Micron Technology Incorporated

Qualcomm Incorporated

Round Rock Research, LLC

Nan Ya Technology Corporation

Timothy Mowry Hollis

Dean D Gans

Roy Edgar Greeff

Jeffrey P Wright

Robert Nasry Hasbun

Matthew B Leslie

Eric J Stave

Dragos Dimitriu

Randon K Richards

Yogesh Sharma

Bruce W Schober

Feng Lin

Thomas Hein

David K Ovard

Kang-Yong Kim

Chan H Yoo

Gregory A King

Markus Balb

Dirgha Khatri

M Ataul Karim

Ralf Ebert

Walter L Moden

Martin Brox

George Edward Pax

Wolfgang Anton Spirkl

Michael Dieter Richter

Peter Mayer

Larren Gene Weber

Hyun Yoo Lee

Baekkyu Choi

Aparna U Limaye

Dong Soon Lim

Brent Keeth

Thomas H Kinsley

Huy Thanh Vo

Michael J Brunolli

Elancheren Durai

Scott Richard Cyr

Steven M Bodily

George E Pax

Quincy R Holton

Shindeok Kang

Boe L Holbrook

James S Rehmeyer

Lalan Jee Mishra

Matthew Alan Prather

Scott Eugene Smith

Brian W Huber

Thomas Clark Bryan

Miles S Wiscombe

Stephen F Moxham

Mark Wayland

J Matthew Tanner

Memory devices, systems including memory devices, and methods of operating memory devices are described, in which clock trees can be separately optimized to provide a coarse alignment between a clock signal and a command/address signal (and/or a chip select signal or other control signal), and/or in which individual memory devices can be isolated for fine-tuning of device-specific alignment between a clock signal and a command/address signal (and/or a chip select signal or other control signal). Moreover, individual memory devices can be isolated for fine-tuning of device-specific equalization of a command/address signal (and/or a chip select signal or other control signal).

Methods for tuning command/address bus timing and memory devices and memory systems using the same

Methods, systems, and devices that support variable modulation schemes for memory are described. A device may switch between different modulation schemes for communication based on one or more operating parameters associated with the device or a component of the device. The modulation schemes may involve amplitude modulation in which different levels of a signal represent different data values. For instance, the device may use a first modulation scheme that represents data using two levels and a second modulation scheme that represents data using four levels. In one example, the device may switch from the first modulation scheme to the second modulation scheme when bandwidth demand is high, and the device may switch from the second modulation scheme to the first modulation scheme when power conservation is in demand. The device may also, based on the operating parameter, change the frequency of the signal pulses communicated using the modulation schemes.

Variable modulation scheme for memory device access or operation

Methods, systems, and devices for crosstalk cancellation for signal lines are described. In some examples, a device (e.g., a host device or a memory device) may generate a first signal and may invert the first signal to obtain an inverted first signal. The device may obtain a second signal based on attenuating a first range of frequencies of the inverted first signal and a second range of frequencies of the inverted first signal, where the first range of frequencies is below a first threshold frequency and the second range of frequencies is above a second threshold frequency that is greater than the first threshold frequency. The device may transmit the first signal via a first signal line of a set of signal lines and the second signal line via a second signal line of the set of signal lines.

Crosstalk cancellation for signal lines

Apparatuses and methods for coupling semiconductor devices are disclosed. In a group of semiconductor devices (e.g., a stack of semiconductor devices), a signal is provided to a point of coupling at an intermediate semiconductor device of the group, and the signal is propagated away from the point of coupling over different (e.g., opposite) signal paths to other semiconductor devices of the group. Loading from the point of coupling at the intermediate semiconductor device to other semiconductor devices of a group may be more balanced than, for example, having a point of coupling at semiconductor device at an end of the group (e.g., a lowest semiconductor device of a stack, a highest semiconductor device of the stack, etc.) and providing a signal therefrom. The more balanced topology may reduce a timing difference between when signals arrive at each of the semiconductor devices.

Apparatuses and methods for coupling a plurality of semiconductor devices

Methods, systems, and devices for channel modulation for a memory device are described. A system may include a memory device and a host device coupled with the memory device. The system may be configured to communicate a first signal modulated using a first modulation scheme and communicate a second signal that is based on the first signal and that is modulated using a second modulation scheme. The first modulation scheme may include a first quantity of voltage levels that span a first range of voltages, and the second modulation scheme may include a second quantity of voltage levels that span a second range of voltages different than (e.g., smaller than) the first range of voltages. The first signal may include write data carried over a data channel, and the second signal may include error detection information based on the write data that is carried over an error detection channel.

Channel modulation for a memory device

Systems may include a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or any combination thereof. At least one memory device may be connected to the CPU, the GPU, or the FPGA. The memory device(s) may include a device substrate including a microelectronic device and bond pads coupled with an active surface of the device substrate. A package substrate may be secured to the device substrate, the package substrate configured to route signals to and from the bond pads. A ball grid array may be supported on the package substrate. Each ball of the ball grid array positioned and configured to carry one of a high-bandwidth data signal or a high-frequency clock signal may be located only diagonally adjacent to any other balls of the ball grid array configured to carry another of a high-bandwidth data signal or a high-frequency clock signal.

Apparatuses including ball grid arrays and associated systems

Methods, systems, and devices for communicating data with stacked memory dies are described. A first semiconductor die may communicate with an external computing device using a binary-symbol signal including two signal levels representing one bit of data. Semiconductor dies may be stacked on one another and include internal interconnects (e.g., through-silicon vias) to relay an internal signal generated based on the binary-symbol signal. The internal signal may be a multi-symbol signal modulated using a modulation scheme that includes three or more levels to represent more than one bit of data. The multi-level symbol signal may simplify the internal interconnects. A second semiconductor die may be configured to receive and re-transmit the multi-level symbol signal to semiconductor dies positioned above the second semiconductor die.

Communicating data with stacked memory dies

Methods, systems, and devices for techniques for time-variable decision feedback equalization are described. A memory device may be coupled with a host device using one or more conductive lines. A receiver may receive a signal transmitted from another device over a conductive line. The receiver may include a decision circuit used to determine voltages of the received signal based on the received signal and a feedback signal and output an output signal. The receiver may include a variable time-delay circuit configured to output delayed signals that are delayed versions of the output signal and a gain circuit that is configured to scale the delayed signals to generate the feedback signal. The variable time-delay circuit may include delay elements having variable delay parameters. The receiver may be coupled with a memory array that stores the information conveyed by the output signal.

Time-variable decision feedback equalization

Techniques are provided herein to increase a rate of data transfer across a large number of channels in a memory device using multi-level signaling. Such multi-level signaling may be configured to increase a data transfer rate without increasing the frequency of data transfer and/or a transmit power of the communicated data. An example of multi-level signaling scheme may be pulse amplitude modulation (PAM). Each unique symbol of the multi-level signal may be configured to represent a plurality of bits of data.

Multi-level signaling in memory with wide system interface

This document describes apparatuses and techniques for termination of a pulse amplitude modulation signal of a memory circuit. In various aspects, a memory circuit is implemented with a termination circuit that includes a power rail, a resistor, and a switch to couple the resistor between the power rail and a signal line of a memory interconnect. The power rail may be configured to provide power at a termination voltage that is nominally half of a voltage of another power rail from which a corresponding transmission circuit operates. This may be effective to enable termination of pulse amplitude modulation signals to the termination voltage instead of a higher voltage that corresponds to the power rail of the transmission circuit or a ground-referenced node. By so doing, use of the termination circuit may reduce power consumption and/or improve signal integrity of the memory circuit.

Termination for pulse amplitude modulation

A memory subsystem architecture that includes two register clock driver (RCD) devices to increase a number of output drivers for signaling memories of the memory subsystem is described herein. In a two RCD device implementation, first and second RCD devices may contemporaneously provide first subchannel C/A information and second subchannel C/A information, respectively, to respective first and second group of memories of the memory subsystem responsive to a common clock signal. Because each of the first and second RCD devices operate responsive to the common clock signal, operation of the first and second RCD devices may be synchronized such that all subchannel driver circuits drive respective subchannel C/A information contemporaneously.

Multiple register clock driver loaded memory subsystem

Described apparatuses and methods enable communication between a host device and a memory device to establish relative delays between different data lines. If data signals propagate along a bus with the same timing, simultaneous switching output (SSO) and crosstalk can adversely impact channel timing budget parameters. An example system includes an interconnect having multiple data lines that couple the host device to the memory device. In example operations, the host device can transmit to the memory device a command indicative of a phase offset between two or more data lines of the multiple data lines. The memory device can implement the command by transmitting or receiving signals via the interconnect with different relative phase offsets between data lines. The host device (e.g., a memory controller) can determine appropriate offsets for a given apparatus. Lengths of the offsets can vary. Further, a system can activate the phase offsets based on frequency.

Programmable memory timing

Apparatuses and methods for asymmetric bi-directional signaling incorporating multi-level encoding are disclosed. An example apparatus may include first and second channels, a receiver coupled to the first and second channels, and first and second transmitters coupled to the first and second channels, respectively. The receiver may be configured to receive differential data signals to receive write data at a rate, and each of the first and second transmitters may be configured to encode a plurality of bits into a respective data signal and provide the respective data signals at the data rate.

Apparatuses and methods for asymmetric bi-directional signaling incorporating multi-level encoding

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for operating a memory device or devices are described. A memory device or module may introduce latency in commands to coordinate operations at the device or to improve timing or power consumption at the device. For example, a host may issue a command to a memory module, and a component or feature of the memory module may receive the command and modify the command or the timing of its execution in manner that is invisible or non-disruptive to the host while facilitating operations at the memory module. In some examples, components or features of a memory module may be disabled to effect or introduce latency in operation without affecting timing or operation of a host device. A memory module may operate in different modes that allow for different latencies; the use or introduction of latencies may not affect other features or operability of the memory module.

Methods for memory power management and memory devices and systems employing the same

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for high-pass filtering pre-emphasis circuits. A device may use a pre-emphasis driver to provide a multi-level signal based on multiple binary signals. The pre-emphasis driver includes a primary driver coupled in parallel with at least one equalizer path, each of which includes an equalizer driver and a filtering element. The filtering element may be an AC filtering element, such as a capacitor. The equalizer paths may contribute equalized signal(s) which have a high-pass filtering behavior. The pre-emphasis circuit may combine the primary signal from the primary driver and the equalized signals to generate an overall output multi-level signal. In some embodiments, the pre-emphasis driver may be a pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) driver, such as a PAM4 driver with four levels of the multi-level driver.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for frequency-dependent signal modulation

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Meridian, ID, United States of America

Timothy Mowry Hollis