IP Library Granted Patent US 11,075,782
Granted Patent B2
US 11,075,782 · App. 16/353,611 · Granted Jul 27, 2021

Method to vertically align multi-level cells

Inventors: Timothy M. Hollis (Meridian, ID); Feng Lin (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
H04L25/4917G06F1/324G06F13/1689G06F13/4068H04L27/04H04L27/06H04L27/34
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,075,782
App. No.
16/353,611
Granted
Jul 27, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for improving uniformity between levels of a multi-level signal are described. Techniques are provided herein to unify vertical alignment between data transmitted using multi-level signaling. Such multi-level signaling may be configured to capture transmitted data during a single clock cycle of a memory controller. An example of multi-level signaling scheme may be pulse amplitude modulation (PAM). Each unique symbol of the multi-level signal may be configured to represent a plurality of bits of data.

Claims (40)

1. A method, comprising:

determining a timing offset of each of multiple signal levels of a data signal output from a transmitter in electronic communication with a multi-leg driver, wherein the multiple signal levels are based at least in part on first data output from a first leg of the multi-leg driver and second data output from a second leg of the multi-leg driver, wherein the first leg is associated with a first bit having a first magnitude and the second leg is associated with a second bit having a second magnitude less than the first magnitude;

initiating an adjustment of a timing output of the first data based at least in part on the determined timing offset of one or more of the multiple signal levels of the data signal, the timing output of the first data being adjusted relative to a timing output of the second data; and

transmitting the one or more each of the multiple signal levels of the data signal output from the transmitter based at least in part on the adjusted timing output of the first data.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the transmitted multiple signal levels are transmitted during one clock cycle of a controller.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the adjustment of the timing output is based at least in part on the one clock cycle of the controller.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

initiating an adjustment of a timing output of the second data based at least in part on the determined timing offset, the timing output of the second data adjusted relative to the timing output of the first data.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

determining a timing offset of the transmitted multiple signal levels; and

initiating an adjustment of the timing output of the first data, the second data, or both, based at least in part on the determination.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determination of the timing offset comprises multiplexing the first data via a first multiplexer and multiplexing the second data via a second multiplexer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first leg and the second leg of the multi-leg driver comprise a plurality of legs.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a multi-leg driver that comprises a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg is configured to output first data that includes at least one bit and the second leg is configured to output second data that includes at least one bit, wherein the first leg is associated with a first bit having a first magnitude and the second leg is associated with a second bit having a second magnitude less than the first magnitude;

a first delay component coupled with the first leg of the multi-leg driver; and

a controller configured to:

determine a timing offset of each of multiple signal levels of a data signal;

initiate an adjustment of a timing output of the first data by the first delay component based at least in part on the determined timing offset of one or more of the multiple signal levels of the data signal; and

transmit the one or more of the multiple signal levels of the data signal based at least in part on the adjusted timing output.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further operable to:

determine a timing offset of the received transmitted one or more multiple signal levels; and

initiate an adjustment of a timing output of the first data in accordance with a clock cycle of the controller, wherein the adjustment is based at least in part on the determined timing offset.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further operable to:

initiate an adjustment of a timing output of the second data based at least in part on the adjusted timing output of the first data.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each of the adjusted timing output of the first data and the adjusted timing output of the second data are based at least in part on a lookup table value.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller further comprises:

a buffer, wherein the adjustment of the timing output of each of the first data and the second data is based at least in part on a size of the buffer.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a multi-leg driver that comprises a first plurality of legs configured to output first data that includes at least one bit having a first magnitude and a second plurality of legs configured to output second data that includes at least one bit having a second magnitude that is less than the first magnitude;

a controller coupled with the multi-leg driver and configured to determine a timing offset between each of multiple signal levels of a data signal, the data signal indicating the first data and the second data; and

a first delay component coupled the multi-leg driver and configured to adjust a timing output of the first data based at least in part on the timing offset.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:

a multiplexer coupled with the second plurality of legs; and

a second delay component coupled with the multiplexer, wherein the second delay component is configured to adjust a timing output of the second data relative to the first data.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:

a second multiplexer coupled with the first plurality of legs, wherein the first delay component is configured to adjust the timing output of the first data relative to a timing output of the second data.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first delay component is coupled with the first plurality of legs via the second multiplexer.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first delay component is configured to adjust the timing output of the first data within a single clock cycle of the controller.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first magnitude is greater than the second magnitude.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 051041/0317 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050724/0392 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 12 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 19, 2019
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 048948/0677 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 3 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 19, 2019
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 048951/0902 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15870502 · Jan 12, 2018
Provisional Application 62542182 · Aug 7, 2017
Related Publication 20190215199A1 · Jul 11, 2019