Low latency multi-level communication interface
First Claim
1. A multi-mode PAM output driver for driving a symbol, the output driver comprising:
- logic circuitry; and
a driver circuit coupled to the logic circuitry and configured to drive the symbol;
wherein the multi-mode PAM output driver is capable of operating in a specified mode of a plurality of predefined modes;
wherein the symbol is an N-PAM symbol when the specified mode is a first mode;
wherein the symbol is an M-PAM symbol when the specified mode is a second mode; and
wherein N is not equal to M.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A memory system uses multiple pulse amplitude modulation (multi-PAM) output drivers and receivers to send and receive multi-PAM signals. A multi-PAM signal has more than two voltage levels, with each data interval now transmitting a “symbol” at one of the valid voltage levels. In one embodiment, a symbol represents two or more bits. The multi-PAM output driver drives an output symbol onto a signal line. The output symbol represents at least two bits that include a most significant bit (MSB) and a least significant bit (LSB). The multi-PAM receiver receives the output symbol from the signal line and determines the MSB and the LSB.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A multi-mode PAM output driver for driving a symbol, the output driver comprising:
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logic circuitry; and
a driver circuit coupled to the logic circuitry and configured to drive the symbol;
wherein the multi-mode PAM output driver is capable of operating in a specified mode of a plurality of predefined modes;
wherein the symbol is an N-PAM symbol when the specified mode is a first mode;
wherein the symbol is an M-PAM symbol when the specified mode is a second mode; and
wherein N is not equal to M. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of data transmission, comprising:
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configuring an multi-mode PAM output driver to operate in a specified mode of a plurality of predefined modes;
receiving data at the multi-mode PAM output driver;
using the multi-mode PAM output driver, outputting a symbol corresponding to at least a portion of the received data;
wherein the symbol is an N-PAM symbol when a specified mode is a first mode;
wherein the symbol is an M-PAM symbol when the specified mode is a second mode; and
wherein N is not equal to M. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification