology of memory devices on the bidirectional bus.

8. A method of configuring a flash memory device, comprising:

receiving from a controller, via a port, information representing at least one parameter for data transfer over a bidirectional bus;

storing the information in a register;

adjusting a parameter control signal in accordance with the information;

setting a transmission parameter of an output signal driven onto the bidirectional bus by an output driver, the transmission parameter of the output signal being set in accordance with the parameter control signal; and

driving, by the output driver, the output signal onto the bidirectional bus via the port.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the information is based on a count of memory devices on the bidirectional bus.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the transmission parameter corresponds to a drive strength.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least three different values may be selected as the drive strength.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the transmission parameter affects a slew rate of output signal.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the transmission parameter of the output signal is at least one of drive strength, transmit timing, slew rate, and equalization.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the information is based on a topology of the bidirectional bus.

15. A flash memory device, comprising:

a port to receive, from a controller, information representing at least one parameter for data transfer over a bidirectional bus;

means for storing the information;

means for setting a parameter control signal in accordance with the information;

means for setting a transmission parameter of an output signal to be driven onto the bidirectional bus, the transmission parameter of the output signal to be set in accordance with the parameter control signal; and,

means for driving the output signal onto the bidirectional bus in accordance with the transmission parameter.

16. The flash memory device of claim 15 , wherein the information is based on a count of memory devices on the bidirectional bus.

17. The flash memory device of claim 15 , wherein the transmission parameter corresponds to a selected drive strength.

18. The flash memory device of claim 17 , wherein the selected drive strength may be selected from at least three different values.

19. The flash memory device of claim 15 , wherein the transmission parameter affects a slew rate of the means for driving.

20. The flash memory device of claim 15 , wherein the information is based on a topology of memory devices on the bidirectional bus.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2015
From: HOROWITZ, MARK A.; BARTH, RICHARD M.; HAMPEL, CRAIG E.; MONCAYO, ALFREDO; DONNELLY, KEVIN S.; ZERBE, JARED L.
To: RAMBUS INC.
Reel/Frame 035424/0548 →
Continuity (14)
Continuation 14321718 · Jul 1, 2014
Continuation 13853978 · Mar 29, 2013
Continuation 13535228 · Jun 27, 2012
Continuation 13196840 · Aug 2, 2011
Continuation 12479679 · Jun 5, 2009
Continuation 11929974 · Oct 30, 2007
Continuation 11672018 · Feb 6, 2007
Continuation 11181411 · Jul 13, 2005
Continuation 11073403 · Mar 4, 2005
Continuation 10742247 · Dec 19, 2003
Continuation 10359061 · Feb 4, 2003
Continuation 09910217 · Jul 19, 2001
Continuation 09420949 · Oct 19, 1999
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