Rambus Inc. patents - pair of aces

United States Patent 7,142,612
Horowitz, et al. November 28, 2006

Method and apparatus for multi-level signaling

Abstract
A system transmits data on a multi-conductor signal path, which produces a current flow based on the value of the data transmitted. The system reduces changes in current flow between successive data transmissions by encoding data values represented by sets of N bits to produce corresponding sets of M symbols. Each set of M symbols represents multiple bits and each set of M symbols is selected to produce a current flow within a predetermined range of current flows. The sets of M symbols are transmitted across the multi-conductor signal path.

Inventors: Horowitz; Mark A. (Menlo Park, CA), Best; Scott C. (Palo Alto, CA), Stonecypher; William F. (San Jose, CA)

Assignee: Rambus, Inc. (Los Altos, CA)

Appl. No.: 09/992,911

Filed: November 16, 2001

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United States Patent 7,142,475
Tsern, et al. November 28, 2006

Memory device having a configurable oscillator for refresh operation

Abstract
A dynamic random access memory device includes banks of dynamic memory cells. The device performs a refresh operation in response to receiving a self refresh command, by refreshing rows of the memory cells located in each of the banks. Further, a refresh frequency for the refresh operation is selected such that the refresh frequency is minimized to conserve power consumed by the memory device while being sufficient to refresh the rows of the memory cells.

Inventors: Tsern; Ely K. (Los Altos, CA), Barth; Richard M. (Palo Alto, CA), Davis; Paul G. (San Jose, CA), Hampel; Craig E. (San Jose, CA)

Assignee: Rambus, Inc. (Los Altos, CA)

Appl. No.: 10/917,748

Filed: August 13, 2004

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