APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING IDENTIFIERS REGARDLESS OF MIXED DEVICE TYPE IN A SERIAL INTERCONNECTION

• US 20080192649A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NovaChips Canada Inc. (NovaChips Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mosaid Technologies Incorporated (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Inventors: OH, HakJune, PYEON, Hong Beom, KIM, Jin-Ki, SUMI, Shuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,853,727 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1051 Data output circuits, e.g. read-out amplifiers, data output buffers, data output registers, data output level conversion circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1063 Control signal output circuits, e.g. status or busy flags, feedback command signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1078 Data input circuits, e.g. write amplifiers, data input buffers, data input registers, data input level conversion circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/109 Control signal input circuits

Abstract

A plurality of memory devices of mixed type (e.g., DRAMs, SRAMs, MRAMs, and NAND-, NOR- and AND-type Flash memories) is serially interconnected. Each device has device type information on its device type. A specific device type (DT) and a device identifier (ID) contained in a serial input (SI) as a packet are fed to one device of the serial interconnection. The device determines whether the fed DT matches the DT of the device. In a case of match, a calculator included in the device performs calculation to generate an ID accompanying the fed DT for another device and the fed ID is latched in a register of the device. In a case of no match, the ID generation is skipped and no ID is generated for another device. The DT is combined with the generated or the received ID depending on the device type match determination. The combined DT and ID is as a packet transferred to a next device. Such a device type match determination and ID generation or skip are performed in all devices of the serial interconnection. With reference to device type provided to the interconnected devices, IDs are sequentially generated. The SI containing the DT, the ID and an ID generation command is transmitted in a packet basis to a next device. A memory controller can recognize the total number of one DT, in response to the ID received from the last device. In a case of a “don'"'"'t care” DT is provided to the interconnected devices, IDs are sequentially generated and the total number of the interconnected devices is recognized, regardless of the differences in DTs of the devices.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a signal processor capable of outputting a serial input signal and receiving a serial output signal; and

a serial interconnection configuration of first to N-th devices of mixed type, N being an integer greater than one, each of the devices having a serial input connection and a serial output connection, each of the devices being capable of determining a device type (DT) and providing a combination of the DT and a device identifier (ID),

the serial input connection of one of the devices being coupled to the signal processor or the serial output connection of a previous device,

the serial output connection of the one of the devices being coupled to the serial input connection of a next device or the signal processor,

the serial input signal provided to the serial input connection of the first device from the signal processor being propagated through the N devices with or without being altered, the propagated serial input signal being outputted from the serial output connection of the N-th device as the serial output signal received by the signal processor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the devices comprises:

a receiver for receiving an ID and a DT provided through the serial input connection of the device;

a determiner for determining the DT of the device from the received DT;

an output ID provider for outputting an ID in response to a determination result; and

an information provider for providing a combination of the received DT and the outputted ID.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the output ID provider comprises:

a calculator for performing a calculation based on the received ID and a pre-defined value to produce a calculated ID.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the devices further comprises:

a device type provider for providing device type information (DTI) associated with the device as a reference DT.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the determiner comprises:

a comparator for comparing the received DT with the reference DT to provide the determination result.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the output ID provider further comprises:

a selector for selecting the received ID or the calculated ID in response to the determination result, the selected ID being outputted from the ID provider.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the receiver comprises:

a register;

for registering the received ID and DT in serial manner; and

for outputting each of the registered ID and DT in parallel manner,

the DT in parallel manner being provided to the comparator, the ID in parallel manner being provided to the calculator.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the device type provider comprises:

a DTI storage capable of;

holding the DTI on the type of the device; and

providing the DTI as the reference DT for the determination.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal processor comprises:

a serial output receiver for receiving the serial output signal from the N-th device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the serial output receiver comprises:

a recognizer for recognizing an ID number contained in the serial output signal from the N-th device, the number of devices being recognized from the recognized ID number with respect to a specific DT provided by the signal processor.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the DT and ID are transmitted as a packet.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the packet includes an ID generation command;

the determiner includes a packet interpreter for interpreting the ID generation command and the received DT.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the information provider comprises:

a combiner for combining the ID generation command, the DT and the ID; and

a packet output provider for providing the combined command, DT and ID as a packet.

14. A method for assigning a device identifier for a plurality of devices of mixed type in a serial interconnection configuration, a first device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of a previous device, a second device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of the first device, the method being adopted to at least one of the devices, the method comprising:

receiving a device identifier (ID) and a device type (DT) through the serial input connection of the first device;

performing;

a first determination whether the DT of the device contains pre-defined data corresponding to one including all device types to provide a first determination result; and

a second determination of the DT of the device in response to the received DT to provide a second determination result; and

outputting an ID in response to the first and second determination results.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of performing comprises:

performing the first determination whether the received DT of the device matches the pre-defined data; and

performing the second determination whether the received DT matches a reference DT assigned to the device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the step of performing the first determination comprises;

providing a pre-defined value as the pre-defined data that corresponds to any of the types of devices; and

the step of performing the second determination comprises;

providing the reference DT programmably.

17. An apparatus for assigning a device identifier at a first device coupled to a second device in a serial interconnection configuration, the first device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of a previous device in the serial interconnection configuration, the second device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of the first device, the devices being of different types, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving a device identifier (ID) and a device type (DT) provided through the serial input connection of the device;

a determiner for performing;

a first determination of whether the DT of the device contains pre-defined data corresponding to one including all device types to provide a first determination result; and

a second determination of the DT of the device based on the received DT to provide a second determination result; and

an output ID provider for outputting an ID in response to the first and second determination results.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the output ID provider comprises:

a calculator for performing the calculation of the received ID with a pre-defined value.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a device type provider for providing device type information (DTI) of the device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the determiner comprises:

a first device type determiner for determining whether the pre-defined data is contained in the received DT to provide the first determination result; and

a second device type determiner for determining whether the DTI is contained in the received DT to provide the second determination result.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the output ID provider further comprises:

a selector for selecting the received ID or the calculated ID depending upon the determination results, the selected ID being outputted through the output connection of the device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the receiver comprises:

a register;

for registering the received ID and DT in serial manner; and

for outputting each of the registered ID and DT in parallel manner,

the DT in parallel manner being provided to the comparator, the ID in parallel manner being provided to the calculator.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the determiner further comprises:

a DTI storage capable of;

holding the DTI on the type of the device; and

providing the DTI for the second determination.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the first device type determiner comprises a decoder for decoding the received DT to provide the first determination result when the pre-defined data is detected; and

the second device type determiner comprises a comparator for comparing the received DT with the provided DTI to provide the second determination result.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the first device type determiner comprises a first comparator for comparing the received DT with the pre-defined data to provide the first determination result; and

the second device type determiner comprises a second comparator for comparing the received DT with the provided DTI to provide the second determination result.

26. A system comprising a plurality of devices of mixed type in a serial interconnection configuration, a first device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of a previous device, a second device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of the first device, at least one of the devices comprising:

a receiver for receiving a device identifier (ID) and a device type (DT) provided through the serial input connection of the device;

a determiner for determining the DT of the device based on the received DT or whether the DT of the device contains pre-defined data corresponding to one including all device types; and

an output ID provider for outputting an ID in response to the determination result.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the output ID provider comprises:

a calculator for performing the calculation of the ID based on the received ID and a pre-defined value; and

a pass operator for passing the received ID,

wherein, in response to the determination result, the calculated ID or the received ID is provided by the ID assignor.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the one of the devices further comprises:

a device information provider for providing DT information (DTI) of the device

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the determiner comprises:

a comparator for comparing the received DT to the provided DTI to provide the determination result.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the output ID provider further comprises:

a selector for selecting the calculated ID or the received ID in response to the determination result from the comparator, the selected ID being outputted through the output connection of the device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the receiver comprises:

a holder for holding the received ID and DT, the held ID and DT being provided to the calculator and the comparator, respectively.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the holder comprises:

a first serial to parallel holder for holding the received ID in serial manner and outputting the ID in parallel manner; and

a second serial to parallel holder for holding the received DT in serial manner and outputting the DT in parallel manner.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the output ID provider further comprises:

a parallel to serial holder for holding the selected ID in parallel manner and outputting it in serial manner.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the device information provider comprises:

an information storage for storing the DTI on the types of the plurality of devices, the DTI being provided in parallel manner to the comparator.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein:

the plurality of devices in the serial interconnection configuration comprises different type devices; and

the information storage comprises a storage capable of;

storing the DTI of the different type devices; and

providing one of the DTI corresponding to a selected one of the devices.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the different type devices comprises more than one type of random access memories and Flash memories.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the one of the devices further comprises:

an ID holder for holding the received ID in response to the determination result.

38. A method for assigning a device identifier for a plurality of devices of mixed type in a serial interconnection configuration, a first device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of a previous device, a second device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of the first device, the method comprising:

providing a device type (DT) to the device;

holding the provided DT at the device;

determining whether the DT matches a reference DT associated with the device;

determining whether the DT of the device contains pre-defined data corresponding to one including all device types;

outputting a device identifier (ID) to one of the device in the serial interconnection configuration, through the serial input connection of the that device; and

at the device wherein the ID is provided, conducting an ID assignment in response to the determination results at that device.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of providing comprises:

providing the DT to the devices by serially transferring it from one device to the last device.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein:

the step of holding is performed after the step of providing the DT;

the step of determining the DT match is performed before the step of conducting at all of the devices; and

at each of the devices, the step of conducting is performed based on the previous determination result.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the step of holding is performed after the step of providing the DT;

the step of determining the DT match is performed at each of the devices based on the provided and held DT; and

the step of conducting is performed at each of the devices in response to the determination result.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein, at the device wherein the ID is provided, the step of conducting comprises.

performing the calculation of the ID based on the provided ID and a pre-defined value;

and

passing the provided ID without altering it.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein, at the device wherein the ID is provided, the step of conducting further comprises:

outputting the calculated ID for a next device; and

outputting the non-altered ID for that device.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

adjusting an output for avoiding overlap between the steps of receiving and providing.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the step of determining whether the DT matches the reference DT comprises;

decoding the received DT to provide the first determination result when the pre-defined data is detected; and

the step of determining whether the DT of the device contains the pre-defined data comprises;

comparing the received DT with the provided DTI to provide the second determination result.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the step of determining whether the DT matches the reference DT comprises;

comparing the received DT with the pre-defined data to provide the first determination result; and

the step of determining whether the DT of the device contains the pre-defined data comprises;

comparing the received DT with the provided DTI to provide the second determination result.

47. A method for assigning a device identifier associated with a serial interconnection configuration of N devices of mixed type, N being an integer greater than one, a first device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of a previous device, a second device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of the first device, the method comprising:

at each of the devices, determining a device type (DT);

providing a serial input signal to the first device of the serial interconnection configuration, the serial input signal being propagated through the N devices with or without being altered; and

in response to a serial output signal from the N-th device provided to the signal processor, recognizing a last device identifier (ID).

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the step of recognizing comprises:

performing the recognition of the number of the devices in response to the recognized last ID.

49. A method for use in a serial interconnection configuration of N devices of mixed type, N being an integer greater than one, a first device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of a previous device, a second device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of the first device, each of the devices determining a device type (DT) and providing a combination of the DT and a device identifier (ID);

the method comprising;

providing a serial input signal to the first device of the serial interconnection configuration, the serial input signal being propagated through the N device with or without being altered; and

receiving a serial output signal provided from the N-th device.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the step of receiving:

recognizing an ID number contained in the propagated serial input signal from the serial output connection of the N-th device.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein:

the step of providing comprises;

providing a unique DT accompanied with an initial ID number contained in the serial input signal to the first device of the serial interconnection configuration, the unique DT matching any of the types of the devices, the propagated serial input signal containing an ID number altered by the device in response to a determination result; and

the step of recognizing comprises;

receiving the propagated serial output signal containing the ID number accompanied with the unique DT from the N-th device; and

recognizing the number of the devices in the serial interconnection configuration based on the received ID number.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the step of providing further comprises:

providing an ID generation command; and

combining the ID generation command, the initial ID number and the unique DT.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the DT and ID are transmitted as a packet.

54. A machine-readable medium storing commands and instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method of receiving an output signal from a last device of N devices of mixed type in a serial interconnection, N being an integer greater than one, a first device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of a previous device, a second device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of the first device, each of the devices determining a device type (DT) and providing a combination of the DT and a device identifier (ID), the method comprising:

providing a serial input signal to the first device of the serial interconnection configuration, the serial input signal being propagated through the N device with or without being altered; and

receiving a serial output signal provided from the N-th device.

55. The machine-readable medium of claim 54, wherein the method further comprises:

providing an ID generation command;

providing a unique DT accompanied with an initial ID number and the ID generation command contained in the serial input signal to the first device of the serial interconnection configuration, the unique DT matching any of the types of the devices, the propagated serial input signal containing an ID number altered by the device in response to a determination result;

receiving the propagated serial output signal containing the ID number from the N-th device; and

recognizing the number of the devices in the serial interconnection configuration based on the received ID number.

56. The machine-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the method further comprises:

combining data of the ID generation command, the initial ID number and the unique DT;

providing the combined data containing the serial input signal; and

providing the serial input signal containing the combined data as a packet to the first device of the serial interconnection configuration.

57. A machine-readable medium storing commands and instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method of assigning a device identifier (ID) for a plurality of devices of mixed type in a serial interconnection configuration, a first device (DVi) having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of a previous device, a second device having a serial input connection coupled to a serial output connection of the first device, the method being adopted to at least one of the devices, the method comprising:

receiving an ID and a device type (DT) through the serial input connection of the first device;

performing;

a first determination whether the DT of the device contains pre-defined data corresponding to one including all device types; and

a second determination of the DT of the device in response to the received DT; and

outputting a device ID in response to the first and second determination results.

58. The machine-readable medium of claim 57, wherein the step of performing comprises:

performing the first determination whether the received DT of the device matches the pre-defined data; and

performing the second determination whether the received DT matches a reference DT assigned to the device.

59. The machine-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an ID generation command;

combining the received ID generation command, the received DT and the outputted ID to provide combined data; and

providing the serial output signal containing the combined data as a packet.