Memory controller that enforces strobe-to-strobe timing offset
First Claim
1. A method of operation within a memory controller component, the method comprising:
- transmitting a clock signal to first and second dynamic random access memory (DRAM) components disposed on a memory module via a clock signal line, the clock signal line being coupled to the first and second DRAM components at different points along its length such that the clock signal propagates past the first DRAM component to the second DRAM component, the clock signal having a first arrival time at the first DRAM and a second arrival time at the second DRAM, the first arrival time preceding the second arrival time;
transmitting a write command to the first and second DRAM components via a set of signal lines, the write command to be sampled by the first and second DRAM components at respective times corresponding to one or more transitions of the clock signal, the set of signal lines being coupled to the first and second DRAM components at different points along its length such that the write command propagates past the first DRAM component to the second DRAM component and arrives at the first DRAM component before arriving at the second DRAM component;
transmitting, in association with the write command, first write data to the first DRAM component and second write data to the second DRAM component;
generating a first strobe signal to time reception of the first write data within the first DRAM component, wherein a phase of the first strobe signal is adjusted to compensate for skew between an arrival time, at the first DRAM component, of the first strobe signal and the first arrival time of the clock signal; and
generating a second strobe signal to time reception of the second write data within the second DRAM component, wherein a phase of the second strobe signal is adjusted to compensate for skew between an arrival time, at the second DRAM component, of the second strobe signal and the second arrival time of the clock signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A memory controller outputs a clock signal to first and second DRAMs disposed on a memory module, the clock signal requiring respective first and second time intervals to propagate to the first and second DRAMs. The memory controller outputs a write command to be sampled by the first and second DRAMs at times indicated by the first clock signal and outputs, in association with the write command, first and second write data to the first and second DRAMs, respectively. The memory controller further outputs first and second strobe signals respectively to the first and second DRAMs, the first strobe signal to time reception of the first and second write data therein. The memory controller adjusts respective transmission times of the first and second strobe signals to be offset from one another by a time interval that corresponds to a difference between the first and second time intervals.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operation within a memory controller component, the method comprising:
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transmitting a clock signal to first and second dynamic random access memory (DRAM) components disposed on a memory module via a clock signal line, the clock signal line being coupled to the first and second DRAM components at different points along its length such that the clock signal propagates past the first DRAM component to the second DRAM component, the clock signal having a first arrival time at the first DRAM and a second arrival time at the second DRAM, the first arrival time preceding the second arrival time; transmitting a write command to the first and second DRAM components via a set of signal lines, the write command to be sampled by the first and second DRAM components at respective times corresponding to one or more transitions of the clock signal, the set of signal lines being coupled to the first and second DRAM components at different points along its length such that the write command propagates past the first DRAM component to the second DRAM component and arrives at the first DRAM component before arriving at the second DRAM component; transmitting, in association with the write command, first write data to the first DRAM component and second write data to the second DRAM component; generating a first strobe signal to time reception of the first write data within the first DRAM component, wherein a phase of the first strobe signal is adjusted to compensate for skew between an arrival time, at the first DRAM component, of the first strobe signal and the first arrival time of the clock signal; and generating a second strobe signal to time reception of the second write data within the second DRAM component, wherein a phase of the second strobe signal is adjusted to compensate for skew between an arrival time, at the second DRAM component, of the second strobe signal and the second arrival time of the clock signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A memory controller component comprising:
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clock transmit circuitry to transmit a clock signal to first and second dynamic random access memory (DRAM) components disposed on a memory module via a clock line, the clock line being coupled to the first and second DRAM components at different points along its length such that the clock signal propagates past the first DRAM component to the second DRAM component, the clock signal having a first arrival time at the first DRAM and a second arrival time at the second DRAM, the first arrival time preceding the second arrival time; command transmit circuitry to transmit a write command to the first and second DRAM components via a set of signal lines, the write command to be sampled by the first and second DRAM components at respective times corresponding to one or more transitions of the clock signal, the set of signal lines being coupled to the first and second DRAM components at different points along its length such that the write command propagates past the first DRAM component to the second DRAM component and arrives at the first DRAM component before arriving at the second DRAM component; and data transmit circuitry to transmit, in association with the write command, first write data to the first DRAM component and second write data to the second DRAM component, wherein the first write data is transmitted along with a first strobe signal to time reception of the first write data within the first DRAM component, wherein a phase of the first strobe signal is adjusted to compensate for skew between an arrival time, at the first DRAM component, of the first strobe signal and the first arrival time of the clock signal, and wherein the second write data is transmitted along with a second strobe signal to time reception of the second write data within the second DRAM component, wherein a phase of the second strobe signal is adjusted to compensate for skew between an arrival time, at the second DRAM component, of the second strobe signal and the second arrival time of the clock signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A memory controller component comprising:
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circuitry to transmit a clock signal and a write command to first and second dynamic random access memory (DRAM) components disposed on a memory module via control signal lines, the control signal lines being coupled to the first and second DRAM components at different points along their lengths such that the clock signal and write command propagate past the first DRAM component to the second DRAM component, arriving at the first DRAM at a first arrival time and arriving at the second DRAM at a later, second arrival time; and circuitry to transmit, in association with the write command, first write data to the first DRAM component and second write data to the second DRAM component, wherein the first write data is transmitted along with a first strobe signal to time reception of the first write data within the first DRAM component, wherein a phase of the first strobe signal is adjusted to compensate for skew between an arrival time, at the first DRAM component, of the first strobe signal and the first arrival time of the clock signal, and wherein the second write data is transmitted along with a second strobe signal to time reception of the second write data within the second DRAM component, wherein a phase of the second strobe signal is adjusted to compensate for skew between an arrival time, at the second DRAM component, of the second strobe signal and the second arrival time of the clock signal. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification