Area-efficient, width-adjustable signaling interface

Abstract

A lateral transfer path within an adjustable-width signaling interface of an integrated circuit component is formed by a chain of logic segments that may be intercoupled in different groups to effect the lateral data transfer required in different interface width configurations, avoiding the need for a dedicated transfer path per width configuration and thereby substantially reducing number of interconnects (and thus the area) required to implement the lateral transfer structure.

1 . A method of operation within a memory component, the method comprising:
 receiving write data exclusively via a first set of signaling-link receivers if a signaling interface of the memory component is set to a first logical width; and   receiving write data exclusively via a second set of signaling-link receivers if the signaling interface of the memory component is set to a second logical width, wherein the second logical width exceeds the first logical width and the first set of signaling-link receivers includes at least one signaling-link receiver not included in the second set of signaling-link receivers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second logical width is twice the first logical width and the second set of signaling-link receivers comprises twice as many signaling-link receivers as the first set of signaling-link receivers. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the memory component comprises a first number of signaling-link receivers that includes the first and second sets of signaling-link receivers and that defines a maximum width of the signaling interface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the first number of signaling-link receivers comprises twice as many signaling-link receivers as the second set of signaling-link receivers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving write data exclusively via a third set of signaling-link receivers if the signaling interface of the memory component is set to a third logical width, wherein the third logical width exceeds the second logical width, the second set of signaling-link receivers includes at least one signaling-link receiver not included in the third set of signaling-link receivers, and the first set of signaling-link receivers includes at least one signaling-link receiver not included in the third set of signaling-link receivers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising setting the signaling interface to one of a plurality of logical widths, including the first logical width and the second logical width, in response to a width configuration value received from a source external to the memory component. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein setting the signaling interface to one of a plurality of logical widths comprises switchably coupling a plurality of path segments in one of a plurality of possible configurations. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein, in a first configuration of the plurality of path segments, the plurality of path segments are switchably coupled between a first signaling-link receiver and a first plurality of data registers, and in a second configuration of the plurality of path segments, at least a portion of the plurality of path segments are switchably coupled between a second signaling-link receiver and the first plurality of data registers, the first signaling-link receiver being included within the first set of signaling-link receivers but not the second set of signaling-link receivers, and the second signaling-link receiver being included in the second set of signaling-link receivers but not the first set of signaling-link receivers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the at least a portion of the plurality of path segments includes a first path segment to convey a write data bit in a first direction when the plurality of path segments are in the second configuration and to convey a write data bit in a second direction, opposite the first direction, when the plurality of path segments are in the first configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the memory component comprises an integrated circuit die and wherein the plurality of signaling-link receivers are disposed adjacent an edge of the integrated circuit die, and wherein the first direction is parallel to the edge of the integrated circuit die. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 outputting read data exclusively via a first set of signaling-link output drivers if the signaling interface of the memory component is set to the first logical width; and 
 outputting read data exclusively via a second set of signaling-link output drivers if the signaling interface of the memory component is set to the second logical width, wherein the first set of signaling-link output drivers includes at least one signaling-link output driver that is not included within the second set of signaling-link output drivers. 
 
     
     
         12 . A memory component comprising:
 a first set of signaling-link receivers to receive write data if the memory component is set to a first logical width; and   a second set of signaling-link receivers to receive write data if the memory component is set to a second logical width, wherein the second logical width exceeds the first logical width and at least one of the signaling-link receivers within the first set is not used to receive write data if the memory component is set to the second logical width.   
     
     
         13 . The memory component of  claim 12  wherein the second logical width is twice the first logical width and the second set of signaling-link receivers comprises twice as many signaling-link receivers as the first set of signaling-link receivers. 
     
     
         14 . The memory component of  claim 12  wherein the first set of signaling-link receivers and the second-set of signaling-link receivers constitute respective subsets of signaling-link receivers within a first number of signaling-link receivers that defines a maximum logical width setting of the memory component. 
     
     
         15 . The memory component of  claim 14  wherein the first number of signaling-link receivers comprises twice as many signaling-link receivers as the second set of signaling-link receivers. 
     
     
         16 . The memory component of  claim 12  further comprising a third set of signaling-link receivers to receive write data if the memory component is set to a third logical width, wherein the third logical width exceeds the second logical width, at least one signaling-link receiver within the first set of signaling-link receivers is not used to receive write data if the memory component is set to the third logical width, and at least one signaling-link receiver within the second set of signaling-link receivers is not used to receive write data if the memory component is set to the third logical width. 
     
     
         17 . The memory component of  claim 12  further comprising a programmable register to store a width value that sets the logical width of the memory component, and control circuitry to load the width value into the programmable register in response to a command from a source external to the memory component. 
     
     
         18 . The memory component of  claim 12  further comprising a plurality of path segments switchably coupled in a first configuration between the first set of signaling-link receivers and a plurality of data registers when the memory component is set to the first logical width. 
     
     
         19 . The memory component of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of path segments is switchably coupled in a second configuration between the second set of signaling-link receivers and the plurality of data registers if the memory component is set to the second logical width. 
     
     
         20 . The memory component of  claim 19  wherein the plurality of path segments is decoupled from at least one signaling-link receiver of the first set of signaling-link receivers if coupled in the second configuration and decoupled from at least one signaling-link receiver of the second set of signaling-link receivers if coupled in the first configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The memory component of  claim 19  wherein the plurality of path segments includes a first path segment to convey a write data bit in a first direction if the plurality of path segments are coupled in the second configuration and to convey a write data bit in a second direction, opposite the first direction, if the plurality of path segments are coupled in the first configuration. 
     
     
         22 . The memory component of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of path segments, the plurality of data registers and the first and second sets of signaling-link receivers are implemented in an integrated circuit die, the first and second sets of signaling-link receivers being disposed adjacent an edge of the integrated circuit die, and wherein the first direction is parallel to the edge of the integrated circuit die. 
     
     
         23 . The memory component of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a first set of signaling-link output drivers to output read data if the memory component is set to the first logical width; and 
 a second set of signaling-link output drivers to output read data if the memory component is set to a second logical width, wherein at least one signaling-link output driver within the first set of signaling link output drivers is not used to output read data if the memory component is set to the second logical width. 
 
     
     
         24 . An integrated circuit device comprising:
 a data interface to output write data to a memory component; and   a command interface to output a logical width value to the memory component that establishes one of a plurality of logical widths within the memory component; and   a data interface to output write data that is to be received via a first set of signal receivers within the memory component if the logical width value specifies a first logical width, and to output write data that is to be received via a second set of signal receivers within the memory component if the logical width value specifies a second logical width, wherein the second logical width exceeds the first logical width and at least one signal receiver within the first set of signal receivers is not used to receive write data if the logical width value specifies the second logical width.   
     
     
         25 . The integrated circuit component of  claim 24  wherein the second logical width is twice the first logical width. 
     
     
         26 . The integrated circuit component of  claim 25  wherein the second logical width is half a maximum logical width of the memory component. 
     
     
         27 . A memory component comprising:
 means for receiving write data exclusively via a first set of signaling-link receivers if a signaling interface of the memory component is set to a first logical width; and   means for receiving write data exclusively via a second set of signaling-link receivers if the signaling interface of the memory component is set to a second logical width, wherein the second logical width exceeds the first logical width and the first set includes at least one signaling-link receiver that is not included within the second set.