Mixed-mode signaling

• US 8,363,707 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Hollis, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LEON VIET Q
• Application Number:
  US12/053,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20090239559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 375/222, 375/257, 375/285, 375/295, 375/345, 455/280, 455/283
• US Class Current: 375/222
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/00 Suppression or limitation of noise or interference by means associated with receiver H04B1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0276 Arrangements for coupling common mode signals

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed, such as those involving mixed-mode signaling that includes transmitting a differential signal and a common mode signals over the same pair of interconnect traces. One such apparatus includes a first transmitter configured to transmit a differential signal through a pair of electrically conductive lines in a first direction. The differential signal has a first frequency and carries electronic data. The apparatus further includes a second transmitter configured to transmit a common mode signal through the pair of electrically conductive lines in the first direction. The common mode signal is superimposed onto each of the differential signal. The common mode signal has a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency and carries a control signal. This configuration reduces the number of lines and pins on electronic circuits, thereby saving space thereon.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first circuit of a first die comprising;

a first transmitter configured to transmit a differential signal through a pair of electrically conductive lines in a first direction, the differential signal having a first frequency; and

a second transmitter configured to transmit a common mode signal through the pair of electrically conductive lines in the first direction such that the common mode signal is superimposed on the differential signal, wherein the common mode signal has a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency; and

a second circuit of a second die configured to receive the differential signal and the common mode signal over a channel, wherein the second die is stacked over the first die, wherein the channel extends between the first circuit and the second circuit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second frequency is at least 8 times lower than the first frequency.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter is configured to transmit data on the differential signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second transmitter is configured to transmit a control signal on the common mode signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control signal comprises at least one of chip select, power up/down, or data mask.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second transmitter is configured to transmit information indicative of a status of controls on the common mode signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second transmitter is configured to transmit information indicative of a status of the electronic data on the differential signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information comprises data bus inversion (DBI) information.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter comprises a first output driver configured to generate the differential signal based at least partially on data, wherein the second transmitter comprises a second output driver configured to generate the common mode signal based at least partially on one or more control signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a pair of adders configured to superimpose the common mode signal onto the differential signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitter are configured to transmit signals as currents.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitter are configured to transmit signals as voltages.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channel comprises an electrically conductive plug disposed in a via penetrating through the first die or the second die.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a first circuit of a first die configured to receive a differential signal transmitted over a pair of electrically conductive lines in a direction, the differential signal having a first frequency; and

a second circuit of a second die configured to receive a common mode signal transmitted over the pair of electrically conductive lines in the direction via a channel, wherein the common mode signal is superimposed on the differential signal, wherein the common mode signal has a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency, wherein the second die is stacked over the first die, wherein the channel extends between the first circuit and the second circuit.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second circuit comprises:

a first resistor and a second resistor arranged electrically in series between the pair of electrically conductive lines, wherein the first and second resistors are electrically connected via a node; and

a comparison circuit configured to receive an output signal from the node.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second circuit further comprises a capacitor including a first end and a second end, the first end being electrically connected to the node, the second end being electrically connected to ground.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second circuit comprises a low pass filter configured to filter out the differential signal.

17. A system comprising:

a channel comprising a pair of electrically conductive lines;

a first circuit comprising;

a first transmitter configured to transmit a differential signal through the pair of electrically conductive lines, wherein the differential signal carries data; and

a second transmitter configured to transmit a common mode signal through the pair of electrically conductive lines simultaneously with the differential signal, wherein the common mode signal carries a control signal; and

a second circuit configured to receive the differential signal and the common mode signal over the channel;

wherein the system comprises a first die comprising the first circuit, and a second die comprising the second circuit, the second die being stacked over the first die, and wherein the channel extends between the first and second circuits.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the system comprises a memory controller and a memory, wherein the first circuit is associated with the memory controller, and wherein the second circuit is associated with the memory.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the second circuit comprises:

a first receiver configured to convert the differential signal into a single-ended signal; and

a second receiver configured to extract the common mode signal into a single-ended signal.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the channel comprises an electrically conductive plug disposed in a via penetrating through the second die.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the channel has a length between about 100 μ

m and about 10 mm.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the channel has a length greater than about 10 mm.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the system comprises a printed circuit board.

21. A system comprising:

a channel comprising a pair of electrically conductive lines;

a first die comprising a first circuit, the first circuit comprising;

a first transmitter configured to transmit a differential signal through the pair of electrically conductive lines, wherein the differential signal carries data; and

a second transmitter configured to transmit a common mode signal through the pair of electrically conductive lines simultaneously with the differential signal, wherein the common mode signal carries a control signal; and

a second die stacked over the first die, the second die comprising a second circuit, the second circuit configured to receive the differential signal and the common mode signal over the channel, wherein the channel extends between the first circuit and the second circuit, the second circuit comprising;

a third transmitter configured to transmit a second differential signal through the pair of electrically conductive lines, wherein the second differential signal carries data; and

a fourth transmitter configured to transmit a second common mode signal through the pair of electrically conductive lines simultaneously with the second differential signal, wherein the second common mode signal carries a control signal; and

wherein the first circuit is further configured to receive the second differential signal and the second common mode signal over the channel.

25. A method of transmitting, the method comprising:

transmitting a differential signal having a first frequency in a first direction over a pair of electrically conductive lines; and

transmitting a common mode signal having a second frequency in the first direction over the pair of electrically conductive lines, simultaneously with the differential signal, wherein the second frequency is lower than the first frequency;

wherein the differential signal and the common mode signal are transmitted from a first die to a second die, wherein the second die is stacked over the first die.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the second frequency is at least 8 times lower than the first frequency.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting data on the differential signal, and transmitting control information on the common mode signal.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the control information is indicative of a status of the data on the differential signal.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the control information is indicative of a status of the remainder of the control information carried on the common mode signal.