IP Library Granted Patent US 11,860,731
Granted Patent B2
US 11,860,731 · App. 17/857,700 · Granted Jan 2, 2024

Channel modulation for a memory device

Inventors: Martin Brox (Munich, DE); Peter Mayer (Neubiberg, DE); Wolfgang Anton Spirkl (Germering, DE); Thomas Hein (Munich, DE); Michael Dieter Richter (Ottobrunn, DE); Timothy M. Hollis (Meridian, ID); Roy E. Greeff (Boise, ID)
G06F11/1004G06F11/16G06F12/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,860,731
App. No.
17/857,700
Granted
Jan 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for channel modulation for a memory device are described. A system may include a memory device and a host device coupled with the memory device. The system may be configured to communicate a first signal modulated using a first modulation scheme and communicate a second signal that is based on the first signal and that is modulated using a second modulation scheme. The first modulation scheme may include a first quantity of voltage levels that span a first range of voltages, and the second modulation scheme may include a second quantity of voltage levels that span a second range of voltages different than (e.g., smaller than) the first range of voltages. The first signal may include write data carried over a data channel, and the second signal may include error detection information based on the write data that is carried over an error detection channel.

Claims (52)

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting first signaling, by a first device over a first channel between the first device and a second device, the first signaling modulated using a first modulation scheme that includes a first quantity of voltage levels spanning a first range of voltages; and

transmitting second signaling, by the first device over a second channel between the first device and the second device, the second signaling modulated using a second modulation scheme that includes a second quantity of voltage levels spanning a second range of voltages smaller than the first range of voltages.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first channel is configured for bidirectional signaling between the first device and the second device; and

the second channel is configured for unidirectional signaling between the first device and the second device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first signaling comprises data signaling from the first device; and

the second signaling comprises error detection and correction information signaling associated with the data signaling from the first device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining read data based at least in part on performing a read operation on an array of memory cells of the first device, wherein transmitting the first signaling comprises transmitting the read data; and

determining read operation error detection information based at least in part on performing the read operation, wherein transmitting the second signaling comprises transmitting the read operation error detection information.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the second quantity of voltage levels based at least in part on reading a non-volatile storage component of the first device, wherein transmitting the second signaling is based at least in part on determining the second quantity of voltage levels.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining one or more voltage levels of the second modulation scheme based at least in part on reading a non-volatile storage component of the first device, wherein transmitting the second signaling is based at least in part on determining the one or more voltage levels.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

communicating signaling with the second device; and

determining the second quantity of voltage levels, or one or more voltage levels of the second modulation scheme, or both based at least in part on the signaling.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving third signaling, by the first device over the first channel, the third signaling modulated using the first modulation scheme.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the third signaling comprises data signaling from the second device; and

the second signaling comprises error detection and correction information signaling associated with the data signaling from the second device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second quantity of voltage levels is less than the first quantity of voltage levels.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving first signaling, by a first device over a first channel between the first device and a second device, the first signaling modulated using a first modulation scheme that includes a first quantity of voltage levels spanning a first range of voltages; and

receiving second signaling, by the first device over a second channel between the first device and the second device, the second signaling modulated using a second modulation scheme that includes a second quantity of voltage levels spanning a second range of voltages smaller than the first range of voltages.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the first channel is configured for bidirectional signaling between the first device and the second device; and

the second channel is configured for unidirectional signaling between the first device and the second device.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the first signaling comprises data signaling from the first device; and

the second signaling comprises error detection and correction information signaling associated with the data signaling from the first device.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

communicating signaling with the second device, wherein the second quantity of voltage levels, or one or more voltage levels of the second modulation scheme, or both are determined based at least in part on the signaling.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

transmitting third signaling, by the first device over the first channel, the third signaling modulated using the first modulation scheme.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

the third signaling comprises data signaling from the first device; and

the second signaling comprises error detection and correction information signaling associated with the data signaling from the first device.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive first signaling over a first channel between the apparatus and a second apparatus, the first signaling modulated using a first modulation scheme that includes a first quantity of voltage levels spanning a first range of voltages; and

a transmitter configured to transmit second signaling over a second channel between the apparatus and the second apparatus, the second signaling modulated using a second modulation scheme that includes a second quantity of voltage levels spanning a second range of voltages smaller than the first range of voltages.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein:

the first signaling comprises data signaling from the second apparatus; and

the second signaling comprises error detection and correction information signaling associated with the data signaling from the second apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit third signaling over the first channel, the third signaling modulated using the first modulation scheme.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein:

the third signaling comprises data signaling from the apparatus; and

the second signaling comprises error detection and correction information signaling associated with the data signaling from the apparatus.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2023
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: LODESTAR LICENSING GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 064541/0685 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2023
From: BROX, MARTIN; MAYER, PETER; SPIRKL, WOLFGANG ANTON; HEIN, THOMAS; RICHTER, MICHAEL DIETER; HOLLIS, TIMOTHY M.; GREEFF, ROY E.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 064542/0224 →