Patent Document

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/290,420, filed on Apr. 13, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,637 which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/698,069 filed on Aug. 15, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,850, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of data storage and retrieval, and in particular, data storage and retrieval from semiconductor memories. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     In today&#39;s computer environment, DRAMs are one of the dominant memory technologies. DRAMs are the preferred choice for large main memories because they are inexpensive, fast and consume little power. 
     DRAMs are typically manufactured in discrete semiconductor packages having different input/output (I/O) data widths of, for example, four, eight, or sixteen output data bits, and are thus referred to as x4, x8, or x16 DRAMs, respectively. The number of data bits that a computer can simultaneously address and manipulate, i.e., the computer bus width, is typically much larger than that commonly available with DRAMs. For example, computers produced today may have bus widths of 32, 64, or 128 bits. To accommodate these bus widths, groups of DRAMs are packaged together to form single memory modules, for example, DIMMs (Dual In-line Memory Modules) or SIMMs (Single In-line Memory Modules). 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a proposed 64 bit DIMM including eight x8 DRAMs  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120  and  122 . IC chipset  102  latches data as one sixty-four bit word from/to DRAMs  108  through  122  and then, when appropriate, transmits/receives the sixty-four bit word on computer bus  124 . Central Processing Unit (CPU)  125  is connected to bus  124 . Computer bus  124  couples the memory system shown to other sections of the computer. Each DRAM  108 - 122  includes an 8 bit data out (DQ) bus  106  and a one bit clock-out  104 . For clarity, the detailed structure of the DIMM address and enable lines are not shown. 
     The data from each DRAM  108 - 122  is transferred to/from IC chipset  102  synchronously. That is, when DRAM  108  outputs data to its data bus  106 , it simultaneously raises its clock-out line  104 . IC chipset  102  latches the received data from data bus  106  when it detects the raised clock signal. 
     Load capacitance and signal line length introduce propagation delays in any signal transmitted from the DRAMs  108  through  122  to IC chipset  102 . Accordingly, although data may be transmitted simultaneously from DRAMs  122  and  108 , data transmitted from DRAM  122  can arrive at IC chipset  102  before data from DRAM  108 . In this situation, to receive data from all the DRAMs  108  through  122  in the absence of clock-out signals, IC chipset  102  must wait for the propagation delay associated with each DRAM to resolve itself before initiating latching of all 64 bits. As a result, a long waiting period is required which undesirably restricts the maximum frequency at which the DIMM  100  can operate. 
     A separate clock line has been proposed on each DRAM, as shown in FIG. 1, in order to overcome the above-described problem. Although the eight data bits from DRAM  108  will experience a different propagation delay than the eight data bits from DRAM  122 , for example, the DRAM data is transmitted simultaneously with its own clock signal. Because the data lines and clock lines from, for example, DRAM  108 , see the same capacitive load and signal line length, the propagation delays are approximately the same (i.e., the lines are matched), and the clock and data signals therefore arrive simultaneously. This allows the IC chipset  102  to latch the data received from each of DRAMs  108 - 122  in response to the received clock signal, thereby minimizing the delay encountered with the DIMMs discussed above. 
     Consumers in the computer industry desire a modular, easily upgradeable memory. To meet this demand, manufacturers have developed modular memory systems which allow additional DIMMs to be added. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a memory system illustrating a memory system constructed from multiple DIMMs. DIMM  200  includes eight x8 DRAMs  206  through  213  and DIMM  202  has four x16 DRAMs  214  through  217 . To simplify FIG. 2, only eight-bit data bus lines  220  and  221  coupling the data outputs of DRAMs  206 ,  207 , and  214  to data path IC  204  are shown. Although not shown, similar data buses connect DRAM groups  208 ,  209 , and  215 ;  210 ,  211 , and  216 ; and  212 ,  213 , and  217 . DIMM  200  has eight clock-outs connected to corresponding clock lines, one for each DRAM  206  through  213 . The clock lines from DRAMs  206  and  207  are illustratively labeled as lines  224  and  225 , respectively. DIMM  202  has four clock-outs, so each one is connected to two clock lines from DIMM  200 . For example, the clock output  223  of DRAM  214  is coupled to clock lines  224  and  225 . Likewise, the clock line  232  of DRAM  215  is connected to clock lines  226  and  227 . Further, although not shown in FIG. 2, DIMMs  200  and  202  are connected to IC chipset  204  through a common address bus. Additionally, IC chipset  204  couples DIMMs  200  and  202  to CPU  229  through bus  228 . 
     Occasionally, upgrade DIMMs purchased by the consumer are made from DRAMs of different data widths. As a result, one DIMM will have more clock lines than the other. This is shown in FIG. 2, in which DIMM  200  has eight clock lines and DIMM  202  has four clock lines. Because DRAMs  206  through  213  each have eight data lines, their respective clock-outs can be directly connected to the clock input of IC chipset  204 . Each clock line from the x16 DRAM, however, must be split and connected in parallel to two x8 DRAM clock lines. 
     Splitting the clock lines from the x16 DRAMs  214  through  217  solves the problem of having a different number of clock lines between DIMMs  200  and  202 , but introduces a new problem: splitting the clock line from DRAMs  214  through  217  introduces additional capacitive loads seen by the clock lines, but does not change the capacitive load seen by the data lines. Thus, the load seen by the DRAM clock line is no longer matched to the load of its corresponding data line, thereby introducing differences in the signal propagation time (also called signal skew). As explained above, differences in the signal propagation time between the clock and data signals decrease the speed at which the memory system can operate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The advantages and purpose of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages and purpose of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) arranged on a single integrated circuit is provided. The DRAM has a plurality of clock outputs and a plurality of data outputs, a first portion of the plurality of clock outputs being used to synchronously transfer a first portion of the plurality of data outputs. 
     Further, in another embodiment of the invention, a computer memory is provided which comprises a first memory module including a first plurality of memory components, each of which having a plurality of first data outputs and at least one timing signal output. A second memory module is further provided having a second plurality of memory components, each of which having a plurality of second data outputs and at least one timing signal output, a number of the first plurality of memory components is different than a number of the second plurality of memory components. A plurality of data lines couples each of the plurality of first data outputs of each of the first plurality of memory components to a respective one of each of the plurality of second data outputs of each of the second plurality of memory components. In addition, a plurality of timing signal lines couple each of the timing signal outputs of each of the first plurality of memory components to a respective one of the timing signal outputs of the second plurality of memory components in a one-to-one corresponden 
     Further, in accordance with the present invention, a data processing system is provided which comprises a first memory module including a first plurality of memory components, each of which having a plurality of first data outputs and at least a first timing signal output, and a second memory module including a second plurality of memory components, each of which having a plurality of second data outputs and at least a second timing signal output, a number of said first plurality of memory components is different than a number of said second plurality of memory components. A plurality of data lines couple each of the plurality of first data outputs of each of the first plurality of memory components to a respective one of each of the plurality of second data outputs of each of the second plurality of memory components. In addition, a data routing circuit of the data processing system is coupled to each of the plurality of data lines and at least selected ones of the first and second timing signal outputs of the first and second memory modules, respectively, wherein a ratio of a number of first data outputs to a number of first timing signal outputs coupled to the data routing circuit equals a ratio of a number of second data outputs to a number of second timing signal outputs coupled to the data routing circuit. 
     Moreover, a method of making a computer memory is provided comprising the steps of: providing a first memory module having a first plurality of memory components, each of which having a plurality of first data outputs and at least one timing signal output; providing a second memory module having a second plurality of memory components, each of which having a plurality of second data outputs and at least one timing signal output, a number of the first plurality of memory components is different than a number of said second plurality of memory components; coupling each of the plurality of first data outputs of each of said first plurality of memory components to a respective one of each of the plurality of second data outputs of each of the second plurality of memory components; and coupling each said at least one timing signal output of each of the first plurality of memory components to a respective one of the at least one timing signal output of the second plurality of memory components, whereby the capacitive load associated with each of the first and second data outputs is equal to a capacitive load associated with each of the first and second timing signal outputs. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a 64 bit DIMM made from eight, x8 DRAMs; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a memory system illustrating a conventional memory system constructed from multiple DIMMs; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one exemplary variation on the first embodiment. 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention. Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     This invention matches the data-out loads (i.e., impedance associated with capacitance, inductance, and resistance of the data lines) and the timing signal or clock-out loads of a multiple DIMM memory system in which the clock output widths of the DRAMs (preferably SDRAMs) of one DIMM do not equal widths of the DRAMs of the second DIMM. DRAM load matching is accomplished by providing multiple clock outputs on a DRAM, each clock output seeing a load matched to its corresponding data output. By matching the data-out loads and the clock-out loads, the invention reduces the difference in the propagation delays between a DRAM&#39;s clock-out and data-out, thus improving memory accessing performance. 
     To illustrate the advantages achieved by the present invention, a discussion of the capacitive loads in the proposed DIMM design and the DIMM of the present invention will be presented below. 
     Table 1 summarizes the loads seen by the DRAMs  206  through  217  of the conventional DIMMs shown in FIG.  2 . 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 DIMMs Present in 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 the System 
                 Data-Out Loads 
                 Clock-out Loads 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 DIMM 200 ONLY 
                 2 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 DIMM 202 ONLY 
                 2 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 DIMMs 200 and 202 
                 3 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The first row of table 1 assumes only DIMM  200  is connected in the memory system. In this case, the clock out of DRAM  206  would “see” two loads: its own output load and the receiving input load of line  224 . Each data out line of DRAM  206  would see two loads also, one being its own input/output load and the other being the corresponding input/output load of DRAM  214  (connected via the corresponding data line from bus  221 ). The system in the first row is balanced and will experience little propagation delay difference because the data-out loads and the clock-out loads are matched. 
     The second row of table 1 assumes only DIMM  202  is connected into the memory system. With only DIMM  202  in the system, the clock out of DRAM  214  sees 3 loads: its own, and the two input loads of IC chipset  204  (connected to lines  224  and  225 ). In a manner similar to the previous example, each data line would see two loads. In this configuration, the system is unbalanced, such that the clock lines and data lines will experience a measurable difference in their propagation delay. 
     In the third row of table 1 the memory system is configured as is shown in FIG. 2, in which both DIMMs  200  and  202  are present. In this configuration, the clock output for each DRAM sees five loads. The clock output  223  of DRAM  214 , for example, sees: its own load, the clock out load of DRAM  206 , the clock out load of DRAM  207 , and the input loads of IC chipset  204  (connected to lines  224  and  225 ). Each data output, however, sees three loads. For example, each data output of DRAM  214  connected to bus  221  sees: its own load, the data input/output load of DRAM  206 , and the data input/output load of IC Chipset  204  (connected via a line on bus  221 ). Thus, in this configuration, each DRAM clock-out sees two more loads than its corresponding data-out, potentially causing significant timing problems due to signal skew. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention. Except for DIMM  302 , the general structure of FIG. 3 is similar to that of FIG.  2 . 
     DIMM  300  preferably includes eight x8 DRAMs  306  through  313  and DIMM  302  includes four x16 DRAMs  314  through  317 . Accordingly, the number of DRAM chips in DIMMs  300  and  302  is different. DIMM  300  shares eight clock lines  324 ,  325  and  335 - 340  with DIMM  302 . Clock lines  324  and  325 , for example, are respectively connected to the clock outputs of DRAMs  306  and  307  and extend to a IC chipset  304 , a routing circuit, which couples DIMMs  300  and  302  to computer bus  341  and CPU  342 . The remaining clock lines  335 - 340  are respectively connected between the clock outputs of DRAMs  308 - 317  and to data path IC  304 . Each of the clock outputs of DIMM  300  are coupled to a respective one of the clock outputs of DIMM  302  in a one-to-one correspondence. In order to simplify FIG. 3, only eight-bit data lines  320  and  321  are shown supplying data from DRAMs  306 ,  307  and  314  to datapath IC Chipset  304 . Similar data lines supply data from DRAMs  307 - 313  and  315 - 317 . 
     DIMM  302  preferably has eight clock-out lines; two from each DRAM  314  through  317 . Each clock output of DRAMs  314  through  317  is constructed so that it sees the same delay, i.e., an equal delay in the system clock is experienced inside the DRAM by both the clock and the data outputs. 
     Each of DRAMs  314  to  317  preferably include two clock outputs, each of which is respectively coupled to one of the clock outputs of DRAMs  306 - 313 . Accordingly, for example, first clock output line  323  of DRAM  314  is coupled with clock output of DRAM  306  through clock output line  324 , while second clock output  350  of DRAM  314  is coupled to the clock output of DRAM  307  through clock output line  325 . Similarly, clock output line  335  couples the clock output of DRAM  308  with a first clock output line  326  of DRAM  314 , and clock output line  336  couple the second clock output of DRAM  315  with the clock output of DRAM  309 . The clock outputs of DRAMs  310 - 313  and  316 - 317  are connected similarly, as shown. 
     As shown in table 2, the novel arrangement of the clock lines in the present invention significantly improves the clock and data load characteristics over the prior art. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 DIMMs Present in 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 the System 
                 DQ Loads 
                 Clock-out Loads 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 DIMM 300 ONLY 
                 2 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 DIMM 302 ONLY 
                 2 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 DIMMs 300 and 302 
                 3 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     For example, when only DIMM  300  is present in the system, the embodiment in FIG. 3 has the same load characteristics as that of FIG.  2 . There are two data-out loads and two clock-out loads seen by each data-out and each clock-out, respectively. Thus, the loads are matched and the system does not suffer from delays due to differences in signal propagation delays. 
     When only DIMM  302  is connected in the first embodiment, each data out sees two loads. For example, each data out of DRAM  314  sees its own input/output load and the input/output of IC chipset  304  (connected via one line on either bus  320  or  321 ). In addition, each clock-out in DRAM  314  also sees two loads. The first clock out of DRAM  314 , for example, sees its own load and the input load of IC chipset  304  (connected via line  324 ), while the second clock output  350  sees its own load and the input load of IC chipset  304  (connected via line  325 ). Therefore, as in the previous configuration, the loads are matched. 
     Moreover, when both DIMM  300  and  302  are present in the memory system the configuration causing the most propagation delay difference in the prior art, the data-out loads and the clock out loads are matched at three each. Namely, the data-out of DRAM  314  corresponding to one of lines  321 , for example, sees: its own load, the load of the corresponding input/output pin of DRAM  306 , and the load of the corresponding input/output pin of IC chipset  304  (connected via data out line  321 ). The first clock out of DRAM  314  sees: its own load, the corresponding load of DRAM  306 , and the corresponding input load of IC chipset  304 ; and the second clock sees its own load, the corresponding clock output load of DRAM  307  and the input load of IC chipset  304 . Further, the clock output of DRAM  307 , for example, also sees three loads. Thus, each clock output and each data output sees three capacitive loads. As such, the data and clock signals output from DIMMs  300  and  302  have the same delay, thereby eliminating the skew encountered by the prior art memory systems. Thus, the ratio of the number of clock outs to DQs of DIMM  300  (i.e., 1:8) equals the ratio of clock outs to DQ of DIMM  302  (also 1:8). Accordingly, as noted above, the capacitive loads seen by each DQ is the same as that seen by each clock out. 
     Although the preferred embodiment was described with two DIMMs using x8 DRAMs and x16 DRAMs, the invention is not limited to this configuration. In particular, the present invention can be generally applied to three or more DIMMs using two or more DRAM widths. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one exemplary variation on the first embodiment. Alternatively, the present invention is applicable to a single module. 
     In FIG. 4, DIMM  400  includes four x4 DRAMs,  401  through  404 ; DIMM  410  is comprised of two x8 DRAMs,  411  and  412 ; and DIMM  420  is comprised of one x16 DRAM,  421 . Clock lines  430  and data buses  440  connect the DIMMs to the system IC chipset. As shown in the figure, two clock out lines emanate from the DRAMs  411 ,  412 ; four clock-out lines emanate from DRAM  421 , and one clock-out line emanates from each of DRAMs  401  through  404 . Correspondingly, each DIMM  400 ,  410 , and  420  has four clock-outs. Thus, each clock out sees loads from three pins and a load due to the interconnecting clock line. Similarly, each data-out line sees loads from three pins and a load due to the interconnecting data line. 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 2, except that in FIG. 5, DIMM  500  comprises sixteen x4 DRAMs  501  through  516  instead of eight x8 DRAMs. Each four bit data-out bus  530  from DRAM  501  through  516  is connected in parallel with four bits from DRAMs  521  through  524  to form one sixteen-bit-bus per DRAM  521  through  524 . For the sake of clarity, not all the DQ lines are shown. 
     According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, each x16 DRAM has two clock-outs. Each clock out from the x16 DRAMs is connected to the clock out of every other x4 DRAM (clock-outs  502 ,  504 ,  506 ,  508 ,  510 ,  512 ,  514 , and  516 ). The clock-outs of DRAMs  501 ,  503 ,  505 ,  507 ,  509 ,  511 ,  513 , and  515  are not connected (N/C). 
     In operation, DRAMs  501  and  502  transmit and receive data synchronized to the clock signal from DRAM  502 . Although there may be some clock skew between the data of DRAM  501  and the clock of DRAM  502 , because the DRAM chips  501  and  502  are of the same design and are positioned physically close to one another, the clock skew is minimal (e.g., better than the extreme case of using only one clock out for this module) and well within tolerable system limits. 
     This embodiment is advantageous because DIMMs constructed with x16 DRAMs having only two clock-outs are rendered compatible with DIMMs constructed with either x8 or x4 DRAMs without excessive system delay. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. 
     Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

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