System and method for delaying a signal communicated from a system to at least one of a plurality of memory circuits

• US 7,724,589 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, David T., Smith, Michael John Sebastian, Weber, Frederick Daniel, Schakel, Keith R., Rajan, Suresh Natarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, MICHAEL THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/461,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20080025108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 365/194, 365/233
• US Class Current: 365/194
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/406 Management or control of the refreshing or charge-regeneration cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/40618 Refresh operations over multiple banks or interleaving
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/50012 of timing
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/04 Supports for storage elements , e.g. memory modules; Mounting or fixing of storage elements on such supports
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1066 Output synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/12 Group selection circuits, e.g. for memory block selection, chip selection, array selection
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/18 Address timing or clocking circuits; Address control signal generation or management, e.g. for row address strobe [RAS] or column address strobe [CAS] signals

Abstract

A system and method are provided for delaying a signal communicated from a system to a plurality of memory circuits. Included is a component in communication with a plurality of memory circuits and a system. Such component is operable to receive a signal from the system and communicate the signal to at least one of the memory circuits after a delay. In other embodiments, the component is operable to receive a signal from at least one of the memory circuits and communicate the signal to the system after a delay.

Claims

1. A sub-system, comprising:

a component in communication with a plurality of memory circuits and a system, the component operable to receive a signal from the system and communicate the signal to at least one of the memory circuits after a controlled delay;

wherein the component is separate from the plurality of memory circuits;

wherein the signal is associated with an operation including at least one of a write operation, a read operation, a refresh operation, a mode register write operation, a mode register read operation, an activate operation, and a precharge operation;

wherein the controlled delay associated with the operation is variable;

wherein the controlled delay is a function of the signal or a previous signal;

wherein the controlled delay includes a cumulative delay associated with at least one control or address signal, and at least one data signal.

2. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the signal includes a control or address signal.

3. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the signal includes a data signal.

4. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the at least one control or address signal is received from the system, and the at least one data signal is received from at least one of the memory circuits.

5. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein different delays are utilized in association with different signals

6. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the component that is operable to carry out the controlled delay includes at least one of a register, an advanced memory buffer (AMB), a component positioned on at least one dual in-line memory module (DIMM), and a memory controller.

7. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the component that is operable to carry out the controlled delay includes an interface circuit for interfacing the plurality of memory circuits and the system.

8. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the controlled delay results in a time shifting of the signal back in time with respect to at least one other signal.

9. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the controlled delay results in a time shifting of the signal forward in time with respect to at least one other signal.

12. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the component that is operable to carry out the controlled delay includes an interface circuit for interfacing the plurality of memory circuits and the system, the interface circuit being separate from and positioned electronically between the plurality of memory circuits and a memory controller of the system.

13. The sub-system of claim 12, wherein the controlled delay is transparent to the memory controller.

14. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the controlled delay is a fraction of a clock cycle.

18. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the cumulative delay is the sum of a first delay associated with at least one control signal or at least one address signal and a second delay associated with at least one data signal.

19. The sub-system claim 18, wherein the first delay is zero.

20. The sub-system claim 18, wherein the second delay is zero.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving a signal from a system; and

communicating the signal to at least one of a plurality of memory circuits after a controlled delay, utilizing a component in communication with the plurality of memory circuits and the system;

wherein the component is separate from the plurality of memory circuits;

wherein the signal is associated with an operation including at least one of a write operation, a read operation, a refresh operation, a mode register write operation, a mode register read operation, an activate operation, and a precharge operation;

wherein the controlled delay associated with the operation is variable;

wherein the controlled delay is a function of the signal or a previous signal;

wherein the controlled delay includes a cumulative delay associated with at least one control or address signal, and at least one data signal.

11. A sub-system, comprising:

a component in communication with a plurality of memory circuits and a system, the component operable to receive a signal from at least one of the memory circuits and communicate the signal to the system after a controlled delay;

wherein the component is separate from the plurality of memory circuits;

wherein the signal is associated with an operation including at least one of a write operation, a read operation, a refresh operation, a mode register write operation, a mode register read operation, an activate operation, and a precharge operation;

wherein the controlled delay associated with the operation is variable;

wherein the controlled delay is a function of the signal or a previous signal;

wherein the controlled delay includes a cumulative delay associated with at least one control or address signal, and at least one data signal.

15. The sub-system of claim 11, wherein the component that is operable to carry out the controlled delay includes at least one of a register, an advanced memory buffer (AMB), a component positioned on at least one dual in-line memory module (DIMM), and a memory controller.

17. The sub-system of claim 11, wherein the system includes one of a desktop computer, a lap-top computer, a server, a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, a mobile phone device, a television, or a peripheral device.

21. The sub-system of claim 11, wherein the cumulative delay is the sum of a first delay associated with at least one control signal or at least one address signal and a second delay associated with at least one data signal.

22. The sub-system claim 21, wherein the first delay is zero.

23. The sub-system claim 21, wherein the second delay is zero.

16. A system, comprising:

a component in communication with a plurality of memory circuits and the system, the component operable to receive a signal from at least one of the memory circuits and communicate the signal to the system after a controlled delay;

wherein the component is separate from the plurality of memory circuits;

wherein the signal is associated with an operation including at least one of a write operation, a read operation, a refresh operation, a mode register write operation, a mode register read operation, an activate operation, and a precharge operation;

wherein the controlled delay associated with the operation is variable;

wherein different delays are utilized in association with different signals;

wherein the controlled delay includes a cumulative delay associated with at least one control or address signal, and at least one data signal.