Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Hyunyoon Cho

Junghwan Choi

Youngdon Choi

Younghoon Son

Eunseok Shin

Junyoung Park

Jindo Byun

Joohwan Kim

Hyunsub Rie

Hyungmin Jin

Sukhee Cho

Changsoo Yoon

Sanghun Lee

Jeonghyu Yang

Sucheol Lee

Hyuntae Kim

Jaeduk Han

Garam Kim

Youngdo Um

A transmitter configured to receive first to N-th data in parallel and sequentially output the first to N-th data in response to first to N-th clock signals having different phases from each other, where N is an integer of at least 2, the transmitter including first to N-th data selectors including a first data selector and a second data selector in correspondence to the first to N-th data, each of the first to N-th data selectors being configured to perform a logical operation on one of the first to N-th data and the first to N-th clock signals and output a plurality of data selection signals, a first pre-driver in correspondence to at least two data selectors among the first to N-th data selectors, the first pre-driver being configured to receive the plurality of data selection signals from the at least two data selectors.

Transmitter, memory device and semiconductor device including the transmitter

A parallel-to-serial converter includes first to fourth input nodes configured to receive first to fourth data input signals, respectively, and an output node configured to output a data output signal. First to fourth logic circuits are provided, which are configured to electrically couple respective ones of the first to fourth input nodes one-at-a-time to the output node, in synchronization with first to fourth clock signals. The first logic circuit includes a first input circuit, a second input circuit, and an output circuit electrically coupled to the first and second input circuits. The output circuit includes a first pull-up transistor and a first pull-down transistor having drain terminals coupled to the output node, a second pull-up transistor connected between a source terminal of the first pull-up transistor and a first power supply node, and a second pull-down transistor connected between a source terminal of the first pull-down transistor and a second power supply node.

Semiconductor devices having parallel-to-serial converters therein

In a method of generating a multi-level signal having one of three or more voltage levels that are different from one another, input data including two or more bits is received. A drive strength of at least one of two or more driving paths is changed based on the two or more bits such that a first transition time, during which an output data signal is transitioned from a first voltage level to a second voltage level, is changed. The output data signal that is the multi-level signal is generated such that the first transition time of the output data signal is changed and a second transition time, during which the output data signal is transitioned from the first voltage level to a third voltage level different from the second voltage level, is maintained.

Method of generating a multi-level signal using selective equalization, method of transmitting data using the same, and transmitter and memory system performing the same

A receiver receiving a multi-level signal includes a sample and hold circuit, first and second analog-to-digital converting circuits, and a digital-to-analog converting circuit. The sample and hold circuit generates a sample data signal by sampling and holding an input data signal. The first analog-to-digital converting circuit generates a first bit of output data based on the input data signal and a first selection reference voltage among a plurality of reference voltages. The digital-to-analog converting circuit selects at least one additional selection reference voltage from among the plurality of reference voltages based on the first bit of the output data. The second analog-to-digital converting circuit generates at least one additional bit of the output data based on the sample data signal and the at least one additional selection reference voltage.

Receiver with pipeline structure for receiving multi-level signal and memory device including the same

A receiver that receives a multi-level signal includes a pre-amplifier circuit, a slicer circuit and a decoder circuit. The pre-amplifier circuit generates a plurality of intermediate data signals based on an input data signal and a plurality of reference voltages. The slicer circuit generates a plurality of decision signals based on the plurality of intermediate data signals and a clock signal. The decoder circuit generates output data based on the plurality of decision signals. The pre-amplifier circuit includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit generates one of the plurality of intermediate data signals based on the input data signal and one of the plurality of reference voltages, and has a first structure. The second circuit generates another one of the plurality of intermediate data signals based on the input data signal and another one of the plurality of reference voltages, and has a second structure different from the first structure.

Receiver for receiving multi-level signal and memory device including the same

A transmitter circuit that receives parallel signals and outputs a serial signal in response to the parallel signals may include; a clock generator generating first clock signals having different respective phases, a multiplexer including selection circuits respectively configured to selectively provide at least two of the parallel signals to an output node in response to at least two of the first clock signals, and an output driver generating the serial signal by amplifying a signal at the output node.

Transmitter circuit and method of operating same

A translation device, a test system, and a memory system are provided. The translation device includes plural first input/output (I/O) circuits that respectively transmit and receive first signals through plural pins based on a pulse amplitude modulation (PAM)-M mode, a second I/O circuit that transmits and receives a second signal through one or more pins based on a PAM-N mode, and a translation circuit that translates the first signals into the second signal and translates the second signal into the first signals. M and N are different integers of 2 or more.

Translation device, test system including the same, and memory system including the translation device

A transmitter circuit includes a clock generator configured to generate a plurality of clock signals having different phases, and a plurality of selection circuits configured to receive a plurality of parallel data signals and output a serial data signal on an output node based on the plurality of clock signals and the received plurality of parallel data signals. Each of the plurality of selection circuits includes a data multiplexer configured to generate a plurality of data selection signals based on the received one of the plurality of parallel data signals and the plurality of clock signals; a control signal generator configured to generate first and second control signals based on the plurality of data selection signals; and an output driver connected to the output node, and configured to precharge the output node based on the first control signal or discharge the output node based on the second control signal.

Transmitter circuit including selection circuit, and method of operating the selection circuit

A delay circuit for a clock signal includes a first signal generator, a first inverting circuit, a second signal generator and a second inverting circuit. The first signal generator is configured to generate a plurality of first switching signals based on a delay code. The first inverting circuit includes a plurality of first inverters that are selectively turned on in response to the plurality of first switching signals, respectively, and is configured to adjust a first delay time for both of a first edge and a second edge of the clock signal. The second signal generator is configured to generate a plurality of second switching signals based on a duty code. The second inverting circuit includes a plurality of second pull-up units and a plurality of second pull-down units, respective ones of the plurality of second pull-up units or respective ones of the plurality of second pull-down units are selectively turned on in response to respective ones of the plurality of second switching signals. The second inverting circuit is configured to adjust a second delay time for the first edge, the second edge, or both of the first edge and the second edge of the clock signal.

Delay circuit and clock error correction device including the same

A method of operating a memory device includes receiving a training request for a data channel, detecting at least one mode parameter according to the training request, transmitting the detected mode parameter to an external device, setting at least one of an NRZ mode and a PAM4 mode to a transmission signaling mode based on mode register set setting information from the external device, and performing communications with the external device according to the set transmission signaling mode.

Memory device, controller controlling the same, memory system including the same, and operating method thereof

A memory device includes a memory cell array and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter includes a pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) encoder configured to generate a PAM-n first input signal (where n is an integer greater than or equal to 4) from data read from the memory cell array; a pre-driver configured to generate a second input signal based on the first input signal and based on a calibration code signal, and output the second input signal using a first power voltage; and a driver configured to output a PAM-n DQ signal using a second power voltage lower than the first power voltage in response to the second input signal.

Memory device for generating pulse amplitude modulation-based DQ signal and memory system including the same

A memory device as provided may apply a pulse amplitude modulation method to data (DQ) signal transmission/reception and may scale a DQ signal according to an operating frequency condition, so as to improve data transmission performance and effectively improve power consumption. The memory device includes a memory cell array, and a data input/output circuit configured to scale a DQ signal that includes data read from the memory cell array and output the scaled DQ signal. The data input/output circuit is configured to scale the DQ signal based on an n-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAMn) (where n is 4 or a greater integer) with a DQ parameter that corresponds an operating frequency condition and output the DQ signal. Other aspects include memory controllers that communicate with the memory devices, and memory systems that include the memory devices and memory controllers.

Memory devices configured to generate pulse amplitude modulation-based DQ signals, memory controllers, and memory systems including the memory devices and the memory controllers

An output driver includes a main output driver configured to receive data of an internal supply voltage to generate output data of an output supply voltage, and to receive the data of a ground voltage to generate the output data of the ground voltage, a pre-emphasis controller configured to detect a transition of the data from the ground voltage to the internal supply voltage to generate a first pulse signal, and to receive a pre-emphasis enable signal and the first pulse signal and generate a level-up pre-emphasis enable signal and a first level-up pulse signal of the ground voltage, a pre-emphasis pre-driver configured to generate one or more pre-emphasis pull-up control signals, and a pre-emphasis driver configured to pre-emphasize the output data based on the output data transitioning from the ground voltage to the output supply voltage.

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Uiwang-si, South Korea

Hyunyoon Cho