IP Library Granted Patent US 12,367,160
Granted Patent B2
US 12,367,160 · App. 18/360,674 · Granted Jul 22, 2025

System and method for valid window maximization in toggle mode link using systematic skew addition to compensate for SSO and crosstalk

Inventors: Shiv Harit Mathur (Karnataka, IN); Niravkumar Natwarbhai Patel (Karnataka, IN)
Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
G06F13/1689
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,367,160
App. No.
18/360,674
Granted
Jul 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosed technology relate to the operation of devices including memory devices, and more particularly to valid window maximization in a toggle mode (TM) or Open NAND Flash Interface (ONFI) link using systematic skew while compensating for simultaneous switching outputs (SSO) and cross talk.

Claims (48)

1. A device, comprising:

a first circuit and at least one second circuit that communicate with each other through a parallel interface, wherein the first circuit is configured to transfer data signals (DQ signals) to the at least one second circuit over one or more data lines of the parallel interface; and

a control circuit, configured to, for each respective second circuit:

calculate a valid window of each DQ signal transferred to the respective second circuit;

identify from the DQ signals one or more critical signals having a smallest valid window plus a valid window margin;

store the one or more critical signals in a Critical Timing (CT) bucket;

store other DQ signals in a Relaxed Timing (RT) bucket;

skew the one or more critical signals stored in the CT bucket by a skew amount together;

continue to skew and measure the valid windows of the one or more critical signals until a maximum valid window is obtained;

store skew tap settings with the maximum valid window for write training taps for a respective second circuit; and

derive DQS tap settings based on the respective valid windows of the one or more critical signals stored in the CT bucket.

2. A memory device comprising the device of claim 1 , wherein the first circuit is a storage controller, the second circuit is a memory die, and the parallel interface is a memory interface.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein a number of the one or more critical signals is 1 or 2.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the skew amount is +1 tap.

5. The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the memory device is a non-volatile memory.

6. The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the memory device is a volatile memory.

7. The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the control circuit is in the storage controller.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the parallel interface is one of a Toggle Mode (TM) link, a Toggle NAND 2.0, or an Open NAND Flash Interface (ONFI).

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor, the instructions programming the processor to control a first circuit and at least one second circuit that communicate with each other through a parallel interface, wherein the first circuit is configured to transfer data signals (DQ signals) and strobe signals (DQS) to the at least one second circuit over one or more data lines of the parallel interface, the instructions programming the processor to, for each respective second circuit:

calculate a valid window of each DQ signal transferred to the respective second circuit;

identify from the DQ signals at least one critical signal having a smallest valid window;

set a reference valid window to the smallest valid window;

determine whether each respective valid window satisfies a condition of being less than the reference valid window plus a valid window margin;

when a respective valid window satisfies the condition, store the DQ signal corresponding to the respective valid window in a Critical Timing (CT) bucket;

when the respective valid window does not satisfy the condition, store the DQ signal corresponding to the respective valid window in a Relaxed Timing (RT) bucket;

skew each DQ signal placed in the CT bucket by a skew amount together and measure the valid window of the respective DQ signal again;

when the valid window after the respective DQ signal is skewed is equal to an initial valid window of the respective DQ signal, store the valid window as a maximum valid window;

store skew tap settings with the maximum valid window for write training taps for a respective second circuit; and

derive DQS tap settings based on the respective valid windows of the one or more DQ signals stored in the CT bucket.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the first circuit is a storage controller, the second circuit is a memory die, and the parallel interface is a memory interface.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein a number of the one or more critical signals is 1 or 2.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the skew amount is +1 tap.

13. A non-volatile memory device comprising the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 .

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the parallel interface is one of a Toggle Mode (TM) link, a Toggle NAND 2.0, or an Open NAND Flash Interface (ONFI).

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the valid window margin is approximately 50 ps.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the valid window margin is approximately 50 ps.

17. A method for operating a device comprising a first circuit and at least one second circuit that communicate with each other through a parallel interface, wherein the first circuit is configured to transfer data signals (DQ signals) and strobe signals (DQS) to the at least one second circuit over one or more data lines of the parallel interface, the method comprising:

calculating a valid window of each DQ signal transferred to a respective second circuit;

identifying from the DQ signals one or more critical signals having a smallest valid window plus a valid window margin;

storing the one or more critical signals in a Critical Timing (CT) bucket;

storing other DQ signals in a Relaxed Timing (RT) bucket;

skewing the one or more critical signals stored in the CT bucket by a skew amount together;

continuing to skew and measure the valid window of the one or more critical signals until a maximum valid window is obtained;

storing skew tap settings with the maximum valid window for the one or more critical signals for write training taps for a respective second circuit; and

deriving DQS tap settings based on the respective valid windows of the one or more critical signals stored in the CT bucket.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the skew amount is +1 tap.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the device is a memory device, the first circuit is a storage controller, the second circuit is a memory die, and the parallel interface is a memory interface.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the parallel interface is one of a Toggle Mode (TM) link, a Toggle NAND 2.0, or an Open NAND Flash Interface (ONFI).

Assignments (8)
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 071382/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071050/0001 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 23, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS THE AGENT
Reel/Frame 068762/0494 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 27, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067982/0032 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2024
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067567/0682 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL Recorded Nov 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 065657/0158 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT- A&R Recorded Nov 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 065656/0649 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: MATHUR, SHIV HARIT; PATEL, NIRAVKUMAR NATWARBHAI
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 064410/0387 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63504851 · May 30, 2023
Related Publication 20240403243A1 · Dec 5, 2024
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