Memory hub with integrated non-volatile memory

• US 8,832,404 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Schnepper, Randy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PORTKA, GARY J
• Application Number:
  US13/175,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20110258403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 711/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/1694 Configuration of memory controller to different memory types

Abstract

A method for initializing a memory sub-system is provided. The method includes loading configuration registers of a plurality of memory hubs with the configuration information provided by a respective one of a plurality of embedded non-volatile memories integrated in the respective memory hub. The non-VOLATILE memory is accessed through a first configuration path from a memory controller of the memory sub-system to the non-VOLATILE memory.

Claims

1. A method of initializing a memory sub-system, comprising:

accessing a non-volatile memory that contains configuration information specific to the memory sub-system on which the non-volatile memory is located, the configuration information being stored in the non-volatile memory before initialization, the non-volatile memory accessed through a first configuration path from a memory controller of the memory sub-system to the non-volatile memory;

loading a configuration register included in the memory controller with the configuration information from the non-volatile memory through the first configuration path, wherein the configuration information is specific to the memory sub-system;

receiving memory access requests from a host system through a link interface coupled to the memory controller; and

providing the host system access to the non-volatile memory through a second configuration path coupled to the link interface and the non-volatile memory.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the configuration information from the non-volatile memory to a register of the memory controller to which the non-volatile memory is coupled.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein providing the configuration information to the register of the memory controller comprises coupling the configuration information to a serial bus to which the memory controller is coupled.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein providing the configuration information to the register of the system memory controller comprises providing memory capacity, memory clock speed, or combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein accessing the non-volatile memory comprises accessing an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein accessing the non-volatile memory comprises accessing an embedded non-volatile memory.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein loading the configuration register with the configuration information comprises loading timing information, memory configuration data, memory type, manufacturer data, or combinations thereof.

8. A method of initializing a memory sub-system, comprising:

accessing a non-volatile memory that contains configuration information specific to the memory sub-system on which the non-volatile memory is located, the configuration information being stored in the non-volatile memory before initialization, the non-volatile memory accessed through a first configuration path from a memory controller of the memory sub-system to the non-volatile memory;

loading at least one configuration register included in the memory controller with at least a portion of the configuration information specific to at least a portion of memory of the memory sub-system through the first configuration path;

providing a host system access to the non-volatile memory, the non-volatile memory accessed by the host system through a second configuration path coupled to the memory controller and the non-volatile memory, the second configuration path comprising a link interface;

receiving, at the memory controller, at least one memory access request from the host system through the link interface; and

accessing, at the memory controller, in response to the at least one memory access request and in accordance with the at least a portion of the configuration information, at least a portion of memory of the memory sub-system.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing the configuration information from the non-volatile memory to a register of the memory controller to which the non-volatile memory to a register of the memory controller to which the non-volatile memory is coupled.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein providing the configuration information to the register to the register of the memory controller comprises coupling the configuration information to a serial bus to which the memory controller is coupled.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein providing the configuration information to the register of the system memory controller comprises providing memory capacity, memory clock speed, or combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein accessing the non-volatile memory comprises accessing an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein accessing the non-volatile memory comprises accessing an embedded non-volatile memory.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein loading the configuration register with the configuration information comprises loading timing information, memory configuration data, memory type, manufacturer data, or combinations thereof.