Multimodal Memory Controllers

A method of multimodal operation of a memory controller, the method comprising:

• receiving, in a transmitter of a memory controller, a mode control signal, the transmitter having a first input signal line, a second input signal line, a first output signal line, a second output signal line, a first single-ended driver, a second single-ended driver, and a differential transmitter, the first single-ended driver connected to the first input signal line and to the first output signal line, the second single-ended driver connected to the second input signal line and to the second output signal line, the differential transmitter connected to both of the input signal lines and to both of the output signal lines;
• detecting, by the transmitter, whether the mode control signal is a first value or a second value;
• operating, by the transmitter, the output signal lines using the single-ended drivers at a first voltage if the mode control signal is a first value;
• operating, by the transmitter, the output signal lines using the differential transmitter at a second voltage if the mode control signal is a second value;
• and
• protecting, by the transmitter, the differential transmitter from the first voltage if the mode control signal is a first value.

A method of multimodal operation of a memory controller, the method comprising:

• providing a transmitter in a memory controller, the transmitter having a first input signal line, a second input signal line, a first output signal line, a second output signal line, a first single-ended driver, a second single-ended driver, a differential transmitter, and a mode control signal line,
• the first single-ended driver connected to the first input signal line and to the first output signal line, the second single-ended driver connected to the second input signal line and to the second output signal line, the differential transmitter connected to both of the input signal lines and to both of the output signal lines, and
• the mode control signal line having asserted upon it a mode control signal;
• configuring the transmitter to operate the output signal lines using the single-ended drivers at a first voltage when the mode control signal is a first value;
• configuring the transmitter to operate the output signal lines using the differential transmitter at a second voltage when the mode control signal is a second value;
• and
• configuring the transmitter to protect the differential transmitter from the first voltage when the mode control signal is the first value.