IP Library Granted Patent US 10,607,691
Granted Patent B2
US 10,607,691 · App. 16/211,966 · Granted Mar 31, 2020

Multi-die memory device

Inventors: Scott C. Best (Palo Alto, CA); Ming Li (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc.
G11C11/4093G11C5/02G11C5/025G11C5/04G11C11/406G11C11/4096H01L23/481H01L25/0652H01L25/0657H01L25/105H01L25/18H01L24/73H01L2224/0401H01L2224/16225H01L2224/32145H01L2224/32225H01L2224/48091H01L2224/48225H01L2224/48227H01L2224/73265H01L2225/0651H01L2225/0652H01L2225/06541H01L2225/06558H01L2225/06562H01L2225/1023H01L2225/1058H01L2924/00011H01L2924/00014H01L2924/01019H01L2924/01055H01L2924/14H01L2924/15311H01L2924/15321H01L2924/15331H01L2924/3011
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,607,691
App. No.
16/211,966
Granted
Mar 31, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory is disclosed that includes a logic die having first and second memory interface circuits. A first memory die is stacked with the logic die, and includes first and second memory arrays. The first memory array couples to the first memory interface circuit. The second memory array couples to the second interface circuit. A second memory die is stacked with the logic die and the first memory die. The second memory die includes third and fourth memory arrays. The third memory array couples to the first memory interface circuit. The fourth memory array couples to the second memory interface circuit. Accesses to the first and third memory arrays are carried out independently from accesses to the second and fourth memory arrays.

Claims (44)

1. A memory controller, comprising:

logic to generate:

a first set of interface address values for facilitating a first independent memory transaction with a first independently accessible memory die of a multi-die memory device,

a second set of interface address values for facilitating a second independent memory transaction with a second independently accessible memory die of the multi-die memory device, and

a device control signal for use in selecting a memory die of the multi-die memory device; and

an interface to communicate the first set of interface address values, the second set of interface address values, and the device control signal to the multi-die memory device across signal paths.

2. The memory controller according to claim 1 , wherein the first set of interface address values and the second set of interface address values are each associated with independent sets of command, address and write data signals that are routed to the interface.

3. The memory controller according to claim 2 , wherein:

the independent sets of command, address and write data signals are serialized for transfer from the interface to the selected memory die.

4. The memory controller according to claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second independently accessible memory die include multiple banks, and wherein the independent sets of command, address and write data signals include bank address signals to specify one of the multiple banks of each of the first and second independently accessible memory die for each memory transaction.

5. The memory controller according to claim 1 , further comprising:

array allocation circuitry to track allocated use of the first and second independently accessible memory die.

6. The memory controller according to claim 5 , further comprising:

refresh control circuitry to refresh the first and second independently accessible memory dies based on allocation information generated by the array allocation circuitry.

7. The memory controller according to claim 1 , wherein the interface is configured to communicate with the selected memory die via a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) protocol.

8. The memory controller according to claim 1 , wherein the interface is configured for vertical stacked packaging with the multi-die memory device.

9. An integrated circuit (IC) chip, comprising:

memory control circuitry, the memory control circuitry comprising:

logic to generate:

a first set of interface address values for facilitating a first independent memory transaction with a first independently accessible memory die of a multi-die memory device,

a second set of interface address values for facilitating a second independent memory transaction with a second independently accessible memory die of the multi-die memory device, and

a device control signal for use in selecting a memory die of the multi-die memory device; and

an interface to communicate the first set of interface address values, the second set of interface address values, and the device control signal to the multi-die memory device across signal paths.

10. The IC chip according to claim 9 , wherein the first set of interface address values and the second set of interface address values are each associated with independent sets of command, address and write data signals that are routed to the interface.

11. The IC chip according to claim 10 , wherein:

the independent sets of command, address and write data signals are serialized for transfer from the interface to the selected memory die.

12. The IC chip according to claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second independently accessible memory die include multiple banks, and wherein the independent sets of command, address and write data signals include bank address signals to specify one of the multiple banks of each of the first and second independently accessible memory die for each memory transaction.

13. The IC chip according to claim 9 , further comprising:

array allocation circuitry to track allocated use of the first and second independently accessible memory die.

14. The IC chip according to claim 13 , further comprising:

refresh control circuitry to refresh the first and second independently accessible memory die based on allocation information generated by the array allocation circuitry.

15. The IC chip according to claim 9 , wherein the interface is configured to communicate with the selected memory die via a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) protocol.

16. The IC chip according to claim 9 , wherein the interface is configured for vertical stacked packaging with the multi-die memory device.

17. A method of operation in a memory controller, the method comprising:

generating a first set of interface address values for facilitating a first independent memory transaction with a first independently accessible memory die of a multi-die memory device;

generating a second set of interface address values for facilitating a second independent memory transaction with a second independently accessible memory die of the multi-die memory device;

generating a device control signal for use in selecting a memory die of the multi-die memory device; and

communicating the first set of interface address values, the second set of interface address values, and the device control signal to the multi-die memory device across signal paths.

18. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising:

transmitting independent sets of command, address and write data signals to the interface, wherein the first set of interface address values is associated with a first one of the independent sets of command, address and write data signals, and the second set of interface address values is associated with a second one of the independent sets of command, address and write data signals.

19. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:

serializing the independent sets of command, address and write data signals for transfer from the interface to the selected memory die.

20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein each of the first and second independently accessible memory die include multiple banks, and wherein the method further comprises:

transmitting a bank address for each of the independent sets of command, address and write data signals, each bank address specifying one of the multiple banks of each of the first and second independently accessible memory die for each memory transaction.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2025
From: RAMBUS INC.
To: SIGNAL LLP
Reel/Frame 073085/0650 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2019
From: BEST, SCOTT C.; LI, MING
To: RAMBUS INC
Reel/Frame 051030/0772 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 15809925 · Nov 10, 2017
Continuation 15098269 · Apr 13, 2016
Continuation 14797057 · Jul 10, 2015
Continuation 14278655 · May 15, 2014
Continuation 13562242 · Jul 30, 2012
Continuation 12519353
Provisional Application 60870065 · Dec 14, 2006
Related Publication 20190221249A1 · Jul 18, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,469,823