BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of output buffers, and particularly to output buffers used to drive terminated signal lines.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are many applications in which output buffers drive respective signal lines to convey data to one or more devices connected to the signal lines. In such applications, it is important that the integrity of the data on the signal lines be maintained, so that it can be accurately detected by the receiving devices.

One such application is a random access memory (RAM) system. Dual-Inline Memory Modules (DIMMs) are the industry-standard platform on which RAM is provided for digital computers. Each DIMM is a printed-circuit board which contains a number of individual RAM integrated circuits (ICs) or â€œchips.â€ DIMMs typically contain address and/or control registers which distribute data bits to each of the DIMM's RAM chips via signal lines driven by respective output buffers.

A typical DIMM arrangement is shown in

FIG. 1

a. An output buffer 10 includes a drive circuit 12 which drives a signal line 14. The DIMM includes a number of RAM chips 16; dynamic RAM (DRAM) chips are shown in

FIG. 1

, though a DIMM can include other RAM types as well. Signal line 14 is routed to an address or control input on each RAM chip.

DIMMs are provided in a variety of configurations. Each DIMM type has an associated set of specifications, promulgated by the industry-supported JEDEC Solid State Technology Association international standards body, which govern the DIMM's configuration and operation. For some DIMM types, the specifications require that each signal line be â€œterminatedâ€ ; i.e., that a termination resistor R_tbe connected between each signal line and a fixed voltage, denoted in

FIG. 1

as V+. Termination resistors serve to improve the signal quality on transmission lines such as signal line 14.

The use of termination resistors in this way can have an undesirable side effect, however, in that they tend to increase the DIMM's power consumption. For example, assuming that the output impedance of drive circuit 12 is Ëœ0 Î©, V+ is 0.75 volts, and R_tis 30 Î©, then the static power dissipation P_dissassociated with one signal line is:

P_diss=(V+)²/R_t=18.75 mW/signal line. There are typically 20-30 signal lines on a DIMM, such that power dissipation due to R_tcan be 500 mW or more.

One approach which has been suggested to reduce P_dissis to make the output of drive circuit 12 a â€˜tri-stateâ€™ output, which presents a high impedance to signal line 14 during a low power or â€˜standbyâ€™ mode. This reduces the voltage across R_tto zero, and thus P_dissis also reduced to zero. However, this solution may give rise to another problem, which is illustrated in

FIGS. 1

b and 1c. Signals provided to a DRAM input are typically received by a line receiver 20, which determines the logic state of the signal line by comparing the signal line voltage (V_D) with a reference voltage (V_ref). As shown in

FIG. 1

c, the power consumed by line receiver 20 is greatest when V_Dis equal to V_ref, and decreases as the difference between V_Dand V_refincreases. V_refis typically made equal to one-half of the memory system's supply voltage, which is also a preferred voltage for V+. When V_ref=V+, enabling the â€˜standbyâ€™ mode causes V_Dto be pulled up to V_refvia termination resistor R_t. This causes the power consumption of each DRAM line receiver to spike, resulting in a total power consumption which may be unacceptably high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An output buffer with a switchable output impedance is presented which overcomes the problems noted above, by reducing power dissipation that would otherwise arise due the termination resistor on a signal line being driven, as well as avoiding undesirable power consumption by signal line receivers such as those found in DRAM chips.

The present output buffer is designed for driving a terminated signal line. The buffer includes a drive circuit, and a means for switching the output impedance of the drive circuit between a relatively low valueâ€”typically <20 Î©â€”when the output buffer is operated in a first, â€˜normalâ€™ mode, and a value greater than the â€˜normalâ€™ value when the output buffer is operated in a second mode such as a low power or â€˜standbyâ€™ mode. By increasing the drive circuit's output impedance while in â€˜standbyâ€™ mode, power dissipation due to the termination resistor is reduced. Several means for controlling the drive circuit's output impedance are described.

The present output buffer may be advantageously employed in any application for which terminated signal lines need to be driven. The buffer can be particular useful when used in a memory system as described above, such as a DDR3 memory system having signal lines terminated in accordance with applicable JEDEC specifications. In this application, additional power savings may be realized by arranging the buffer such that the increased impedance in low power mode shifts the signal line voltage so as to avoid the voltage range over which a line receiver's power consumption is greatest. When so arranged, a memory system's total power consumption can be significantly reduced.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

a is a block diagram of a known memory system configuration.

FIG. 1

b is a block diagram depicting a DRAM chip which includes a line receiver.

FIG. 1

c is a graph plotting line voltage versus power consumption for the line receiver of

FIG. 1

b.

FIG. 2

is a block diagram of an output buffer per the present invention, as it might be employed in a memory system application.

FIG. 3

is a schematic diagram of one possible implementation of an output buffer per the present invention.

FIG. 4

is a schematic diagram of another possible implementation of an output buffer per the present invention.

FIG. 5

is a schematic diagram of another possible implementation of an output buffer per the present invention.

FIG. 6

is a schematic diagram of another possible implementation of an output buffer per the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present output buffer with switchable output impedance is intended for use driving terminated signal lines, particularly when power consumption is a concern. By controlling the buffer's output impedance, the power consumption of a system employing the buffer can be reduced in comparison with systems which lack this capability.

Though the present buffer is generally applicable to any terminated signal line application, a primary application is in a memory system, in which each buffer drives a respective terminated address or control line routed to multiple RAM chips populating a DIMM memory module. For example, for DIMMs in compliance with the DDR3 specifications promulgated by JEDEC, each address and control line is routed to multiple DRAM chips on the DIMM, and each line is terminated with a termination resistor having a resistance R_t. For purposes of illustration, this application is described throughout, though the invention is in no way limited to use with DIMMs.

The basic principles of an output buffer per the present invention are illustrated in

FIG. 2

. A signal line 30 is terminated with a termination resistor having a resistance R_t, which is connected between the signal line and a fixed voltage V+. Signal line 30 is driven by an output buffer 32; in a DIMM application as described above, output buffer 32 conveys data bits to an input of each RAM chip 34 on the DIMM via signal line 30.

Output buffer 32 includes a drive circuit 36 which produces an output 38. Buffer 32 also includes a means for switching the output impedance of drive circuit 36 between at least two values. Typically, the buffer is arranged such that the output impedance is switchable between a relatively low impedance (typically <20Î©) when the buffer is operated in a first, â€˜normalâ€™ mode, and an output impedance which is greater than the â€˜normalâ€™ mode value when the buffer is operated in a second, â€˜standbyâ€™ mode. The switchable impedance (39) is represented in

FIG. 2

with a variable resistance R_addconnected in series with the output of drive circuit 36, though means other than a series resistance might also be used, as discussed below. Note that, in â€˜standbyâ€™ mode, the drive circuit output need not go into a â€˜tri-stateâ€™ mode as in the prior art. By making the drive circuit's output impedance switchable as described herein, the drive circuit output may remain at a logic â€˜0â€™ or logic â€˜1â€™ state in â€˜standbyâ€™ mode.

Increasing the impedance of the drive circuit output reduces the power dissipation that arises due to the termination resistor. When R_add=0, static power dissipation P_dissis given by:
P_diss=(V+)²/R_t

Assuming R_t=30Î© and V+=0.75 volts,
P_diss=(V+)²/R_t=18.75 mW/signal line. There are typically 20-30 signal lines on a DIMM, such that P_dissdue to R_tcan be 500 mW or more.

However, when R_addis increased to, for example, 100Î©, the equation for P_dissbecomes:

P_diss=(V+)²/(R_t+R_add)=4.33 mW/signal line. Thus, switching the output impedance of buffer 32 from Ëœ0Î© to Ëœ100Î© reduces static power dissipation to about one-fourth its previous value.

The increase in the drive circuit's output impedance in â€˜standbyâ€™ mode also serves to shift the signal line voltage (V_D). Using the values for V+, R_addand R_tfrom the example above, during â€˜standbyâ€™ mode, the signal line voltage V_Dis given by:
V_D=(V+* R_add)/(R_add+R_t)Ëœ0.58 volts.

If V_Dis received by line receivers as shown in
FIGS. 1
b and 1c, the increased output impedance ideally shifts V_Dout of the range over which the line receiver's power consumption is greatest, thereby resulting in a further reduction in power dissipation. The non-zero value of R_addshould be chosen such that, when the drive circuit output is a logic â€˜0â€™, V_Dis low enough so that the power consumed by the line receivers coupled to the driven signal line is near zero; similarly, if the drive circuit output is a logic â€˜1â€™, V_Dshould be high enough to avoid the voltage range for which the line receivers' power consumption is greatest. This can be achieved by choosing a small value for R_add. However, as shown above, the smaller the value of R_addthe larger the static power dissipation in the termination. Hence, a suitable median value needs to be chosen for R_add, based on system characteristics like line receiver power dissipation vs. signal line voltage, termination value, supply voltage and desired power savings.

The output impedance of drive circuit 36 may be made switchable by a wide variety of means. Several possible exemplary implementations are described below; however, other means by which the output impedance can be switched between a relatively low first value and at least one other value which is greater than the first value may also be acceptable.

One possible implementation for an output buffer per the present invention is shown in

FIG. 3

. Here, output buffer 32 contains at least two drive circuits (40, 41) connected in parallel. Each drive circuit receives the same input signal (42), and their outputs are tied together to provide a common output which drives signal line 30. The drive circuits are preferably activated in response to an â€œenableâ€ signal (EN). In this approach, the overall output impedance for buffer 32 varies with the number of active drive circuits connected in parallel, with output impedance decreasing as more drive circuits are activated.

For the exemplary embodiment shown in

FIG. 3

, the output impedance is controlled by enabling a desired number of drive circuits. The output buffer would typically receive an â€œoutput enableâ€ signal, which is logically combined with respective independent control signals ( ADD0, ADD1)â€”here, using AND gates 43 and 44â€”to provide enable signals to respective driver circuits. Additional resolution for setting the buffer's output impedance could be obtained by connecting additional drive circuits (46) in parallel with drive circuits 40 and 41 and providing control signals ( ADDX via AND gate 45) to their enable inputs as needed to achieve a desired output impedance. As the number of active parallel drive circuits (40,41,46) is increased, the output impedance decreases. A tri-state mode could be enabled by setting the â€œoutput enableâ€ signal so that all the drive circuits are off.

Another possible implementation for an output buffer 32 per the present invention is shown in

FIG. 4

. Here, the means for switching the buffer's output impedance comprises at least two pass gates (50, 52) connected in parallel, with each pass gate input connected to receive the output 38 of drive circuit 36, and each pass gate output connected together to drive signal output line 30. When so arranged, the overall output impedance for buffer 32 varies with the number of â€˜onâ€™ pass gates, with output impedance decreasing as more pass gates are turned on. Each pass gate is controlled with a respective pair of control signals (ADD0, ADD0; ADD1, ADD1). Additional output impedance values could be achieved by connecting additional pass gates (53) in parallel with pass gates 50 and 52 and providing control signals (ADDX, ADDX) to turn them on or off as needed to achieve a desired output impedance. A tri-state mode could be enabled by setting the control signals so that all the pass gates are off.

Another possible embodiment is shown in

FIG. 5

. Here, a resistance 54 is connected in series with the output of drive circuit 36, and a switch is connected across the resistance. In

FIG. 5

, the switch is implemented with a pass gate 56, though other switch types could also be used. The resistance itself could be implemented by using a physical resistor or using transistors.

In â€˜normalâ€™ mode, the switch is closed, so that resistance 54 is effectively bypassed and the drive circuit's output impedance is relatively low. In â€˜standbyâ€™ mode, the switch across resistance 54 is switched off, increasing the output impedance by an amount approximately equal to the value of resistance 54.

Further tunability of the output impedance could be achieved by connecting multiple switch/resistance pairs in series with the output of drive circuit 36, with each switch being independently controllable. Multiple pass gates could be used to realize such an implementation; note, however, that each pass gate adds capacitance which slows down the output signal.

Yet another possible implementation for an output buffer 32 per the present invention is shown in

FIG. 6

. Here, the means for switching the buffer's output impedance comprises an NMOS FET MN1 connected between the system's positive supply voltage V_DDand signal output line 30, and a PMOS FET MP1 connected between the signal output line and circuit ground. The FETs are operated so as to effectively increase the output buffer's output impedance and to shift the signal line voltage during â€˜standbyâ€™ mode. When implemented as shown in

FIG. 6

, during â€˜standbyâ€™ mode ( ADD=â€˜lowâ€™), drive circuit 36 is disabled. If the data bit (DATA) is â€˜highâ€™, MP1 is turned off, and MN1 is turned on and pulls signal line 30 to a voltage given by V_DD-V_th, where V_this MN1's threshold voltage; MN1 presents a high output impedance to signal line 30. If DATA is â€˜lowâ€™, MN1 is turned off, and MP1 is turned on and pulls signal line 30 to a voltage given by V_th, where V_this MP1's threshold voltage, again presenting a high output impedance to signal line 30.

Note that the methods shown in

FIGS. 3

, 4, 5 and 6 for controlling the output impedance switching means are merely exemplary. There are myriad ways in which these circuits could be realized, and many possible control schemes for operating them. It is only essential that the present output buffer include a drive circuit having an output adapted to drive a terminated signal line, and a means for switching the output impedance of the drive circuit between a relatively low â€˜normalâ€™ output impedance and a higher â€˜standbyâ€™ output impedance, so as to reduce the power dissipation of the output buffer when operated in â€˜standbyâ€™ mode.

Note that, though the schematics contained herein depict the use of field-effect transistors (FETs), bipolar transistors or other state-of-the-art current switching integrated circuit devices could also be used.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only in terms of the appended claims.