IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,947,378
Granted Patent B2
US 9,947,378 · App. 15/729,771 · Granted Apr 17, 2018

Semiconductor memory device, a memory module including the same, and a memory system including the same

Inventors: Ki Won Lee (Seoul, KR); Seung Jun Bae (Hwaseong-si, KR); Joon Young Park (Seoul, KR); Yong Cheol Bae (Yongin-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
G11C7/12H03K19/0005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,947,378
App. No.
15/729,771
Granted
Apr 17, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of operating a memory controller includes: receiving a data signal from a memory device, wherein the data signal has an output high level voltage (VOH); determining a reference voltage according to the VOH; and comparing the data signal with the reference voltage to determine a received data value, wherein the VOH is proportional to a power supply voltage (VDDQ).

Claims (33)

1. A method of operating a memory controller, comprising:

receiving a data signal from a memory device, wherein the data signal has an output high level voltage (VOH);

determining a reference voltage according to the VOH; and

comparing the data signal with the reference voltage to determine a received data value,

wherein the VOH is proportional to a power supply voltage (VDDQ).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the VOH has a value of VDDQ/2.5.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the VOH has a value of VDDQ/3.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a value of the VOH depends on a resistance of an on-die termination (ODT) resistor of the memory controller.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the VOH has a value of VDDQ/2.5 when the ODT resistor is 80, 120 or 240 ohms.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the VOH has a value of VDDQ/3 when the ODT resistor is 40, 60, 80, 120 or 240 ohms.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data signal is generated at the memory device in response to an instruction from the memory controller.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the instruction includes information about the VOH.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the instruction includes information about an on-die termination (ODT) resistor of the memory controller.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the instruction causes a mode register set (MRS) signal to be generated by the memory device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the MRS signal varies according to the value of an on-die termination (ODT) resistor of the memory controller.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein a mode register in the memory device includes information about an on-die termination (ODT) resistor of the memory controller.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the memory device performs a calibration based on a mode register set (MRS) signal generated according to a target VOH and an on-die termination (ODT) value of the memory controller.

14. A memory controller, comprising:

an on-die termination (ODT) resistor and a DQ pad, wherein the memory controller is configured to:

receive, via the DQ pad, a data signal from a memory device, wherein the data signal has an output high level voltage (VOH);

determine a reference voltage according to the VOH; and

compare the data signal with the reference voltage to determine a received data value,

wherein the VOH is proportional to a power supply voltage (VDDQ).

15. The controller of claim 14 , wherein ODT resistor has a value of 40, 60, 80, 120 or 240 ohms.

16. A method of operating a memory controller, comprising:

receiving a first data signal having a first output high level voltage (VOH), wherein the first VOH is proportional to a power supply voltage (VDDQ);

outputting a command instructing a VOH of a second data signal to be changed; and

receiving the second data signal, wherein the second data signal has the changed VOH, the changed VOH being proportional to VDDQ,

wherein the first VOH and the changed VOH are different from each other.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first VOH is VDDQ/3.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the changed VOH varies with an impedance of an on-die termination (ODT) resistor of the memory controller.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the changed VOH is obtained by increasing or decreasing the VOH of the first data signal.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the command includes information about an impedance of an on-die termination (ODT) resistor of the memory controller.

Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2014-0065149 · May 29, 2014 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15426603 · Feb 7, 2017
Continuation 14723614 · May 28, 2015
Related Publication 20180033470A1 · Feb 1, 2018