Bimodal memory controller
AssigneeRambus Inc.
InventorFrederick A. Ware
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A memory controller has a communication path which is coupled to an external, wired electrical path. The memory controller includes at least two alternative interface circuits to communicate with the external, wired electrical path using signals having one of two different formats. Each of the alternative interface circuits is electrically coupled to a corresponding signal connector, and only one of these signal connectors, in turn, is electrically coupled to the external path via an I/O pin or printed-circuit board connection (depending upon implementation). The remaining signal connector may be left electrically uncoupled from the external, wired electrical path, and, if desired, the corresponding remaining interface circuit may be left unused during operation of the memory controller.
Claims1
A memory controller having a communication path that is to be coupled to an external, wired electrical path, the memory controller comprising:
- a first interface circuit, electrically coupled to the communication path, to communicate with the external, wired electrical path using signals of a first format;
- a first signal connector electrically coupled to the first interface circuit;
- a second, alternative interface circuit, electrically coupled to the communication path, to communicate with the external, wired electrical path using signals of a second format;
- and
- a second signal connector electrically coupled to the second, alternative interface circuit;
- wherein the memory controller is adapted to selectively electrically couple only one of the first signal connector with the external, wired electrical path or the second signal connector to the external, wired electrical path, while the other of the first signal connector or the second signal connector is adapted to be left electrically uncoupled with the external, wired electrical path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.