Communication channel calibration using feedback
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit (IC) memory chip, comprising:
- memory core circuitry;
interface circuitry coupled to the memory core circuitry, the interface circuitry including multiple input/output (I/O) ports for coupling to respective data links; and
calibration circuitry includingsensor circuitry to detect signal parameter information at each of the I/O ports, the signal parameter information associated with data received at the I/O ports; and
a sideband I/O port for coupling to a sideband channel, the sideband port to communicate the signal parameter information via the sideband channel to a memory controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for calibrating a communication channel coupling first and second components includes transmitting a data signal from the first component to the second component on the communication channel, and sensing a characteristic, such as phase, of the data signal on the second component. Information about the sensed characteristic is fed back to the first component using an auxiliary channel. An adjustable parameter, such as phase, for the transmitter is adjusted on the first component in response to the information. Also, a characteristic of a data signal received from the transmitter on the second component is sensed and used to adjust an adjustable parameter for the receiver on the first component.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit (IC) memory chip, comprising:
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memory core circuitry; interface circuitry coupled to the memory core circuitry, the interface circuitry including multiple input/output (I/O) ports for coupling to respective data links; and calibration circuitry including sensor circuitry to detect signal parameter information at each of the I/O ports, the signal parameter information associated with data received at the I/O ports; and a sideband I/O port for coupling to a sideband channel, the sideband port to communicate the signal parameter information via the sideband channel to a memory controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operation in an integrated circuit (IC) memory device, the method comprising:
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receiving data signals along multiple data links from a memory controller; generating sensed information associated with the data signals of the multiple data links by sensing signal parameter information associated with the data signals; composing the sensed information associated with the data signals of the multiple data links into calibration information; and transmitting the calibration information to the memory controller via a sideband port. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An integrated circuit (IC) DRAM memory chip comprising:
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receiver circuitry for coupling to multiple data links, the receiver circuitry to receive data signals from a memory controller; sensing circuitry to generate sensed information associated with the data signals of the multiple data links by sensing signal parameter information associated with the data signals; logic to accumulate the sensed information associated with the data signals of the multiple data links into calibration information; and transmitter circuitry to transmit the calibration information to the memory controller via a sideband port. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification