Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Advanced Micro Devices Corporation

Brian W Amick

Claude R Gauthier

Pradeep R Trivedi

Dean Liu

Aninda K Roy

Tyler J Thorp

Spencer Montgomery Gold

Tri K Tran

Hanwoo Cho

Richard L Wheeler

Kamran Zarrineh

Lynn Warriner

Shawn Searles

Ronald L Pettyjohn

Ryan J Hensley

Gerald Robert Talbot

Warren Anderson

Gajendra Prasad Singh

Guhan Krishnan

Richard W Reeves

Aparna Ramachandran

Nicholas Humphries

Dong Joon Yoon

Joseph Kidd

Lynn Ooi

James Raymond Magro

Glenn A Dearth

Jonathan Mercer Owen

Philip Enrique Madrid

Tahsin Askar

Anwar Kashem

Edoardo Prete

Steven R Boyle

Gerry Talbot

Shao H Liu

Nicholas T Humphries

A controller integrated in a memory physical layer interface (PHY) can be used to control training used to configure the memory PHY for communication with an associated external memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), thereby removing the need to provide training sequences over a data pipeline between a BIOS and the memory PHY. For example, a controller integrated in the memory PHY can control read training and write training of the memory PHY for communication with the external memory based on a training algorithm. The training algorithm may be a seedless training algorithm that converges on a solution for a timing delay and a voltage offset between the memory PHY and the external memory without receiving, from a basic input/output system (BIOS), seed information that characterizes a signal path traversed by training sequences or commands generated by the training algorithm.

Integrated controller for training memory physical layer interface

A method and apparatus is provided for outputting a reset signal during power-up until two conditions are satisfied. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus includes a voltage detector that provides a first output ('VO1') when an output voltage of a regulator ('VREG') exceeds a threshold voltage, thereby satisfying a first condition, a comparator receiving a first input voltage and a second input voltage, the comparator providing a second output (&#x201c;VO2&#x201d;) when the first input voltage exceeds the second input voltage, thereby satisfying a second condition, and a release circuit that outputs the reset signal unless the voltage detector provides VO1 while the comparator provides VO2.

Method and apparatus for power-up detection for an electrical monitoring circuit

A physical memory interface (Phy) and method of operating is disclosed. The Phy interface includes command and status registers (CSRs) configured to receive a first power context and second power context. Selection circuitry is configured to switch between the first and second power contexts. A plurality of adjustable delay elements are provided, each having a delay time responsive to the selected power context. A first set of CSRs configured may store the first power context and a second set of CSRs configured may store the second power context. The Phy interface may also include a plurality of drivers each having a selectable drive strength responsive to the selected power context. The Phy interface may also include a plurality of receivers each having a selectable termination impedance responsive to the selected power context. Switching between power contexts may result in adjusting of the delay elements, drive strength and/or termination impedance of one or more drivers/receivers.

Dynamic RAM Phy interface with configurable power states

A method and apparatus for training read latency of a memory are disclosed. A memory controller includes a command FIFO configured to convey commands to a memory, a data queue coupled to receive data from the memory, and a register configured to provide a value indicative of a number of cycles of a first clock signal after which data is valid. During a startup routine, the memory controller is configured to compare data received by the data queue to a known data pattern after a specified number of cycles of the first clock signal have elapsed. The memory controller is further to configured to decrement the first value and repeat conveying and comparing if the data received matches the data pattern. If the received data does not match the data pattern for any attempted read of the memory, the memory controller is configured to program a second value into the register.

Method and apparatus to reduce memory read latency

A memory loopback system and method including an address/command transmit source configured to transmit a command and associated address through an address/command path. A transmit data source is configured to transmit write data associated with the command through a write path. Test control logic is configured to generate gaps between successive commands. A loopback connection is configured to route the write data from the write path to a read path. A data comparator is configured to compare the data received via the read path to a receive data source and generate a data loopback status output. Pattern generation logic can be configured to generate a loopback strobe, the loopback strobe being coupled to the read path. The pattern generation logic may be configured to synthesize a read strobe based on the test control logic and to use the synthesized read strobe as the loopback strobe. The loopback connection may be configured to route the address/command data from the address/command path to an address/command comparator, the address/command comparator being configured to compare the address/command data to an address/command receive source and generate an address/command loopback status output.

Memory diagnostics system and method with hardware-based read/write patterns

A method and apparatus of alternating service modes of a silicon on insulator (SOI) process circuit includes determining whether the SOI process circuit is in a first or second service mode. A first clock or a second clock is selected for transmission along a buswire of the SOI process circuit based upon the determination. A receiving device of the signal is notified whether the SOI process circuit is operating in the first service mode or the second service mode.

Method and apparatus of alternating service modes of an SOI process circuit

A method and apparatus for generating a clock that can be switched in phase within a reduced interval of dead time are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for phase selection acceleration

A data processing device is configured so that, in a test mode of operation, the phase of an output signal of a second programmable delay module (PDM) is based on the phase of the input signal of the first PDM. To test the first and second PDMs, the output signal of the first PDM is set to each of a first set of phases and the corresponding phase of the output signal of the second PDM is compared to determine whether the performance of the first and second PDMs match a specification. Accordingly, the first and second PDMs are qualified based on their relative performance, reducing the need for test structures that consume an undesirably large amount of area.

Programmable delay module testing device and methods thereof

A Mobile Subscriber Directory Assistance (MSDA) system including originating carrier center initiating a directory assistance call, a directory assistance center providing a directory assistance service, and a search environment. The search environment includes an aggregated pointer database and at least one directory number resolution database. A caller requesting a telephone number is connected to a directory assistance service center where search criteria for the requested number are taken. The requested number is identified by searching the aggregated pointer database and the directory number resolution database. The caller is connected to the identified telephone number without releasing this identified telephone number.

Method and apparatus for receiver circuit tuning

A calibration and adjustment system for post-fabrication control of a delay locked loop bias-generator is provided. The calibration and adjustment system includes an adjustment circuit operatively connected to the bias-generator, where the adjustment circuit is controllable to facilitate a modification of a voltage output by the bias-generator. Such control of the voltage output by the bias-generator allows a designer to achieve a desired delay locked loop performance characteristic after the delay locked loop has been fabricated. A representative value of the amount of adjustment desired in the bias-generator output may be stored and subsequently read to adjust the delay locked loop.

Method and apparatus to store delay locked loop biasing parameters

A sense amplifier latch that is operable to interface with high common-mode input voltages with wide ranges for all process variations. The sense amplifier latch comprises a cross-coupled latch having first and second rail signals; a pre-charge device; an equalization device; pass devices for enabling input devices to receive pad and reference inputs. In the present invention, the input devices comprise push-pull impedance dividers are used to preserve the input difference voltage while dramatically lowering the common-mode output voltage. The outputs of the impedance dividers are fed to the cross-coupled latch of the sense amplifier using n-channel pass gates.

Differential sense amplifier latch for high common mode input

A digital delay-locked loop has been discovered having a reduced area as compared to typical register-controlled delay-locked loops (RDLLs) used to control strobe delay lines that provide delay to strobe signals driving asynchronous FIFOs. This result is achieved by reducing ratio computation (i.e. gear logic) circuitry of the RDLL. A master delay line receives a control code to delay a reference clock by one clock period. A slave delay line receives the control code to delay a strobe signal by a predetermined fraction of the clock period. The master delay line may include individual sections responsive to the control code which effectively delay a signal by a portion of the clock period, the delay having a fixed relationship to a delay associated with individual sections of the slave delay line.

Generating different delay ratios for a strobe delay

A method and apparatus for enlarging data eyes in a wireline communication system involves pre-coding a data signal before transmission to generate a constant frequency characteristic independent of a state of the pre-coded data signal. The receiving circuit includes a circuit that temporally expands at least a portion of the pre-coded data signal. The portion of the temporally expanded data signal is latched by the receiving circuit.

Technique to enlarge data eyes in wireline communication systems

An adjustment and calibration system for post-fabrication treatment of a phase locked loop input receiver is provided. The adjustment and calibration system includes at least one adjustment circuit, to which the phase locked loop input receiver is responsive, and a storage device that selectively stores control information (1) associated with a state of the adjustment circuit and/or (2) from a tester that writes such control information to the storage device, where the control information stored in the storage device is subsequently selectively read out in order to adjust the adjustment circuit to a state corresponding to the control information.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Brian W Amick