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US 12,587,418 B2Granted
Multiplexing distinct signals on a single pin of a memory device
OwnerRobert Nasry Hasbun, Timothy M. Hollis +2inventors
InventorsRobert Nasry Hasbun, Timothy M. Hollis, Jeffrey P. Wright, Dean D. Gans
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and devices for multiplexing distinct signals on a single pin of a memory device are described. Techniques are described herein to multiplex data using a modulation scheme having at least three levels. The modulated data may be communicated to multiple memory dies over a shared bus. Each of the dies may include a same or different type of memory cell and, in some examples, a multi-level signaling scheme may be pulse amplitude modulation (PAM). Each unique symbol of the modulated signal may be configured to represent a plurality of bits of data.
Claims18
A volatile memory system, comprising:
- a bus;
- and
- a multiplexer circuit, wherein the volatile memory system supports multiple modulation schemes comprising a non-return-to zero (NRZ) scheme having two levels and a pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) scheme having at least three levels, and wherein the volatile memory system is operable to:
- generate, by the multiplexer circuit in accordance with the PAM scheme, a single symbol of a pulse-amplitude-modulated signal that indicates first information of a first type of metadata for a set of stored data and second information of a second type of metadata for the set of stored data, wherein the single symbol is generated based at least in part on a modulation scheme mode of the volatile memory system, wherein the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal has at least three levels, and wherein the second type of metadata is different than the first type of metadata;
- transmit, in accordance with a first clock frequency and based at least in part on generating the single symbol of the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal that indicates the first information of the first type of metadata and the second information of the second type of metadata, the single symbol of the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal over the bus;
- and
- switch from transmitting in accordance with the PAM scheme and the first clock frequency to transmitting in accordance with the NRZ scheme and a second clock frequency different than the first clock frequency.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- generating, at a volatile memory system that supports multiple modulation schemes comprising a non-return-to zero (NRZ) scheme having two levels and a pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) scheme having at least three levels, a single symbol of a pulse-amplitude-modulated signal that indicates first information of a first type of metadata for a set of stored data and second information of a second type of metadata for the set of stored data, wherein the single symbol is generated in accordance with the PAM scheme based at least in part on a modulation scheme mode of the volatile memory system, wherein the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal has at least three levels, and wherein the second type of metadata is different than the first type of metadata;
- transmitting, in accordance with a first clock frequency and based at least in part on generating the single symbol of the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal that indicates the first information of the first type of metadata and the second information of the second type of metadata, the single symbol of the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal over a bus coupled with the volatile memory system;
- and
- switching from transmitting in accordance with the PAM scheme and the first clock frequency to transmitting in accordance with the NRZ scheme and a second clock frequency different than the first clock frequency.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first volatile memory die storing a set of data, wherein the apparatus supports multiple modulation schemes comprising a non-return-to zero (NRZ) scheme having two levels and a pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) scheme having at least three levels, and wherein the apparatus is operable to:
- generate a single symbol of a pulse-amplitude-modulated signal that indicates first information of a first type of metadata for the set of data and second information of a second type of metadata for the set of data, wherein the single symbol is generated in accordance with the PAM scheme based at least in part on a modulation scheme mode of the first volatile memory die, wherein the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal has at least three levels, and wherein the second type of metadata is different than the first type of metadata;
- transmit, in accordance with a first clock frequency and based at least in part on generating the single symbol of the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal that comprises the first information of the first type of metadata and the second information of the second type of metadata, the single symbol of the pulse-amplitude-modulated signal over a bus;
- and
- switch from transmitting in accordance with the PAM scheme and the first clock frequency to transmitting in accordance with the NRZ scheme and a second clock frequency different than the first clock frequency.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.