← Back to Patent Explorer
US6038132A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Memory module

Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1997-05-07
•
Granted: 2000-03-14
•
Expires: 2017-05-07
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A memory module capable of changing the generation of semiconductor memory devices by changing the design of a unit board without changing the design of a mother board. The mother board has connection terminals having an ability of connecting with first and second generation type unit boards, so that even when a connection terminal location is changed as a result of the generation change of the semiconductor memory devices, the next unit board can be connected to the mother board by selecting an appropriate terminal from connection terminals on the mother board.

Inventors

  • 👤 Muneharu Tokunaga
  • 👤 Takakazu Fukumoto

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 13:45
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C7/00; H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/14; H05K1/141; H10; H10W; H10W90/00; H05K1/0286; H05K1/0295; H05K1/18; H05K1/182; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09818; H05K2201/09954; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10227; H05K2201/10386; H05K2201/10613; H05K2201/10621; H05K2201/10689; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; H05K3/341; H05K3/3421; H05K3/3431; H05K3/3436; H05K3/36; H05K3/368; H10W70/00; H10W70/40; H10W70/60; H10W90/20

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 210 words
A memory module comprising: a mother board for mounting at least two kinds of unit boards thereon, said at least two kinds of unit boards including, a first unit board having a plurality of first generation semiconductor memory devices provided thereon and connection terminals for connection with said mother board, and a second unit board having a plurality of second generation semiconductor memory devices provided thereon and connection terminals for connection with said mother board, said mother board including, a first array of mother board connection terminals for connecting with connection terminals of one first unit board, said first array of mother board connection terminals defined by two vertical rows of first mother board connection terminals, and a second array of mother board connection terminals for connecting with connection terminals of one second unit board, said second array of mother board connection terminals defined by two vertical rows of second mother board connection terminals, said first and second arrays of mother board connection terminals arranged on a surface of said mother board such that at least one vertical row of first mother board connection terminals is between two vertical rows of second mother board connection terminals; and at least one first or second unit board mounted to said mother board.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 210 words
A memory module comprising: a mother board for mounting at least two kinds of unit boards thereon, said at least two kinds of unit boards including, a first unit board having a plurality of first generation semiconductor memory devices provided thereon and connection terminals for connection with said mother board, and a second unit board having a plurality of second generation semiconductor memory devices provided thereon and connection terminals for connection with said mother board, said mother board including, a first array of mother board connection terminals for connecting with connection terminals of one first unit board, said first array of mother board connection terminals defined by two vertical rows of first mother board connection terminals, and a second array of mother board connection terminals for connecting with connection terminals of one second unit board, said second array of mother board connection terminals defined by two vertical rows of second mother board connection terminals, said first and second arrays of mother board connection terminals arranged on a surface of said mother board such that at least one vertical row of first mother board connection terminals is between two vertical rows of second mother board connection terminals; and at least one first or second unit board mounted to said mother board.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 77 words
The memory module according to claim 1, wherein said first and second arrays of mother board connection terminals are arranged such that said two vertical rows of second mother board connection terminals are in parallel and outside with respect to said two vertical rows of first mother board connection terminals, and terminals of said first and second mother board connection terminals that are common between respective unit boards are connected to each other on said mother board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
The memory module according to claims 1, wherein each of said unit boards is provided with four first generation semiconductor memory devices so as to have a unit board having a memory capacity of the second generation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
The memory module according to claim 3, wherein two semiconductor memory devices are provided on an upper surface and a lower surface of said unit board, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 47 words
The memory module according to claim 4, wherein said semiconductor memory devices on the upper surface of said unit board are controlled by a first control system and said semiconductor memory devices on the lower surface of said unit board are controlled by a second control system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The memory module according to claim 1, wherein said connection terminals for connection with said mother board are a lead type terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
The memory module according to claim 1, wherein said connection terminals for connection with said mother board are provided along four sides around at least one of the unit boards.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
The memory module according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor memory devices are used for at least one of an ECC function and a parity function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 148 words
A memory module comprising: a mother board including, a first array of mother board connection terminals defined by two vertical rows of first mother board connection terminals capable of connecting to corresponding first semiconductor connection terminals of a first semiconductor device; a second array of mother board connection terminals defined by two vertical rows of second mother board connection terminals capable of connecting to corresponding second semiconductor connection terminals of a second semiconductor device, said second semiconductor device having a memory capacity greater than a memory capacity of said first semiconductor device, said first and second arrays of mother board connection terminals arranged on a surface of said mother board such that at least one vertical row of first mother board connection terminals is between two vertical rows of second mother board connection terminals; and at least one first or second semiconductor device mounted to said mother board.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 148 words
A memory module comprising: a mother board including, a first array of mother board connection terminals defined by two vertical rows of first mother board connection terminals capable of connecting to corresponding first semiconductor connection terminals of a first semiconductor device; a second array of mother board connection terminals defined by two vertical rows of second mother board connection terminals capable of connecting to corresponding second semiconductor connection terminals of a second semiconductor device, said second semiconductor device having a memory capacity greater than a memory capacity of said first semiconductor device, said first and second arrays of mother board connection terminals arranged on a surface of said mother board such that at least one vertical row of first mother board connection terminals is between two vertical rows of second mother board connection terminals; and at least one first or second semiconductor device mounted to said mother board.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 110 words
The memory module according to claim 9, further comprising at least one unit board for mounting said at least one first or second semiconductor device, said unit board including, a plurality of unit board connection terminals provided on an upper surface of said at least one unit board and connected to at least one of said first and second semiconductor devices; and a plurality of unit board connection terminals corresponding to at least one of said first array of mother board connection terminals and said second array of mother board connection terminals, provided on a lower surface of said at least one unit board and connected to said mother board.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 71 words
The memory module according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of upper unit board connection terminals provided on the upper surface of said at least one unit board is connected to at least two of said first semiconductor devices, and said plurality of lower unit board connection terminals provided on the lower surface of said at least one unit board is connected to said second array of mother board connection terminals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 40 words
The memory module according to claim 9, wherein the first and second arrays of mother board connection terminals are arranged such that said two vertical rows of said first array are between said two vertical rows of said second array.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 35 words
The memory module according to claim 9, wherein the number of second semiconductor connection terminals on said second semiconductor device is different than the number of first semiconductor connection terminals on said first semiconductor device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 264 words
A memory module comprising: a mother board for mounting at least two kinds of unit boards thereon, said at least two kinds of unit boards including, a first unit board having a plurality of first generation semiconductor memory devices provided thereon and connection terminals for connection with said mother board, and a second unit board having a plurality of second generation semiconductor memory devices provided thereon and connection terminals for connection with said mother board, said mother board including, a first array of mother board connection terminals for connecting with connection terminals of one first unit boards, said first array of mother board connection terminals being defined by first mother board connection terminals arranged in a rectangular configuration which includes a pair of spaced first rows and a pair of spaced second rows being directed substantially perpendicular to said first rows, and a second array of mother board connection terminals for connecting with connection terminals of one second unit boards, said second array of mother board connection terminals being defined by second mother board connection terminals arranged in a rectangular configuration which includes a pair of spaced first rows and a pair of spaced second rows being directed substantially perpendicular to said first rows, said first and second arrays of mother board connection terminals arranged on a surface of said mother board such that at least one of said first row of first mother board connection terminals is between two of said first rows of second mother board connection terminal; and at least one first or second unit board mounted to said mother board.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 264 words
A memory module comprising: a mother board for mounting at least two kinds of unit boards thereon, said at least two kinds of unit boards including, a first unit board having a plurality of first generation semiconductor memory devices provided thereon and connection terminals for connection with said mother board, and a second unit board having a plurality of second generation semiconductor memory devices provided thereon and connection terminals for connection with said mother board, said mother board including, a first array of mother board connection terminals for connecting with connection terminals of one first unit boards, said first array of mother board connection terminals being defined by first mother board connection terminals arranged in a rectangular configuration which includes a pair of spaced first rows and a pair of spaced second rows being directed substantially perpendicular to said first rows, and a second array of mother board connection terminals for connecting with connection terminals of one second unit boards, said second array of mother board connection terminals being defined by second mother board connection terminals arranged in a rectangular configuration which includes a pair of spaced first rows and a pair of spaced second rows being directed substantially perpendicular to said first rows, said first and second arrays of mother board connection terminals arranged on a surface of said mother board such that at least one of said first row of first mother board connection terminals is between two of said first rows of second mother board connection terminal; and at least one first or second unit board mounted to said mother board.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5191404A Cited
EP0586069A2 Cited
US5661339A Cited
JPH06334294A Cited
JPH06338587A Cited
JPH0722727A Cited
US5412538A Cited
US5375084A Cited
US5513135A Cited
US5754408A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-03-14 2003-09-13 2004-03-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-03-14 2007-09-13 2008-03-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-03-14 2011-09-13 2012-03-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag