Wavelength division multiplexed memory module, memory system and method
First Claim
1. A memory module, comprising:
- an insulative substrate;
a plurality of memory devices mounted on the substrate, each of the memory devices having a plurality of electrical input and output terminals including electrical terminals outputting read data signals, electrical terminals inputting write data signals; and
electrical terminals inputting command and address signals;
an optical memory hub mounted on the substrate, the optical memory hub having an optical input/output port and a plurality of electrical input and output terminals including electrical terminals outputting write data signals, electrical terminals inputting read data signals, and electrical terminals outputting command and address signals, the optical memory hub being operable to receive optical input signals coupled to the optical port and to apply corresponding electrical signals to the electrical terminals of the optical memory hub, the optical memory hub being further operable to receive electrical signals at the electrical terminals of the optical memory hub and to apply optical output signals to the optical port, at least some of the optical signals coupled to or from the optical port of the optical memory hub being at different wavelengths; and
electrical conductors formed on the substrate, the electrical conductors coupling the electrical terminals of the optical memory hub to the electrical conductors of the memory devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system includes a controller linked to a plurality of memory modules each of which has an optical memory hub and several memory devices coupled to the memory hub. The controller communicates with the memory hubs by coupling optical signals to and from the memory hubs using an optical communication path, such as one or more optical waveguides. In one example of the invention, the memory modules transmit and receive optical signals having different wavelengths. In another example of the invention, the memory modules receive optical signals corresponding to memory command and address signals at different wavelengths, but they transmit and receive optical signals corresponding to memory commands at the same wavelength.
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Citations
69 Claims
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1. A memory module, comprising:
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an insulative substrate;
a plurality of memory devices mounted on the substrate, each of the memory devices having a plurality of electrical input and output terminals including electrical terminals outputting read data signals, electrical terminals inputting write data signals; and
electrical terminals inputting command and address signals;
an optical memory hub mounted on the substrate, the optical memory hub having an optical input/output port and a plurality of electrical input and output terminals including electrical terminals outputting write data signals, electrical terminals inputting read data signals, and electrical terminals outputting command and address signals, the optical memory hub being operable to receive optical input signals coupled to the optical port and to apply corresponding electrical signals to the electrical terminals of the optical memory hub, the optical memory hub being further operable to receive electrical signals at the electrical terminals of the optical memory hub and to apply optical output signals to the optical port, at least some of the optical signals coupled to or from the optical port of the optical memory hub being at different wavelengths; and
electrical conductors formed on the substrate, the electrical conductors coupling the electrical terminals of the optical memory hub to the electrical conductors of the memory devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A memory system, comprising:
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a plurality of memory modules, each of the memory modules comprising;
a plurality of memory devices each having a plurality of electrical input and output terminals;
an optical memory hub having an optical input/output port and a plurality of electrical input and output terminals, the optical memory hub being operable to receive optical input signals coupled to the optical port and to apply corresponding electrical signals to the electrical output terminals of the optical memory hub, the optical memory hub being further operable to receive electrical signals at the electrical input terminals of the optical memory hub and to apply optical output signals to the optical port, the optical hub of each of the memory modules receiving or transmitting at least some optical signals at a wavelength that is different from the wavelength of at least some optical signals received or transmitted by the optical memory hub of a plurality of the other memory modules; and
electrical conductors coupling the electrical terminals of the optical memory hub to the electrical conductors of the memory devices;
a controller having an optical input/output port, the controller being operable to receive and transmit optical signals at the wavelengths of the optical signals transmitted or received by the optical memory modules in a plurality of the memory modules; and
an optical communication path coupling the optical input/output port of the controller to the optical input/output port of the optical memory hubs of a plurality of the memory modules. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer system, comprising:
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a processing unit operable to perform computing functions;
a system controller coupled to the processing unit, the system controller operating in synchronism with a system clock signal;
at least one input device coupled to the processing unit through the system controller;
at least one output device coupled to the processing unit through the system controller;
at least one data storage devices coupled to the processing unit through the system controller;
a plurality of memory modules, each of the memory modules comprising;
a plurality of memory devices each having a plurality of electrical input and output terminals;
an optical memory hub having an optical input/output port and a plurality of electrical input and output terminals, the optical memory hub being operable to receive optical input signals coupled to the optical port and to apply corresponding electrical signals to the electrical output terminals of the optical memory hub, the optical memory hub being further operable to receive electrical signals at the electrical input terminals of the optical memory hub and to apply optical output signals to the optical port, the optical hub of each of the memory modules receiving or transmitting at least some optical signals at a wavelength that is different from the wavelength of at least some optical signals received or transmitted by the optical memory hub of a plurality of the other memory modules; and
electrical conductors coupling the electrical terminals of the optical memory hub to the electrical conductors of the memory devices;
a memory controller having an optical input/output port, the memory controller being operable to receive and transmit optical signals at the wavelengths of the optical signals transmitted or received by the optical memory modules in a plurality of the memory modules; and
an optical communication path coupling the optical input/output port of the memory controller to the optical input/output port of the optical memory hubs of a plurality of the memory modules. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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- 43. A method of coupling memory command, address and data signals to and/or from each of a plurality of memory modules, comprising coupling optical signals corresponding to memory command, addresses and write data signals to the memory modules and coupling optical signals corresponding to read data signals from the memory modules, at least some of the optical signals being coupled at a wavelength that is different from a wavelength that is used to coupled at least one of the other optical signals.
- 55. A method of coupling memory command, address and write data signals to each of a plurality of memory modules and of coupling read data signals from each of a plurality of memory modules, comprising coupling optical signals corresponding to the memory command, address and write data signals to each of the memory modules at a wavelength that is different from a wavelength used to couple the optical signals corresponding to the memory command, address and write data signals to each of the other memory modules and coupling optical signals corresponding to the read data signals from each of the memory modules at a wavelength that is different from a wavelength used to couple the optical signals corresponding to the read data signals to each of the other memory modules.
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62. A method of coupling memory command, address and write data signals to each of a plurality of memory modules and of coupling read data signals from each of a plurality of memory modules, comprising:
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coupling optical signals corresponding to the memory command and address signals to each of the memory modules at a wavelength that is different from a wavelength used to couple the optical signals corresponding to the memory command and address signals to each of the other memory modules;
coupling optical signals corresponding to the write data signals to a plurality of the memory modules at a first wavelength that is different from the wavelengths of the optical signals corresponding to the memory command and address signals coupled to each of the memory modules; and
coupling optical signals corresponding to the read data signals from a plurality of the memory modules at a second wavelength that is different from the wavelengths of the optical signals corresponding to the memory command and address signals coupled to each of the memory modules. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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Specification