Patent Publication Number: US-10790603-B2

Title: Connector with relaxation mechanism for latch

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments generally relate to circuit board connectors. More particularly, embodiments relate to a connector with a relaxation mechanism for a latch. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electrical components such as circuit boards may be mechanically and/or electrically coupled together with connectors. A memory card, such as a dual-inline memory module (DIMM) may include rows of electrical connections along an edge of the card. A memory card connector may include a plurality of pins to be soldered to a main/parent board (e.g., a motherboard) and a slot to receive the edge of the memory card with the electrical connections. An insertion/ejection latch may help to insert and retain the memory card in the connector, and also to eject the memory card from the connector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various advantages of the embodiments will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and appended claims, and by referencing the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example of a connector for a circuit board according to an embodiment; 
         FIGS. 2A to 2C  are block diagrams of an example of a connector for a memory card according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3A  is a top view of an example of a connector housing according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B  is a front view of the connector housing from  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 3C  is a sectional view of the connector housing taken along line X-X in  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of an example of another connector housing according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an example of another connector housing according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of an example of another connector housing according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 7A  is a side view of an example of a latch according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 7B  is a front view of the latch from  FIG. 7A ; 
         FIG. 7C  is a sectional view of the latch taken along line Y-Y in  FIG. 7B ; 
         FIG. 8A  is a side view of an example of another latch according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 8B  is a front view of the latch from  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 8C  is a sectional view of the latch taken along line Z-Z in  FIG. 8B ; and 
         FIGS. 9A to 9B  are partial cut-away front views of an example of another connector housing according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Various embodiments described herein may include a memory component and/or an interface to a memory component. Such memory components may include volatile and/or nonvolatile (NV) memory (NVM). Volatile memory may be a storage medium that requires power to maintain the state of data stored by the medium. Non-limiting examples of volatile memory may include various types of random access memory (RAM), such as dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM). One particular type of DRAM that may be used in a memory module is synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM). In particular embodiments, DRAM of a memory component may comply with a standard promulgated by Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC), such as JESD79F for double data rate (DDR) SDRAM, JESD79-2F for DDR2 SDRAM, JESD79-3F for DDR3 SDRAM, JESD79-4A for DDR4 SDRAM, JESD209 for Low Power DDR (LPDDR), JESD209-2 for LPDDR2, JESD209-3 for LPDDR3, and JESD209-4 for LPDDR4 (these standards are available at www.jedec.org). Such standards (and similar standards) may be referred to as DDR-based standards and communication interfaces of the storage devices that implement such standards may be referred to as DDR-based interfaces. 
     NVM may be a storage medium that does not require power to maintain the state of data stored by the medium. In one embodiment, the memory device may include a block addressable memory device, such as those based on NAND or NOR technologies. A memory device may also include future generation nonvolatile devices, such as a three dimensional (3D) crosspoint memory device, or other byte addressable write-in-place nonvolatile memory devices. In one embodiment, the memory device may be or may include memory devices that use chalcogenide glass, multi-threshold level NAND flash memory, NOR flash memory, single or multi-level Phase Change Memory (PCM), a resistive memory, nanowire memory, ferroelectric transistor RAM (FeTRAM), anti-ferroelectric memory, magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM) memory that incorporates memristor technology, resistive memory including the metal oxide base, the oxygen vacancy base and the conductive bridge RAM (CB-RAM), or spin transfer torque (STT)-MRAM, a spintronic magnetic junction memory based device, a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) based device, a DW (Domain Wall) and SOT (Spin Orbit Transfer) based device, a thiristor based memory device, or a combination of any of the above, or other memory. The memory device may refer to the die itself and/or to a packaged memory product. In particular embodiments, a memory component with non-volatile memory may comply with one or more standards promulgated by the JEDEC, such as JESD218, JESD219, JESD220-1, JESD223B, JESD223-1, or other suitable standard (the JEDEC standards cited herein are available at jedec.org). 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a connector housing  10  for a circuit board  11  may include a connector body  12  to receive the circuit board  11 , and a relaxation mechanism  13  mechanically coupled to the connector body  12  to relax stress on the connector housing  10  and maintain the circuit board  11  received in the connector body  12  under a load which exceeds a load threshold. In some embodiments, the relaxation mechanism  13  may include a latch to retain the circuit board  11  in the connector body  12 , where the latch is mechanically coupled to the connector body  12  with a structure that allows translation of the latch under the load which exceeds the load threshold. For example, the structure that allows translation of the latch under the load which exceeds the load threshold may include a groove disposed in one of the connector body  12  and the latch to allow translation of the latch relative to the connector body  12  under the load which exceeds the load threshold. 
     In some embodiments, the groove may include a first pivot point to retain the circuit board  11  fully seated in the connector body  12  when a load on the latch is less than or equal to the load threshold, and a second pivot point to retain the circuit board  11  partially seated in the connector body  12  when the load on the latch exceeds the load threshold. In some embodiments, the connector housing  10  may further include a spring configured to allow the translation of the latch from the first pivot point to the second pivot point only when the load on the latch exceeds the load threshold (e.g., otherwise the latch is held at the first pivot point for normal operation under loads below the load threshold). In some embodiments, the connector body  12  may include a slot to receive the circuit board  11 , and a lengthwise centerline of the groove may be substantially perpendicular to a lengthwise centerline of the slot. In some embodiments, the circuit board may include a memory card or a dual-inline memory module (DIMM). 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 2A to 2C , an embodiment of a connector  20  for a memory card  21  may include a connector housing  22  including an elongated slot  23  to receive the memory card  21 , the connector housing  22  including a first set of opposed grooves  24  at a first end  25  of the elongated slot  23 , and a second set of opposed grooves  26  at a second end  27  of the elongated slot  23  opposite to the first end  25 . In some embodiments, a lengthwise centerline A of the first set of opposed grooves  24  is transverse to a lengthwise centerline B of the elongated slot  23 , and a lengthwise centerline C of the second set of opposed grooves  26  is transverse to the lengthwise centerline B of the elongated slot  23 . In some embodiments, a first latch  28  may be received within the first set of opposed grooves  24  of the connector housing  22 , and a second latch  29  may be received within the second set of opposed grooves  26  of the connector housing  22 . For example, the respective lengthwise centerlines A, C of the first and second sets of opposed grooves  24 ,  26  may be substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise centerline B of the elongated slot  23 . For example, the memory card  21  may include a DIMM. 
     In some embodiments, the first set of opposed grooves  24  may include a first pivot point D at a first end of the first set of opposed grooves  24  and a second pivot point E at a second end of the first set of opposed grooves  24 , and the second set of opposed grooves  26  may include a first pivot point F at a first end of the second set of opposed grooves  26  and a second pivot point G at a second end of the second set of opposed grooves  26 . For example, the first set of opposed grooves  24  may include a first spring to allow translation of the first latch  28  between the first and second pivot points D, E of the first set of opposed grooves  24  only when a load on the first latch  28  exceeds a load threshold, and the second set of opposed grooves  26  may include a second spring to allow translation of the second latch  29  between the first and second pivot points F, G of the second set of opposed grooves  26  only when a load on the second latch  29  exceeds the load threshold. For example, the respective second pivot points E, G of the first and second sets of opposed grooves  24 ,  26  may be positioned relative to the respective first pivot points D, F of the first and second sets of opposed grooves  24 ,  26  to relax stress on the respective first and second latches  28 ,  29  under a shock load when the first and second latches  28 ,  29  are positioned at the respective second pivot points E, G. 
       FIG. 2A  shows an exploded view of the connector  20  and memory card  21 .  FIG. 2B  shows the latches  28 ,  29  received within their respective grooves  24 ,  26  and the memory card  21  fully seated within the connector housing  22  (e.g., with the latches  28 ,  29  positioned at the first pivot points D, F). Under normal load conditions, the latches  28 ,  29  may pivot about the first pivot points D, F to retain the memory card  21  fully seated within the connector housing  22 .  FIG. 2C  shows the latches  28 ,  29  translated to the second pivot points E, G with the memory card  21  partially seated within the connector housing  22 . Under a shock load, the grooves  24 ,  26  may allow the latches  28 ,  29  to translate to the second pivot points E, G to relax the stress on the latches  28 ,  29  while retaining the memory card  21  within the connector housing  22 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 3A to 3C , an embodiment of a connector housing  30  for a circuit board substrate may include a first housing portion  31  including an elongated slot  32  to receive the circuit board substrate, a second housing portion  33  mechanically coupled to the first housing portion  31  at an end of the elongated slot  32 . The second housing portion  33  may include a first groove  34  to receive a latch, where a lengthwise centerline A of the first groove  34  is transverse to a lengthwise centerline B of the elongated slot  32 . The connector housing  30  may further include a third housing portion  35  mechanically coupled to the first housing portion  31  at the end of the elongated slot  32  and opposed to the second housing portion  33 . The third housing portion  35  may include a second groove  36  to receive the latch, where a lengthwise centerline of the second groove  36  is aligned to the lengthwise centerline A of the first groove  34  and the second groove  36  is directly opposed to the first groove  34 . For example, the respective lengthwise centerlines A, C of the first and second grooves  34 ,  36  may be substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise centerline B of the elongated slot  32 . 
     In some embodiments, the first groove  34  includes a first pivot point D at a first end of the first groove  34  and a second pivot point E at a second end of the first groove E, and the second groove  36  includes a first pivot point F at a first end of the second groove  36  and a second pivot point G at a second end of the second groove  36 . For example, the first and second grooves  34 ,  36  may include a spring to allow translation of the latch between the respective first (D, F) and second (E, G) pivot points of the first and second grooves  34 ,  36  only when a load on the latch exceeds a load threshold. For example, the spring may include a spring mechanism provided by forming a constriction in one or both of the first and second grooves  34 ,  36 . A resiliency or elasticity in the materials of the connector housing  30  (e.g., or in the material of the mating pins in the latch) may provide the spring force for the constriction. In some embodiments, the respective second pivot points (E, G) of the first and second grooves  34 ,  36  are positioned relative to the respective first pivot points (D, F) of the first and second grooves  34 ,  36  to relax stress on the latch under a shock load when the latch is positioned at the respective second pivot points (E, G). In some embodiments, the circuit board substrate may include a memory card, such as a DIMM. 
     In some embodiments, the connector housing  30  may further include a fourth housing portion  37  mechanically coupled to the first housing portion  31  at another end of the elongated slot  32  opposite of the second and third housing portions  33 ,  35 . The fourth housing portion  37  may include a set of opposed grooves  38   a ,  38   b  to receive a second latch, where a lengthwise centerline H of the set of opposed grooves  38   a ,  38   b  is transverse to the lengthwise centerline C of the elongated slot  32 , where the set of opposed grooves  38   a ,  38   b  includes a first pivot point J at a first end of the set of opposed grooves  38   a ,  38   b  and a second pivot point K at a second end of the set of opposed grooves  38   a ,  38   b , and where the set of opposed grooves  38   a ,  38   b  includes a second spring (e.g., a second constriction) to allow translation of the second latch between the respective first and second pivot points J, K of the set of opposed grooves  38   a ,  38   b  only when a second load on the second latch exceeds a second load threshold. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 4 to 6 , additional embodiments of connector housings  40 ,  50 , and  60  include first and second sets of opposed grooves ( 44  and  46 ,  54  and  56 ,  64  and  66 ) at respective ends of the connector housings  40 ,  50 , and  60 . Connector housing  40  ( FIG. 4 ) includes hourglass shaped grooves  44 ,  46  to form a spring mechanism with a constriction between respective pivot points at respective ends of the grooves  44 ,  46 . Connector housing  50  ( FIG. 5 ) includes curve shaped grooves  54 ,  56  to form a spring mechanism with a constriction between respective pivot points at respective ends of the grooves  54 ,  56 . Connector housing  60  ( FIG. 6 ) includes barbell shaped grooves  64 ,  66  to form a spring mechanism with a constriction between respective pivot points at respective ends of the grooves  64 ,  66 . Given the benefit of the present specification and drawings, numerous other examples of suitable spring mechanisms will occur to those skilled in the art. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that in other embodiments the pin structure may be provided on the connector housing while the groove structure may be provided on the latch. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 7A to 7C , an embodiment of a latch  70  suitable for use with the connector housings described herein may include a set of opposed pins  72  and  74 . The pins may snap into the grooves of the connector housing and may be of sufficient diameter to stay positioned at the pivot points unless acted on with sufficient load to translate the latch  70  and pins  72 ,  74  from one pivot point to the other pivot point. For example, the material of the pins  72 ,  74  and/or grooves may have a resiliency or elasticity to squeeze the pins  72 ,  74  between the constriction in the grooves under sufficient force. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 8A to 8C , an embodiment of another latch  80  suitable for use with the connector housings described herein may include a hole  82  to receive a rod or pin (e.g., not shown, but made of metal, plastic, or other suitable material). The pin may snap into the grooves of the connector housing and may be of sufficient diameter to stay positioned at the pivot points unless acted on with sufficient load to translate the latch  80  and pin from one pivot point to the other pivot point. For example, the material of the pin and/or grooves may have a resiliency or elasticity to squeeze between the constriction in the grooves under sufficient force. 
     Some embodiments may advantageously provide a connector latch design with a relaxation mechanism for DIMM shock failure mitigation. With the increase of memory capacity on platform motherboards (e.g., 12, DIMMS, 24 DIMMs, 32 DIMMs, 48 DIMMs, etc.) and the increase of DIMM heat spreader mass (e.g., DDR4 DIMM heat spreader mass of 30 grams, 40 grams, 50 grams, 60 grams, etc.), a board level shock test may become a failure point (e.g., either an actual test failure or a simulated test failure). In one example with 48 DIMMs, the motherboard deflection may significantly higher because of the total DIMM mass as compared to platforms with fewer DIMMs. The increased mass may increase DIMM connector shock failure risk significantly due to the excessive board deflection. 
     A common DIMM connector failure mode under shock may include a broken latch. With a more robust design for the DIMM latch, another common shock failure mode is a DIMM connector solder joint j-lead pulling out of the connector housing. Both of these failure modes may have the same root cause of heavy DIMM mass. In addition, surface mounted DIMM connector solder joint shock failure risk will be increased with increased connector count and mass. At a component level, the DIMM mass is expected to increase due to increased thermal power. At a board level, the number of DIMMs is also expected to increase due to the need for increased memory capacity. The shock risk will continue to increase for DIMM connector failure and a solution at component level would be highly beneficial. 
     Some embodiments may advantageously mitigate failures under shock load with a DIMM connector latch design that includes a spring mechanism to allow a DIMM latch to extend under shock load and allows the DIMM to re-seat back to the DIMM connector after the shock load. Some embodiments advantageously allow more board flexure and reduce potential DIMM connector damage. Some embodiments may also avoid a more common DIMM pop out failure mode after shock tests. For example, some embodiments may include cooperating structures arranged between the connector body, the latch, and the circuit board to allow the circuit board to partially unseat under a heavy shock while retaining the circuit board in the connector body, such that the circuit board can be easily fully reseated. 
     Examples of suitable cooperating structures include any of a variety of slot/tab structures, pin/groove structures, rod/channel structures, etc., configured to allow translation of the latch under the shock load. When the circuit board becomes partially unseated due to the shock load, the stress on the latch and connector body may be significantly reduced (e.g., the motherboard may flex more while transferring less stress to the latch and/or connector body as compared to when the circuit board is fully seated). Advantageously, some embodiments may reduce or eliminate DIMM connector damage under shock load, save cost for various system level shock solutions (e.g., dampers, etc.), and may have no impact to routing on either the circuit board or the motherboard. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 9A to 9B , an embodiment of a connector housing  90  may include a barbell shaped groove  92  to receive an insertion/ejection latch  94 . When the latch  94  is in the installed position, the groove  92  allows the latch  94  at the pivot to move from the bottom side ( FIG. 9A ) to the top side ( FIG. 9B ), when the pulling force exceeds designed threshold for shock load. During DIMM insertion and ejection (e.g., a normal installation process), the latch  94  will only rotate along the bottom pivot point without the vertical movement. The vertical movement happens only under high shock load, which relaxes the high stress to the latch  94 , j-lead, and solder joints due to high board deflection. Advantageously, the latch  94  is captive and will not fall apart after the relaxation movement. Because the relaxation movement is visible, the latch  94  may be easily pushed down back to its original position if the shock load pulled the latch  94  up. 
     ADDITIONAL NOTES AND EXAMPLES 
     Example 1 includes a connector housing for a circuit board, comprising a connector body to receive the circuit board, and a relaxation mechanism mechanically coupled to the connector body to relax stress on the connector housing and maintain the circuit board received in the connector body under a load which exceeds a load threshold. 
     Example 2 includes the connector housing of Example 1, wherein the relaxation mechanism comprises a latch to retain the circuit board in the connector body, wherein the latch is mechanically coupled to the connector body with a structure that allows translation of the latch under the load which exceeds the load threshold. 
     Example 3 includes the connector housing of Example 2, wherein the structure that allows translation of the latch under the load which exceeds the load threshold comprises a groove disposed in one of the connector body and the latch to allow translation of the latch relative to the connector body under the load which exceeds the load threshold. 
     Example 4 includes the connector housing of Example 3, wherein the groove comprises a first pivot point to retain the circuit board fully seated in the connector when a load on the latch is less than or equal to the load threshold, and a second pivot point to retain the circuit board partially seated in the connector body when the load on the latch exceeds the load threshold. 
     Example 5 includes the connector housing of Example 4, further comprising a spring configured to allow the translation of the latch from the first pivot point to the second pivot point only when the load on the latch exceeds the load threshold. 
     Example 6 includes the connector housing of any of Examples 3 to 5, wherein the connector body includes a slot to receive the circuit board. 
     Example 7 includes the connector housing of Example 6, wherein a lengthwise centerline of the groove is substantially perpendicular to a lengthwise centerline of the slot. 
     Example 8 includes the connector housing of any of Examples 1 to 7, wherein the circuit board comprises a memory card. 
     Example 9 includes the connector housing of any of Examples 1 to 8, wherein the circuit board comprises a dual-inline memory module. 
     Example 10 includes a connector for a memory card, comprising a connector housing including an elongated slot to receive the memory card, the connector housing including a first set of opposed grooves at a first end of the elongated slot, wherein a lengthwise centerline of the first set of opposed grooves is transverse to a lengthwise centerline of the elongated slot, and a second set of opposed grooves at a second end of the elongated slot opposite to the first end wherein a lengthwise centerline of the second set of opposed grooves is transverse to the lengthwise centerline of the elongated slot, a first latch received within the first set of opposed grooves of the connector housing, and a second latch received within the second set of opposed grooves of the connector housing. 
     Example 11 includes the connector of Example 10, wherein the first set of opposed grooves include a first pivot point at a first end of the first set of opposed grooves and a second pivot point at a second end of the first set of opposed grooves, and the second set of opposed grooves include a first pivot point at a first end of the second set of opposed grooves and a second pivot point at a second end of the second set of opposed grooves. 
     Example 12 includes the connector of Example 11, wherein the first set of opposed grooves include a first spring to allow translation of the first latch between the first and second pivot points of the first set of opposed grooves only when a load on the first latch exceeds a load threshold, and the second set of opposed grooves include a second spring to allow translation of the second latch between the first and second pivot points of the second set of opposed grooves only when a load on the second latch exceeds the load threshold. 
     Example 13 includes the connector of any of Examples 11 to 12, wherein the respective second pivot points of the first and second sets of opposed grooves are positioned relative to the respective first pivot points of the first and second sets of opposed grooves to relax stress on the respective first and second latches under a shock load when the first and second latches are positioned at the respective second pivot points. 
     Example 14 includes the connector of any of Examples 10 to 13, wherein the respective lengthwise centerlines of the first and second sets of opposed grooves are substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise centerline of the elongated slot. 
     Example 15 includes the connector of any of Examples 10 to 14, wherein the memory card comprises a dual-inline memory module. 
     Example 16 includes a connector housing for a circuit board substrate, comprising a first housing portion including an elongated slot to receive the circuit board substrate, a second housing portion mechanically coupled to the first housing portion at an end of the elongated slot, the second housing portion including a first groove to receive a latch, wherein a lengthwise centerline of the first groove is transverse to a lengthwise centerline of the elongated slot, and a third housing portion mechanically coupled to the first housing portion at an end of the elongated slot and opposed to the second housing portion, the third housing portion including a second groove to receive the latch, wherein a lengthwise centerline of the second groove is aligned to the lengthwise centerline of the first groove and the second groove is directly opposed to the first groove. 
     Example 17 includes the connector housing of Example 16, wherein the first groove includes a first pivot point at a first end of the first groove and a second pivot point at a second end of the first groove, and the second groove includes a first pivot point at a first end of the second groove and a second pivot point at a second end of the second groove. 
     Example 18 includes the connector housing of Example 17, wherein the first and second grooves include a spring to allow translation of the latch between the respective first and second pivot points of the first and second grooves only when a load on the latch exceeds a load threshold. 
     Example 19 includes the connector housing of any of Examples 17 to 18, wherein the respective second pivot points of the first and second grooves are positioned relative to the respective first pivot points of the first and second grooves to relax stress on the latch under a shock load when the latch is positioned at the respective second pivot points. 
     Example 20 includes the connector housing of any of Examples 16 to 19, wherein the respective lengthwise centerlines of the first and second grooves are substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise centerline of the elongated slot. 
     Example 21 includes the connector housing of any of Examples 16 to 20, wherein the circuit board substrate comprises a memory card. 
     Example 22 includes the connector housing of any of Examples 16 to 21, wherein the circuit board substrate comprises a dual-inline memory module. 
     Example 23 includes the connector housing of any of Examples 16 to 22, further comprising a fourth housing portion mechanically coupled to the first housing portion at another end of the elongated slot opposite of the second and third housing portions, the fourth housing portion including a set of opposed grooves to receive a second latch, wherein a lengthwise centerline of the set of opposed grooves is transverse to the lengthwise centerline of the elongated slot, wherein the set of opposed grooves includes a first pivot point at a first end of the set of opposed grooves and a second pivot point at a second end of the set of opposed grooves, and wherein the set of opposed grooves include a second spring to allow translation of the second latch between the respective first and second pivot points of the set of opposed grooves only when a second load on the second latch exceeds a second load threshold. 
     Example 24 includes a connector for a circuit board substrate, comprising slot means for receiving the circuit board substrate, latch means for retaining the circuit board substrate in the slot means, and relaxation means for relaxing stress on the latch means during a shock load on the latch means while retaining the circuit board substrate. 
     Example 25 includes the connector of Example 24, wherein the relaxation means comprises groove means for allowing translation of the latch means during the shock load. 
     Example 26 includes the connector of Example 25, wherein the groove means comprises first pivot means for retaining the circuit board in the slot means when a load on the latch means is less than or equal to a load threshold, and second pivot means for retaining the circuit board when the load on the latch means exceeds the load threshold. 
     Example 27 includes the connector of any of Examples 25 to 26, further comprising spring means for allowing translation of the latch means only when a load on the latch means exceeds a load threshold. 
     Example 28 includes the connector of any of Examples 25 to 27, wherein respective lengthwise centerlines of the groove means are substantially perpendicular to a lengthwise centerline of the slot means. 
     Example 29 includes the connector of any of Examples 24 to 28, wherein the circuit board substrate comprises a memory card. 
     Example 30 includes the connector of any of Examples 24 to 29, wherein the circuit board substrate comprises a dual-inline memory module. 
     Embodiments are applicable for use with all types of semiconductor integrated circuit (“IC”) chips. Examples of these IC chips include but are not limited to processors, controllers, chipset components, programmable logic arrays (PLAs), memory chips, network chips, systems on chip (SoCs), SSD/NAND controller ASICs, and the like. In addition, in some of the drawings, signal conductor lines are represented with lines. Some may be different, to indicate more constituent signal paths, have a number label, to indicate a number of constituent signal paths, and/or have arrows at one or more ends, to indicate primary information flow direction. This, however, should not be construed in a limiting manner. Rather, such added detail may be used in connection with one or more exemplary embodiments to facilitate easier understanding of a circuit. Any represented signal lines, whether or not having additional information, may actually comprise one or more signals that may travel in multiple directions and may be implemented with any suitable type of signal scheme, e.g., digital or analog lines implemented with differential pairs, optical fiber lines, and/or single-ended lines. 
     Example sizes/models/values/ranges may have been given, although embodiments are not limited to the same. As manufacturing techniques (e.g., photolithography) mature over time, it is expected that devices of smaller size could be manufactured. In addition, well known power/ground connections to IC chips and other components may or may not be shown within the figures, for simplicity of illustration and discussion, and so as not to obscure certain aspects of the embodiments. Further, arrangements may be shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring embodiments, and also in view of the fact that specifics with respect to implementation of such block diagram arrangements are highly dependent upon the platform within which the embodiment is to be implemented, i.e., such specifics should be well within purview of one skilled in the art. Where specific details (e.g., circuits) are set forth in order to describe example embodiments, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments can be practiced without, or with variation of, these specific details. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting. 
     The term “coupled” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated. 
     As used in this application and in the claims, a list of items joined by the term “one or more of” may mean any combination of the listed terms. For example, the phrase “one or more of A, B, and C” and the phrase “one or more of A, B, or C” both may mean A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B and C. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.