Apparatus having a multiplexer for passive input/output expansion

An apparatus, comprising:

• a controller;
• and
• a plurality of groupings of memory modules, wherein each grouping of memory modules of the plurality of groupings of memory modules comprises a respective set of memory modules commonly connected to a respective set of communication signal lines in communication with the controller;
• wherein a particular memory module of the respective set of memory modules of a particular grouping of memory modules of the plurality of groupings of memory modules comprises:
• a plurality of sets of memory devices, wherein each set of memory devices of the plurality of sets of memory devices corresponds to a respective enable signal of a plurality of enable signals;
• and
• a multiplexer;
• wherein, for each set of memory devices of the plurality of sets of memory devices, each memory device of that set of memory devices is configured to receive commands in response to the respective enable signal for that set of memory devices having a particular logic level;
• and
• wherein, for each set of memory devices of the plurality of sets of memory devices, the multiplexer is configured to selectively connect communication signal lines of that set of memory devices to the respective set of communication signal lines of the particular grouping of memory modules in response to the respective enable signal for that set of memory devices.

A bulk storage device, comprising:

• a controller comprising a plurality of channels;
• a first grouping of memory modules connected to a first channel of the plurality of channels of the controller through a first communication link, wherein the first grouping of memory modules comprises a first plurality of memory modules commonly connected to a set of communication signal lines of the first communication link;
• and
• a second grouping of memory modules connected to a second channel of the plurality of channels of the controller through a second communication link, wherein the second grouping of memory modules comprises a second plurality of memory modules commonly connected to a set of communication signal lines of the second communication link;
• wherein a particular memory module of the first plurality of memory modules comprises:
• a first plurality of multi-die packages, wherein each multi-die package of the first plurality of multi-die packages comprises a respective plurality of memory dies;
• and
• a first multiplexer;
• wherein each multi-die package of the first plurality of multi-die packages corresponds to a respective enable signal of a first plurality of enable signals;
• wherein, for each multi-die package of the first plurality of multi-die packages, each memory die of the respective plurality of memory dies of that multi-die package is configured to receive commands in response to the respective enable signal for that multi-die package having a particular logic level;
• and
• wherein, for each multi-die package of the first plurality of multi-die packages, the first multiplexer is configured to selectively connect a set of communication signal lines of that multi-die package to the set of communication signal lines of the first communication link in response to the respective enable signal for that multi-die package;
• and
• wherein a particular memory module of the second plurality of memory modules comprises:
• a second plurality of multi-die packages, wherein each multi-die package of the second plurality of multi-die packages comprises a respective plurality of memory dies;
• and
• a second multiplexer;
• wherein each multi-die package of the second plurality of multi-die packages corresponds to a respective enable signal of a second plurality of enable signals;
• wherein, for each multi-die package of the second plurality of multi-die packages, each memory die of the respective plurality of memory dies of that multi-die package is configured to receive commands in response to the respective enable signal for that multi-die package having the particular logic level;
• and
• wherein, for each multi-die package of the second plurality of multi-die packages, the second multiplexer is configured to selectively connect a set of communication signal lines of that multi-die package to the set of communication signal lines of the second communication link in response to the respective enable signal for that multi-die package.