IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,587,418
Granted Patent B2
US 12,587,418 · App. 17/851,533 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

Multiplexing distinct signals on a single pin of a memory device

Inventors: Robert Nasry Hasbun (San Jose, CA); Timothy M. Hollis (Meridian, ID); Jeffrey P. Wright (Boise, ID); Dean D. Gans (Nampa, ID)
H04L27/04G06F13/16G06F13/38G11C5/066G11C7/10H04L25/49H04L27/02H04L27/06G11C7/1051G11C7/1078G11C2207/101
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,587,418
App. No.
17/851,533
Granted
Mar 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for multiplexing distinct signals on a single pin of a memory device are described. Techniques are described herein to multiplex data using a modulation scheme having at least three levels. The modulated data may be communicated to multiple memory dies over a shared bus. Each of the dies may include a same or different type of memory cell and, in some examples, a multi-level signaling scheme may be pulse amplitude modulation (PAM). Each unique symbol of the modulated signal may be configured to represent a plurality of bits of data.

Claims (32)

1 . A volatile memory system, comprising:

a bus; and

a multiplexer circuit, wherein the volatile memory system supports multiple modulation schemes comprising a non-return-to zero (NRZ) scheme having two levels and a pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) scheme having at least three levels, and wherein the volatile memory system is operable to:

generate, by the multiplexer circuit in accordance with the PAM scheme, a single symbol of a pulse-amplitude-modulated signal that indicates first information of a first type of metadata for a set of stored data and second information of a second type of metadata for the set of stored data, wherein the single symbol is generated based at least in part on a modulation scheme mode of the volatile memory system, wherein the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal has at least three levels, and wherein the second type of metadata is different than the first type of metadata;

transmit, in accordance with a first clock frequency and based at least in part on generating the single symbol of the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal that indicates the first information of the first type of metadata and the second information of the second type of metadata, the single symbol of the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal over the bus; and

switch from transmitting in accordance with the PAM scheme and the first clock frequency to transmitting in accordance with the NRZ scheme and a second clock frequency different than the first clock frequency.

2 . The volatile memory system of claim 1 , wherein the volatile memory system is operable to receive a request from a host device coupled with the volatile memory system.

3 . The volatile memory system of claim 2 , wherein the first information of the first type of metadata and the second information of the second type of metadata are associated with the request from the host device.

4 . The volatile memory system of claim 1 , wherein the first information of the first type of metadata and the second information of the second type of metadata are associated with a read operation.

5 . The volatile memory system of claim 1 , wherein the volatile memory system is coupled with a graphics processing unit (GPU).

6 . The volatile memory system of claim 1 , wherein the volatile memory system comprises a random access memory system.

7 . The volatile memory system of claim 1 , wherein the first information of the first type of metadata has a different logic value than the second information of the second type of metadata.

8 . The volatile memory system of claim 1 , wherein the first information of the first type of metadata and the second information of the second type of metadata are associated with a read command.

9 . A method, comprising:

generating, at a volatile memory system that supports multiple modulation schemes comprising a non-return-to zero (NRZ) scheme having two levels and a pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) scheme having at least three levels, a single symbol of a pulse-amplitude-modulated signal that indicates first information of a first type of metadata for a set of stored data and second information of a second type of metadata for the set of stored data, wherein the single symbol is generated in accordance with the PAM scheme based at least in part on a modulation scheme mode of the volatile memory system, wherein the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal has at least three levels, and wherein the second type of metadata is different than the first type of metadata;

transmitting, in accordance with a first clock frequency and based at least in part on generating the single symbol of the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal that indicates the first information of the first type of metadata and the second information of the second type of metadata, the single symbol of the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal over a bus coupled with the volatile memory system; and

switching from transmitting in accordance with the PAM scheme and the first clock frequency to transmitting in accordance with the NRZ scheme and a second clock frequency different than the first clock frequency.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving a request from a host device coupled with the volatile memory system.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first information of the first type of metadata and the second information of the second type of metadata are associated with the request from the host device.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first information of the first type of metadata and the second information of the second type of metadata are associated with a read operation.

13 . The method of claim 9 ,

wherein the volatile memory system is coupled with a graphics processing unit (GPU).

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the volatile memory system comprises random access memory system.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first information of the first type of metadata has a different logic value than the second information of the second type of metadata.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first information of the first type of metadata and the second information of the second type of metadata are associated with a read command.

17 . An apparatus, comprising:

a first volatile memory die storing a set of data, wherein the apparatus supports multiple modulation schemes comprising a non-return-to zero (NRZ) scheme having two levels and a pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) scheme having at least three levels, and wherein the apparatus is operable to:

generate a single symbol of a pulse-amplitude-modulated signal that indicates first information of a first type of metadata for the set of data and second information of a second type of metadata for the set of data, wherein the single symbol is generated in accordance with the PAM scheme based at least in part on a modulation scheme mode of the first volatile memory die, wherein the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal has at least three levels, and wherein the second type of metadata is different than the first type of metadata;

transmit, in accordance with a first clock frequency and based at least in part on generating the single symbol of the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal that comprises the first information of the first type of metadata and the second information of the second type of metadata, the single symbol of the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal over a bus; and

switch from transmitting in accordance with the PAM scheme and the first clock frequency to transmitting in accordance with the NRZ scheme and a second clock frequency different than the first clock frequency.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the apparatus is operable to receive a request from a host device, and wherein the first information of the first type of metadata and the second information of the second type of metadata are associated with the request from the host device.

Continuity (5)
Continuation 17123990 · Dec 16, 2020
Continuation 16419870 · May 22, 2019
Continuation 15977813 · May 11, 2018
Provisional Application 62567016 · Oct 2, 2017
Related Publication 20220400038A1 · Dec 15, 2022
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