Calibration methods and circuits for optimized on-die termination

• US 7,525,338 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rambus Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rambus Inc.
• Inventors: Nguyen, Huy M., Gadde, Vijay, Lau, Benedict
• Primary Examiner(s): CHO, JAMES HYONCHOL
• Application Number:
  US11/639,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20070085562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 326/30
• US Class Current: 326/30
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/0005 Modifications of input or output impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/01 Modifications for accelerating switching
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 21/08 Output circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/24 the characteristic being amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0278 Arrangements for impedance matching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0298 Arrangement for terminating transmission lines

Abstract

Described are on-die termination (ODT) systems and methods that facilitate high-speed communication between a driver die and a receiver die interconnected via one or more signal transmission lines. An ODT control system in accordance with one embodiment calibrates and maintains termination resistances and drive currents to produce optimal output swing voltages. Comparison circuitry employed to calibrate the reference resistance is also used to calibrate the drive current. Termination elements in some embodiments are divided into two adjustable resistive portions, both of which are designed to minimize capacitive loading. One portion is optimized to produce a relatively high range of adjustment, while the other is optimized for fine-tuning and glitch-free switching.

Claims

1. A termination calibration method for an integrated-circuit die, the method comprising:

a. drawing a first current through a first reference element, having a first reference impedance, and a reference resistor, having an external-reference resistance, to develop a first termination voltage;

b. comparing, with a comparator, the first termination voltage with a reference voltage to produce a first impedance control signal;

c. adjusting the first reference impedance responsive to the first impedance control signal;

d. drawing a reference drive current through the first reference element and a second reference element, having a second reference impedance, to develop a second termination voltage;

e. comparing, with the comparator, the second termination voltage with the reference voltage to produce a second impedance control signal; and

f. adjusting the second reference impedance responsive to the second impedance control signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference voltage is about 1.45 volts.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising distributing the first impedance control signal to a plurality of termination elements and distributing the second impedance control signal to a plurality of drivers.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing at least one of the first and second impedance control signals as digital values.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the first reference impedance responsive to the first impedance control signal sets the first termination voltage to the reference voltage.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first termination voltage is developed across a reference resistor and the reference voltage of (e) is developed across the reference resistor.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving the reference voltage of (c) from a reference-voltage source.

8. The method of claim 1 performed in sequence (a) through (f).

9. An on-die termination (ODT) calibration method comprising:

a. drawing a first current through a first impedance and an external reference resistor to develop a first termination voltage between the first impedance and the external reference resistor;

b. comparing, with a comparator, the first termination voltage with a reference voltage to produce a first impedance control signal;

c. adjusting the first impedance responsive to the first impedance control signal;

d. drawing a second current through a second impedance to develop a second termination voltage;

e. comparing, with the comparator, the second termination voltage with the reference voltage to produce a second impedance control signal; and

f. adjusting the second impedance responsive to the second impedance control signal.

10. On an integrated-circuit die, an on-die termination control system comprising:

a. a reference-resistor node to connect to a reference resistor external to the die;

b. a comparator having a first comparator input node coupled to the reference-resistor node, a second comparator input node, and a comparator output node;

c. a first reference impedance disposed between a reference-voltage node and the second comparator input node and having a first control port coupled to the comparator output node;

d. a second reference impedance having a second voltage node and a second control port coupled to the comparator output node; and

e. first register bits coupled between the comparator output port and the first reference impedance and second register bits coupled between the comparator output port and the second reference impedance.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first and second register bits store digital impedance control signals.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the impedance control signals are distributed to a plurality of drivers.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first and second reference impedances each include a plurality of transistors connected in parallel.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the first reference impedance extends between a first supply terminal and at least one of a plurality of transmission lines and the second reference impedance extends between a second supply terminal and at least one of the plurality of transmission lines.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the first reference impedance is selectively coupled to the second comparator input node via a multiplexer having a first input terminal coupled to the first reference impedance and a second input terminal and an output terminal coupled to the second comparator input node.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the reference-voltage node is coupled to a reference voltage external to the die.

17. The termination control system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second reference impedances comprises a current source.

18. The termination control system of claim 10, wherein the reference resistor exhibits a reference resistance, and wherein at least one of the first and second reference impedances is calibrated to exhibit the reference resistance.

19. On an integrated-circuit die, an on-die termination control system comprising:

a reference node to connect to a reference resistor external to the die;

a comparator having a first comparator input node coupled to the reference node, a second comparator input node, and a comparator output node;

a first reference impedance disposed between a reference-voltage node and the second comparator input node and having a first control port coupled to the comparator output node;

a second reference impedance having a second control port coupled to the comparator output node; and

a first counter coupled between the comparator output node and the first reference impedance and a second counter coupled between the comparator output node and the second reference impedance.

20. A termination calibration method for an integrated-circuit die, the method comprising;

drawing a first current through a first reference element, having a first reference impedance, and a reference resistor, having an external-reference resistance, to develop a first termination voltage;

comparing, with a comparator, the first termination voltage with a reference voltage to produce a first impedance control signal;

adjusting the first reference impedance responsive to the first impedance control signal until the first termination voltage is the reference voltage;

drawing a reference drive current through the first reference element and a second reference element, having a second reference impedance, to develop a second termination voltage;

comparing, with the comparator, the second termination voltage with the reference voltage to produce a second impedance control signal; and

adjusting the second reference impedance responsive to the second impedance control signal until the second termination voltage is the reference voltage.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the reference voltage is 1.45 volts, and the first and second termination voltages are adjusted to the reference voltage of 1.45 volts.