IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,803,489
Granted Patent B2
US 11,803,489 · App. 17/849,450 · Granted Oct 31, 2023

Calibration protocol for command and address bus voltage reference in low-swing single-ended signaling

Inventors: Pravin Kumar Venkatesan (Fremont, CA); Liji Gopalakrishnan (Sunnyvale, CA); Kashinath Ullhas Prabhu (Bangalore, IN); Makarand Ajit Shirasgaonkar (Bangalore, IN)
Assignee: Rambus Inc.
G06F13/1668Y02D10/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,803,489
App. No.
17/849,450
Granted
Oct 31, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A single-ended receiver is coupled to an input-output (I/O) pin of a command and address (CA) bus. The receiver is configurable with dual-mode I/O support to operate the CA bus in a low-swing mode and a high-swing mode. The receiver is configurable to receive a first command on the I/O pin while in the high-swing mode, initiate calibration of the slave device to operate in the low-swing mode in response to the first command, switch the slave device to operate in the low-swing mode while the CA bus remains active, and to receive a second command on the I/O pin while in the low-swing mode.

Claims (37)

1 . An integrated circuit memory device comprising:

an array of memory cells to store data;

a circuit to generate an internal reference voltage, wherein, at boot-up, the internal reference voltage is a default voltage; and

an interface having a plurality of receiver circuits coupled to a plurality of pins, each receiver circuit of the plurality of receiver circuits having a first input and a second input, the first input of each receiver circuit coupled to a respective pin of the plurality of pins, and the second input of each receiver circuit to receive the internal reference voltage,

wherein, at boot up, the interface is operable to receive signals having a first voltage swing, the interface to receive a first command that specifies a calibration mode used to calibrate the internal reference voltage, the interface to receive signals having a second voltage swing using the calibrated internal reference voltage, wherein the second voltage swing is smaller than the first voltage swing.

2 . The integrated circuit memory device of claim 1 , further comprising a clock receiver circuit to receive a clock signal used to time reception of command/address signals by the plurality of receiver circuits.

3 . The integrated circuit memory device of claim 2 , wherein the clock signal operates at a first signaling frequency during boot-up and operates at a second signaling frequency during the calibration mode, wherein the second signaling frequency is greater than the first signaling frequency.

4 . The integrated circuit memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pin to receive an external reference voltage; and

a second circuit to selectively provide one of the internal reference voltage or external reference voltage to the interface.

5 . The integrated circuit memory device of claim 1 , wherein during the calibration mode, the interface is to receive a calibration pattern.

6 . The integrated circuit memory device of claim 1 , wherein, at boot-up, each receiver circuit of the plurality of receiver circuits is to operate at a first signaling frequency as a default frequency and wherein the interface is to receive a second command that specifies exiting the calibration mode.

7 . The integrated circuit memory device of claim 1 , wherein the calibration mode of the interface is used to calibrate receiver timing of the plurality of receiver circuits.

8 . A memory device having a plurality of memory cells to store data, the memory device comprising:

a circuit to generate an internal reference voltage, wherein, at boot-up, the internal reference voltage is a default voltage;

an interface having a plurality of receiver circuits coupled to a plurality of pins, each receiver circuit of the plurality of receiver circuits having a first input and a second input, the first input of each receiver circuit coupled to a respective pin of the plurality of pins, and the second input of each receiver circuit to receive the internal reference voltage; and

a clock receiver circuit to receive a clock signal used to time reception of command/address signals by the plurality of receiver circuits,

wherein, at boot up, the interface is operable to receive signals having a first voltage swing, the interface to receive a first command that specifies a calibration mode used to calibrate the internal reference voltage, the interface to receive signals having a second voltage swing using the calibrated internal reference voltage, wherein the second voltage swing is smaller than the first voltage swing.

9 . The memory device of claim 8 , wherein the clock signal operates at a first signaling frequency during boot-up and operates at a second signaling frequency during the calibration mode, wherein the second signaling frequency is greater than the first signaling frequency.

10 . The memory device of claim 8 , further comprising:

a pin to receive an external reference voltage; and

a second circuit to selectively provide one of the internal reference voltage or external reference voltage to the interface.

11 . The memory device of claim 8 , wherein during the calibration mode, the interface is to receive a calibration pattern.

12 . The memory device of claim 8 , wherein, at boot-up, each receiver circuit of the plurality of receiver circuits is to operate at a first signaling frequency as a default frequency and wherein the interface is to receive a second command that specifies exiting the calibration mode.

13 . The memory device of claim 8 , wherein the calibration mode of the interface is used to calibrate receiver timing of the plurality of receiver circuits.

14 . An integrated circuit comprising:

a plurality of pins to receive command/address and data signals;

an array of memory cells to store data;

a circuit to generate an internal reference voltage, wherein, at boot-up, the internal reference voltage is a default voltage; and

a plurality of receiver circuits, wherein each receiver circuit of the plurality of receiver circuits has a first input and a second input, the first input of each receiver circuit coupled to a respective pin of the plurality of pins, and the second input of each receiver circuit to receive the internal reference voltage; and

a clock receiver circuit to receive a clock signal used to time reception of command/address signals by the plurality of receiver circuits,

wherein, at boot up, the plurality of receiver circuits is operable to receive signals having a first voltage swing, the plurality of receiver circuits to receive a first command that specifies a calibration mode used to calibrate the internal reference voltage, wherein during the calibration mode, the plurality of receiver circuits is to receive a calibration pattern, the plurality of receiver circuits to receive signals having a second voltage swing using the calibrated internal reference voltage, wherein the second voltage swing is smaller than the first voltage swing, wherein, at boot-up, each receiver circuit of the plurality of receiver circuits is to operate at a first signaling frequency as a default frequency, wherein the clock signal operates at the first signaling frequency during boot-up and operates at a second signaling frequency during the calibration mode, wherein the second signaling frequency is greater than the first signaling frequency.

15 . The integrated circuit of claim 14 , further comprising:

a pin to receive an external reference voltage; and

a second circuit to selectively provide one of the internal reference voltage or external reference voltage to the plurality of receiver circuits.

16 . The integrated circuit of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of receiver circuits is to receive a second command that specifies exiting the calibration mode.

17 . The integrated circuit of claim 14 , wherein the calibration mode of the plurality of receiver circuits is used to calibrate receiver timing of the plurality of receiver circuits.

Continuity (6)
Continuation 16709506 · Dec 10, 2019
Continuation 16145837 · Sep 28, 2018
Continuation 15616785 · Jun 7, 2017
Continuation 14080724 · Nov 14, 2013
Provisional Application 61730018 · Nov 26, 2012
Related Publication 20230052053A1 · Feb 16, 2023
Cited By (2)
US 12,327,612 US 12,367,915