Rambus patent hat trick

Three Rambus patents were issued today (5/24/05). "Hat trick," eh?

More Rambus toll plazas on the information highway.

US Patent No.: 6,897,699
Clock distribution network with process, supply-voltage, and temperature compensation

Abstract
Described are methods and systems for distributing low-skew, predictably timed clock signals. A clock distribution network includes a plurality of dynamically adjustable clock buffers. A control circuit connected to each clock buffer controls the delays through the clock buffers in response to process, voltage, and temperature variations, and consequently maintains a relatively constant signal-propagation delay through the network. In one embodiment, each clock buffer includes skew-offset circuitry that adds to or subtracts from the PVT compensated delay values provided by the PVT control circuit to simplify clock skew minimization.

Inventors: Nguyen; Huy (San Jose, CA); Vu; Roxanne (San Jose, CA); Lau; Benedict (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 199232
Filed: July 19, 2002


US Patent No.: 6,897,713
Method and apparatus for distributed voltage compensation with a voltage driver that is responsive to feedback

Abstract
An integrated circuit has one or more components that operate with reference to a distributed reference voltage. A reference voltage driver produces a compensated reference voltage, and the compensated reference voltage is distributed to form the distributed reference voltage at the components. Due to factors such as trace resistance and gate leakage, the distributed reference voltage is degraded relative to the compensated reference voltage. The reference voltage driver is responsive to feedback derived from the distributed reference voltage to adjust the compensated reference voltage so that the distributed reference voltage is approximately equal to a nominal reference voltage.

Inventors: Nguyen; Huy M. (San Jose, CA); Lau; Benedict C. (San Jose, CA); Chou; Adam Chuen-Huei (San Jose, CA); Vu; Roxanne T. (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 076666
Filed: February 14, 2002


US Patent No.: 6,898,085
Multiple channel modules and bus systems using same

Abstract
Various module structures are disclosed which may be used to implement modules having 1 to N channels. Bus systems may be formed by the interconnection of such modules.

Inventors: Haba; Belgacem (Cupertino, CA); Perego; Richard E. (San Jose, CA); Nguyen; David (San Jose, CA); Garrett, Jr.; Billy W. (Mountain View, CA); Tsern; Ely (Los Altos, CA); Hampel; Craig E. (San Jose, CA); Yip; Wai-Yeung (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 695854
Filed: October 30, 2003

Hat tip to FinzToRite of the Pinehurst Thread for the links.