Folded memory modules
AssigneeRambus Inc.
InventorsAmir Amirkhany, Suresh Rajan, Ravindranath Kollipara, Ian Shaeffer, David A. Secker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A memory module comprises a data interface including a plurality of data lines and a plurality of configurable switches coupled between the data interface and a data path to one or more memories. The effective width of the memory module can be configured by enabling or disabling different subsets of the configurable switches. The configurable switches may be controlled by manual switches, by a buffer on the memory module, by an external memory controller, or by the memories on the memory module.
Claims21
(canceled)
A buffer for a memory module, comprising:
- a mode register to enable or disable a first plurality of switches of the memory module, the first plurality of switches controlling a data width of the memory module;
- first controller side data lines coupled to the first plurality of switches, the first controller side data lines to communicate data to or from a memory controller when the first plurality of switches is enabled, and the first controller side data lines decoupled from the memory controller when the first plurality of switches is disabled;
- memory side data lines to communicate the data to one or more memories;
- and
- a data router coupled between the first controller side data lines and the memory side data lines, the data router to route the data between the first controller side data lines and the memory side data lines.
A method for operating a buffer for a memory module, comprising:
- controlling a mode register to enable a first plurality of switches of the memory module that control a data width of the memory module;
- communicating, by first controller side data lines coupled to the first plurality of switches, data to or from a memory controller when the first plurality of switches is enabled;
- routing, by a data router coupled between the first controller side data lines and the memory side data lines, the data between the first controller side data lines and the memory side data lines;
- and
- communicating, by memory side data lines, the data to one or more memories.
A buffer for a memory module, comprising:
- a mode control means for enabling or disabling a first plurality of switches of the memory module, the first plurality of switches controlling a data width of the memory module;
- first controller side data transmission means coupled to the first plurality of switches, the first controller side data transmission means for communicating data to or from a memory controller when the first plurality of switches is enabled, and the first controller side data transmission means decoupled from the memory controller when the first plurality of switches is disabled;
- memory side data transmission means for communicating the data to one or more memories;
- and
- data routing means coupled between the first controller side data transmission means and the memory side data transmission means, the data routing means for routing the data between the first controller side data transmission means and the memory side data transmission means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.