System and method featuring a controller device and a memory module that includes an integrated circuit buffer device and a plurality of integrated circuit memory devices
A system comprises a master device and a first integrated circuit buffer device. A first plurality of integrated circuit memory devices are coupled to the first integrated circuit buffer device. A first plurality of signal lines are coupled to the first integrated circuit buffer device and the master device, wherein the first plurality of signal lines communicate control information, address information and data from the master device to the first integrated circuit buffer device. A second plurality of signal lines are coupled to the first integrated circuit buffer device. A second integrated circuit buffer device is coupled to the second plurality of signal lines, the second integrated circuit buffer device receives the control information, the address information and the data from the first integrated circuit buffer device over the second plurality of signal lines. A second plurality of integrated circuit memory devices are coupled to the second integrated circuit buffer device. A third plurality of signal lines are coupled to the first integrated circuit buffer device, the second integrated circuit buffer device and the master device. The third plurality of signal lines communicate information from the master device that initialize the first integrated circuit buffer device and the second integrated circuit buffer device.
This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/952,667 filed on Sep. 28, 2004 (still pending); which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/625,276 filed on Jul. 23, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,284); which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/272,024 filed on Oct. 15, 2002 (still pending); which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/479,375 filed on Jan. 5, 2000 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,161).
A processor-based system includes a processor coupled to a system controller through a processor bus. The system controller is used to couple at least one input device, at least one output device, and at least one data storage device to the processor. Also coupled to the processor bus is a memory hub controller coupled to a memory hub of at least one memory module having a plurality of memory devices coupled to the memory hub. The memory hub is coupled to the memory hub controller through a downstream bus and an upstream bus. The downstream bus has a width of M bits, and the upstream bus has a width of N bits. Although the sum of M and N is fixed, the individual values of M and N can be adjusted during the operation of the processor-based system to adjust the bandwidths of the downstream bus and the upstream bus.
A memory device includes a semiconductor substrate in which memory circuitry has been fabricated. An address converter and a control signal converter are coupled to an address decoder and control logic, respectively. The address and control converters are operable to receive and convert optical address and control signals, respectively, into corresponding electrical address signals applied to the address decoder and control signals applied to the control logic. A read/write circuit on the substrate is coupled to a data converter formed in the substrate. The data converter is operable to receive and convert optical write data signals into corresponding electrical data signals to be applied to the read/write circuit and to receive and convert electrical read data signals into corresponding optical read data signals.
A memory circuit power management system and method are provided. In use, an interface circuit is in communication with a plurality of memory circuits and a system. The interface circuit is operable to interface the memory circuits and the system for communicating a first number of power management signals to at least a portion of the memory circuits that is different from a second number of power management signals received from the system.
A memory circuit power management system and method are provided. An interface circuit is in communication with a plurality of memory circuits and a system. In use, the interface circuit is operable to perform a power management operation in association with only a portion of the memory circuits
