Data sampling alignment method for memory interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017192913-A1
Application number	US-201715461737-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 17, 2017
Priority date	Jan 8, 2013
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system which includes a memory controller interface, a memory unit interface, and a correction block. The memory controller interface includes a digitally-controlled delay line (DCDL). The memory unit interface is coupled to the memory controller interface, and is configured to communicate with the memory controller interface through a first signal and a second signal. The correction block is configured to determine a result of alignment between the first signal and the second signal, and to provide a correction signal configured to align the first signal to the second signal. Other systems, devices and methods are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a memory controller interface comprising a digitally-controlled delay line (DCDL); a memory unit interface coupled to the memory controller interface, and configured to communicate with the memory controller interface through a first signal and a second signal; and a correction block within the memory unit interface and configured to determine a result of alignment between the first signal and the second signal, and to provide a correction signal configured to align the first signal to the second signal.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the DCDL corresponds to a first DCDL, the system further comprising:
a first determination unit configured to send a first digital code, which is based on the correction signal, to the first DCDL to change a delay imparted by the first DCDL to align an edge of the first signal with an edge of the second signal.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the DCDL corresponds to a second DCDL, the system further comprising:
a phase detector within the memory unit interface and configured to determine a phase offset between a third signal, which is derived from the second signal, and a fourth signal.

4 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a second determination unit coupled to the phase detector, the second determination unit configured to send a second digital code, which is based on the phase offset, to the second DCDL to change a delay imparted by the second DCDL to align an edge of the fourth signal with an edge of the third signal.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the second determination unit is configured to align the edge of the fourth signal with a center of a common data eye of a write signal.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first signal is a command/address clock and the second signal is a system clock.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller interface, memory unit interface, and correction block are implemented in an integrated circuit.

8 . A system, comprising:
a memory controller interface including memory controller circuitry that is synchronous to a first clock signal; a memory interface coupled to the memory controller interface and including memory interface circuitry that is synchronous to the first clock signal, wherein the memory controller interface and the memory interface communicate via a first signal; and a first edge detect correction (EDC) logic block configured to determine a result of alignment between the first clock signal and the first signal and to feedback an alignment result signal based on the result to delay the first clock signal and to align the first clock signal with the first signal.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the memory controller interface further comprises:
a first digitally controlled delay line (DCDL); and a first determination unit configured to send a first digital code, which is based on the alignment result signal, to the first DCDL to change a delay imparted by the first DCDL to align an edge of the first clock signal with an edge of the first signal.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the memory interface further comprises:
a phase detector configured to determine a phase offset between a second clock signal and a second signal, wherein the second clock signal is derived from the first clock signal.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the memory controller interface further comprises:
a second digitally controlled delay line (DCDL); and a second determination unit coupled to the phase detector, the second determination unit configured to send a second digital code, which is based on the phase offset, to the second DCDL to change a delay imparted by the second DCDL to align an edge of the second signal with an edge of the second clock signal.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the memory controller interface, memory interface, and first EDC logic block are implemented in an integrated circuit.

13 . A system, comprising:
a memory controller interface including memory controller circuitry that is synchronous to a first clock signal; a memory interface coupled to the memory controller interface and including memory interface circuitry that is synchronous to the first clock signal, wherein the memory controller interface derives a second clock signal from the first clock signal; a phase detector within the memory interface and configured to determine a phase offset between the second clock signal and a first data or control signal; and a first determination unit within the memory controller interface and coupled to the phase detector, the first determination unit configured to send a first digital code, which is based on the phase offset, to align edges of the first data or control signal with edges of the second clock signal.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the memory controller interface includes a digitally controlled delay line (DCDL), and wherein the first digital code changes a delay imparted by the DCDL to align an edge of the first data or control signal with an edge of the second clock signal.

15 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a first edge detect correction (EDC) logic block configured to determine a result of alignment between the first clock signal and a third clock signal, and to feedback an alignment result signal based on the result to delay the first clock signal and to align the first clock signal with the third clock signal.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the memory interface further comprises:
a second determination unit coupled to the first EDC logic block, the second determination unit configured to send a second digital code, which is based on the alignment result signal, to align an edge of the first clock signal with an edge of the third clock signal.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first clock signal is a system clock and the third clock signal is a command/address clock.

18 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the memory controller interface, the memory interface, and the first EDC logic block are implemented in an integrated circuit.

19 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the memory controller interface is coupled to a plurality of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the memory controller interface further comprises a plurality of value registers configured to store a plurality of signal delay values, respectively, wherein each value register is configured to store a signal delay value for a different DRAM device of the plurality of DRAM devices.

Assignees

• Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hsu Ying-Yu
• Tsai Chien-Chun
• Huang Wen-Hung

Classifications

• G06F11/1604

  where the fault affects the clock signals of a processing unit and the redundancy is at or within the level of clock signal generation hardware · CPC title

• G06F1/12

  Synchronisation of different clock signals {provided by a plurality of clock generators} · CPC title

• G06F13/1689 Primary

  Synchronisation and timing concerns (synchronisation on a memory bus G06F13/4234) · CPC title

• G06F12/0246

  in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory · CPC title

• G06F11/1679

  at clock signal level · CPC title