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US7352602B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Configurable inputs and outputs for memory stacking system and method

Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
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Filing: 2005-12-30
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Granted: 2008-04-01
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Expires: 2025-12-30
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Abstract

Abstract Embodiments of the present invention relate to configurable inputs and/or outputs for memory and memory stacking applications. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention include memory devices that include a die having a circuit configured for enablement by a particular signal, an input pin configured to receive the particular signal, and a path selector configured to selectively designate a signal path to the circuit from the input pin.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jeffery W. Janzen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 11:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G11; G11C; G11C7/00; G11C7/10; G11C7/1078; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/34; G11C11/40; G11C11/401; G11C11/4063; G11C11/407; G11C11/409; G11C11/4093; G11C11/4096; G11C5/00; G11C5/02; G11C5/04; G11C7/109; G11C7/22; G11C7/225; H; H10; H10W; H10W90/00; G11C2207/00; G11C2207/22; G11C2207/2254; H10W72/00; H10W72/01; H10W90/20; H10W90/297; H10W90/701; H10W90/721; H10W90/722

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim 188 words
A memory device comprising: a first die comprising: a first circuit configured to be enabled by a first control signal; a first input pin configured to receive the first control signal; and a first path selector arranged between the first input pin and the first circuit and configured to select a first signal path to the first circuit from the first input pin; and a second die comprising: a second circuit configured to be enabled by a second control signal; a second input pin configured to receive the second control signal; and a second path selector arranged between the second input pin and the second circuit and configured to select a second signal path to the second circuit from the second input pin, wherein the first die and the second die form a stack such that a signal may be routed though each of the first signal path and the second signal path in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the first die and a surface of the second die, wherein the surface of the second die is disposed parallel to the surface of the first die.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 188 words
A memory device comprising: a first die comprising: a first circuit configured to be enabled by a first control signal; a first input pin configured to receive the first control signal; and a first path selector arranged between the first input pin and the first circuit and configured to select a first signal path to the first circuit from the first input pin; and a second die comprising: a second circuit configured to be enabled by a second control signal; a second input pin configured to receive the second control signal; and a second path selector arranged between the second input pin and the second circuit and configured to select a second signal path to the second circuit from the second input pin, wherein the first die and the second die form a stack such that a signal may be routed though each of the first signal path and the second signal path in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the first die and a surface of the second die, wherein the surface of the second die is disposed parallel to the surface of the first die.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first control signal is a chip select signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first path selector comprises a multiplexer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
The memory device of claim 1 , comprising a path selector control circuit comprising a fuse, wherein the path selector control circuit is configured to control the first path selector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the path selector control circuit is configured to provide a high signal when the fuse is blown.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the path selector control circuit is configured to provide a low signal when an antifuse is blown.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
The memory device of claim 1 , comprising memory comprising a plurality of die.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 137 words
A memory module comprising: a die stack comprising a plurality of memory devices; a plurality of pins disposed within the plurality of memory devices, wherein each of the plurality of pins is configured to receive a signal; a plurality of circuits disposed within each of the plurality of memory devices; and a plurality of path selectors configured to selectively provide signal paths between the plurality of pins and the plurality of circuits, wherein a plurality of signals may be routed through the signal paths such that each of the plurality of signals enters the die stack from pins selected from the plurality of pins, the pins being disposed on a bottom surface of the die stack and each of the plurality of signals routing upward through the signal paths in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 137 words
A memory module comprising: a die stack comprising a plurality of memory devices; a plurality of pins disposed within the plurality of memory devices, wherein each of the plurality of pins is configured to receive a signal; a plurality of circuits disposed within each of the plurality of memory devices; and a plurality of path selectors configured to selectively provide signal paths between the plurality of pins and the plurality of circuits, wherein a plurality of signals may be routed through the signal paths such that each of the plurality of signals enters the die stack from pins selected from the plurality of pins, the pins being disposed on a bottom surface of the die stack and each of the plurality of signals routing upward through the signal paths in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
The memory module of claim 8 , wherein the memory module comprises a dual inline memory module (DIMM).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
The memory module of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of memory devices comprises a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 29 words
The memory module of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of signals include a chip select signal, a clock enable signal, an on-die termination signal, and a calibration signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
The memory module of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of path selectors comprises at least one multiplexer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 39 words
The memory module of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of path selectors comprises at least one path selector control circuit comprising a fuse or antifuse, wherein the path selector control circuit is configured to control the path selector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
The memory module of claim 13 , wherein the path selector control circuit is configured to provide a high signal when the fuse is blown.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 25 words
The memory module of claim 13 , wherein the path selector control circuit is configured to provide a low signal when the antifuse is blown.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 225 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; and a memory system coupled to the processor and comprising: a memory controller; a memory device comprising a die stack; a first circuit in a first die of the die stack and a second circuit in a second die of the die stack, wherein the first and second circuits are configured to be enabled by a control signal; a first input pin disposed within the first die on a bottom surface of the die stack, the first input pin configured to receive the control signal; a first path selector arranged between the first input pin and the first circuit and configured to select a first signal path to the first circuit from the first input pin based on the control signal; and a second input pin disposed within the second die in a position in-line with and above the first input pin, the second input pin configured to receive the control signal; a second path selector arranged between the second input pin and the second circuit and configured to select a second signal path to the second circuit from the second input pin based on the control signal such that a signal may be routed though each of the first signal path and the second signal path in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the die stack.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 225 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; and a memory system coupled to the processor and comprising: a memory controller; a memory device comprising a die stack; a first circuit in a first die of the die stack and a second circuit in a second die of the die stack, wherein the first and second circuits are configured to be enabled by a control signal; a first input pin disposed within the first die on a bottom surface of the die stack, the first input pin configured to receive the control signal; a first path selector arranged between the first input pin and the first circuit and configured to select a first signal path to the first circuit from the first input pin based on the control signal; and a second input pin disposed within the second die in a position in-line with and above the first input pin, the second input pin configured to receive the control signal; a second path selector arranged between the second input pin and the second circuit and configured to select a second signal path to the second circuit from the second input pin based on the control signal such that a signal may be routed though each of the first signal path and the second signal path in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the die stack.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 19 words
The memory system of claim 16 , wherein the memory device comprises a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 16 words
The memory system of claim 16 , wherein the control signal comprises a chip select signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 17 words
The memory system of claim 16 , wherein the control signal comprises an inverse chip select signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 18 words
The memory system of claim 16 , wherein the first path selector comprises a fuse controlled path selector.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 16 words
The memory system of claim 20 , wherein the fuse controlled path selector includes an antifuse.
Claim 25
Independent Claim 86 words
A method of manufacturing memory, comprising: providing a plurality of memory die having a fuse controlled path selector within each of the memory die; enabling communication paths to circuits within each memory die based on enablement requirements of the circuits; and configuring the plurality of memory die in a stack to route a signal from an input pin disposed on a bottom surface of the stack though the die stack in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the stack via the enabled communication paths.
Claim 26
Independent Claim 86 words
A method of manufacturing memory, comprising: providing a plurality of memory die having a fuse controlled path selector within each of the memory die; enabling communication paths to circuits within each memory die based on enablement requirements of the circuits; and configuring the plurality of memory die in a stack to route a signal from an input pin disposed on a bottom surface of the stack though the die stack in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the stack via the enabled communication paths.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 22 , comprising configuring the plurality of memory die in the stack without providing a redistribution layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 40 words
The memory module of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of circuits is configured to be enabled by control signals, the control signals communicatively coupling the path selectors between the plurality of pins and the plurality of circuits.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 31 words
The memory module of claim 8 , wherein the memory devices include four ×8 devices configurable as two ranks of ×16 memory stacked on a single side of the memory module.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2011-04-01 2011-10-01 2012-04-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2015-04-01 2015-10-01 2016-04-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2019-04-01 2019-10-01 2020-04-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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