Apparatus with input signal quality feedback
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsJohn E. Riley, Scott E. Smith, Jennifer E. Taylor, Gary L. Howe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to operations for managing the quality of an input signal received by a device and for providing feedback in real-time. A controller can provide a reference signal to the device for the input quality check. The memory can implement the input quality check by counting the number of transitions of the reference signal for a set time period and store the resulting count value(s). The memory can use the count value(s) to determine a condition or a quality for the reference signal.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a communication buffer configured to receive a clock signal from an external controller;
- a logic circuit coupled to the communication buffer and configured to:
- count a first number of input transitions of the clock signal for a set time period;
- store in one or more sets of latches a count value of the first number of input transitions;
- adjust an input bias level for the communication buffer after counting the first number of input transitions;
- count a second number of input transitions of the clock signal for the set time period using the adjusted input bias level;
- generate a comparison result based on the second number of input transitions and the first number of input transitions;
- and
- a data communication circuit coupled to the logic circuit and configured to:
- send the comparison result to the external controller.
A system, comprising:
- a controller coupled to a memory array, the controller configured to:
- send a clock signal to the memory array;
- the memory array operably coupled to at least one processor and configured to:
- count a first number of input transitions of the clock signal for a set time period;
- store in one or more sets of latches a count value of the first number of input transitions;
- adjust an input bias level for a communication buffer after counting the first number of input transitions;
- count a second number of input transitions of the clock signal for the set time period using the adjusted input bias level;
- generate a comparison result based on the second number of input transitions and the first number of input transitions;
- and
- send the comparison result to the controller.
A method of operating an apparatus, the method comprising:
- counting a first number of input transitions of a clock signal for a set time period;
- storing in one or more sets of latches a count value of the first number of input transitions;
- adjusting an input bias level for a communication buffer after counting the first number of input transitions;
- counting a second number of input transitions of the clock signal for the set time period using the adjusted input bias level;
- generating a comparison result based on the second number of input transitions and the first number of input transitions;
- and
- sending the comparison result to an external controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.