Apparatuses and methods for multi-level signaling with command over data functionality
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorTimothy M. Hollis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A semiconductor device may implement a command-over-data function on a multi-level signaling data bus architectures. The multi-level signaling data bus architecture may support a multi-level communication architecture that includes a plurality of channels each including conversion of M bitstreams to N multi-level signals, where M is greater than N. A bitstream includes a plurality of bits provided serially, with each bit of the bitstream provided over a period of time. The multi-level signaling data bus is adapted to transmit data using a first set of assigned states of the data bus, and to transmit commands using at least a second assigned state of the data bus.
Claims31
An apparatus, comprising:
- a driver circuit configured to, during a first time period, encode a set of data bitstreams for contemporaneous transmission to a receiving device via a set of multi-level signal lines of a data bus, wherein, during a second time period, the driver circuit is configured to encode a special action command for transmission to the receiving device via the set of multi-level signal lines of the data bus, wherein the special action command indicates an action to be performed by the receiving device, wherein a count of the set of data bitstreams is greater than the count of the set of multi-level signal lines.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a receiver circuit configured to determine a state of a set of multi-level signal lines of a data bus, wherein, in response to the state of the set of multi-level signal lines of the data bus having one of a first set of assigned states, recovering a respective bit for each of a set of data bitstreams, wherein, in response to the state of the set of multi-level signal lines of the data bus having a second assigned state different than any one of the first set of assigned states, recovering a special action command and cause performance of an action indicated by the special action command, wherein a count of the set of data bitstreams is greater than the count of the set of multi-level signal lines.
A method, comprising:
- during a first time period:
- encoding, at a driver circuit of a first semiconductor device, a set of data bitstreams for contemporaneous transmission to a second semiconductor device via a set of multi-level signal lines of a data bus;
- and
- transmitting the encoded set of data bitstreams on the set of multi-level signal lines of the data bus, wherein a count of the set of data bitstreams is greater than the count of the set of multi-level signal lines;
- and
- during a second time period:
- encoding a special action command for transmission to the second semiconductor device via the set of multi-level signal lines of the data bus, wherein the special action command indicates an action to be performed by the receiving device;
- and
- transmitting the encoded special action command on the set of multi-level signal lines of the data bus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.