Memory device with a multiplexed command/address bus
View Patent ↗A memory device includes a first plurality of volatile memories, a non-volatile memory, and a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory and including a first controller output. The memory device further includes a registering clock driver (RCD) including a first RCD output, and a first multiplexer including a first mux input coupled to the first RCD output, a second mux input coupled to the first controller output, and a first mux output coupled to the first plurality of volatile memories. The first multiplexer can be configured to provide command/address signals from one of the RCD and the controller to the first plurality of volatile memories.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a first plurality of volatile memories;
a non-volatile memory;
a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory and including a first controller output;
a registering clock driver (RCD) including a first RCD output; and
a first multiplexer including a first mux input coupled to the first RCD output, a second mux input coupled to the first controller output, and a first mux output coupled to the first plurality of volatile memories.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RCD has a first RCD input, wherein the apparatus further comprises an edge connector and a command/address bus directly coupled between the first RCD input and the edge connector.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first controller output is a driver configured to generate command/address signals for the first plurality of volatile memories.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first multiplexer is configured to provide command/address signals from one of the RCD and the controller to the first plurality of volatile memories.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RCD further includes a second RCD output, wherein the controller includes a second controller output, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a second plurality of volatile memories and a second multiplexer including a third mux input coupled to the second RCD output, a fourth mux input coupled to the second controller output, and a second mux output coupled to the second plurality of volatile memories.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RCD is a first RCD, wherein the controller includes a second controller output, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a second plurality of volatile memories, a second RCD including a second RCD output, and a second multiplexer including a third mux input coupled to the second RCD output, a fourth mux input coupled to the second controller output, and a second mux output coupled to the second plurality of volatile memories.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a backup power source.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate command/address signals at the first controller output to copy data from the first plurality of volatile memories to the non-volatile memory upon detecting a loss of power to the apparatus.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first multiplexer is configured to ignore command/address signals from the RCD upon detecting the loss of power to the apparatus.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to generate command/address signals at the first controller output to copy data from the non-volatile memory to the first plurality of volatile memories upon recovery from the loss of power to the apparatus.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first plurality of data multiplexers each including a first data mux input coupled to the edge connector and a second data mux input coupled to the controller, and a data mux output coupled to a corresponding one of the first plurality of volatile memories.
12. A memory module, comprising:
a connector configured to couple the memory module to a host data bus and a host command/address bus;
a first plurality of volatile memories configured to be coupled to host data bus by the connector;
a non-volatile memory;
a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory and including a first controller output;
a registering clock driver (RCD) including a first RCD output and a first RCD input coupled to the connector and configured to be coupled to the host command/address bus by the connector; and
a first multiplexer including a first mux input coupled to the first RCD output, a second mux input coupled to the first controller output, and a first mux output coupled to the first plurality of volatile memories.
13. The memory module of claim 12 , wherein the first controller output is a driver configured to generate command/address signals for the first plurality of volatile memories.
14. The memory module of claim 12 , wherein the first multiplexer is configured to provide command/address signals from one of the RCD and the controller to the first plurality of volatile memories.
15. The memory module of claim 12 , wherein the RCD further includes a second RCD output, wherein the controller includes a second controller output, and wherein the memory device further comprises a second plurality of volatile memories and a second multiplexer including a third mux input coupled to the second RCD output, a fourth mux input coupled to the second controller output, and a second mux output coupled to the second plurality of volatile memories.
16. The memory module of claim 12 , wherein the RCD is a first RCD, wherein the controller includes a second controller output, and wherein the memory device further comprises a second plurality of volatile memories, a second RCD including a second RCD output, and a second multiplexer including a third mux input coupled to the second RCD output, a fourth mux input coupled to the second controller output, and a second mux output coupled to the second plurality of volatile memories.
17. The memory module of claim 12 , further comprising a backup power source.
18. The memory module of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to generate command/address signals at the first controller output to copy data from the first plurality of volatile memories to the non-volatile memory upon detecting a loss of power to the memory device.
19. The memory module of claim 18 , wherein the first multiplexer is configured to ignore command/address signals from the RCD upon detecting the loss of power to the memory device.
20. The memory module of claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to generate command/address signals at the first controller output to copy data from the non-volatile memory to the first plurality of volatile memories upon recovery from the loss of power to the memory device.
21. The memory module of claim 12 , further comprising a first plurality of data multiplexers corresponding to the first plurality of volatile memories, wherein each data multiplexer has a first data mux input coupled to a data bus of the memory device, a second data mux input coupled to the controller, and a data mux output coupled to the corresponding one of the first plurality of volatile memories.
22. The memory module of claim 12 , wherein the memory module is a non-volatile dual in-line memory module (NVDIMM).
23. An apparatus, comprising:
a substrate;
a connector on the substrate, the connector configured to receive first command/address signals;
a controller on the substrate, the controller configured to generate second command/address signals;
a registering clock driver on the substrate; and
a first plurality of memories on the substrate, each of the first plurality of memories configured to receive the first command/address signals from the connector through the registering clock driver and to receive the second command/address signals from the controller without intervening the registering clock driver therebetween,
wherein the controller is further configured to generate third command/address signals, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a second plurality of memories on the substrate, each of the second plurality of memories configured to receive the first command/address signals from the connector through the registering clock driver and to receive the third command/address signals from the controller without intervening the registering clock driver therebetween.
24. An apparatus, comprising:
a substrate;
a connector on the substrate, the connector configured to receive first command/address signals;
a controller on the substrate, the controller configured to generate second command/address signals;
a registering clock driver on the substrate; and
a first plurality of memories on the substrate, each of the first plurality of memories configured to receive the first command/address signals from the connector through the registering clock driver and to receive the second command/address signals from the controller without intervening the registering clock driver therebetween,
wherein the controller is further configured to generate third command/address signals, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:
an additional registering clock driver; and
a second plurality of memories on the substrate, each of the second plurality of memories configured to receive the first command/address signals from the connector through the additional registering clock driver and to receive the third command/address signals from the controller without intervening the additional registering clock driver therebetween.
25. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein each of the first plurality of memories comprises a plurality of data terminals configured to be coupled to either the connector or the controller.
26. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein each of the first plurality of memories comprises:
a first plurality of data terminals coupled to the connector and decoupled from the controller; and
a second plurality of data terminals coupled to the controller and decoupled from the connector.
27. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein each of the first plurality of memories is a volatile memory and the apparatus further comprises a non-volatile memory on the substrate; and
wherein the non-volatile memory is coupled to the controller and is configured to store a first plurality of data provided from the first plurality of memories through the controller.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein each of the first plurality of memories is configured to receive the first plurality of data, which has been stored in the non-volatile memory, from the non-volatile memory through the controller.