A semiconductor device includes a multilevel receiver including a signal determiner receiving a plurality of multilevel signals and outputting a result of mutual comparison of the plurality of multilevel signals as an N-bit signal, where N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2. A decoder restores a valid signal among the N-bit signals from the signal determiner to an M-bit data signal, where M is a natural number less than N. A clock generator receives a reference clock signal, generates an input clock signal using the reference clock signal, inputs the input clock signal to the signal determiner, and determines a phase of the input clock signal based on an occurrence probability of an invalid signal not restored to the M-bit data signal among the N-bit signals.

A clock mode configuration circuit for a memory device is described. A memory system includes any number of memory devices serially connected to each other, where each memory device receives a clock signal. The clock signal can be provided either in parallel to all the memory devices or serially from memory device to memory device through a common clock input. The clock mode configuration circuit in each memory device is set to a parallel mode for receiving the parallel clock signal, and to a serial mode for receiving a source synchronous clock signal from a prior memory device. Depending on the set operating mode, the data input circuits will be configured for the corresponding data signal format, and the corresponding clock input circuits will be either enabled or disabled. The parallel mode and the serial mode is set by sensing a voltage level of a reference voltage provided to each memory device.

A memory controller component of a memory system stores memory access requests within a transaction queue until serviced so that, over time, the transaction queue alternates between occupied and empty states. The memory controller transitions the memory system to a low power mode in response to detecting the transaction queue is has remained in the empty state for a predetermined time. In the transition to the low power mode, the memory controller disables oscillation of one or more timing signals required to time data signaling operations within synchronous communication circuits of one or more attached memory devices and also disables one or more power consuming circuits within the synchronous communication circuits of the one or more memory devices.

A memory controller component includes transmit circuitry and adjusting circuitry. The transmit circuitry transmits a clock signal and write data to a DRAM, the write data to be sampled by the DRAM using a timing signal. The adjusting circuitry adjusts transmit timing of the write data and of the timing signal such that an edge transition of the timing signal is aligned with an edge transition of the clock signal at the DRAM.

A memory component includes a memory core comprising dynamic random access memory (DRAM) storage cells and a first circuit to receive external commands. The external commands include a read command that specifies transmitting data accessed from the memory core. The memory component also includes a second circuit to transmit data onto an external bus in response to a read command and pattern register circuitry operable during calibration to provide at least a first data pattern and a second data pattern. During the calibration, a selected one of the first data pattern and the second data pattern is transmitted by the second circuit onto the external bus in response to a read command received during the calibration. Further, at least one of the first and second data patterns is written to the pattern register circuitry in response to a write command received during the calibration.

The embodiments described herein describe technologies for using the memory modules in different modes of operation, such as in a standard multi-drop mode or as in a dynamic point-to-point (DPP) mode (also referred to herein as an enhanced mode). The memory modules can also be inserted in the sockets of the memory system in different configurations.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed facilitate read-modify-write support in a coherent victim cache with parallel data paths. An example apparatus includes a random-access memory configured to be coupled to a central processing unit via a first interface and a second interface, the random-access memory configured to obtain a read request indicating a first address to read via a snoop interface, an address encoder coupled to the random-access memory, the address encoder to, when the random-access memory indicates a hit of the read request, generate a second address corresponding to a victim cache based on the first address, and a multiplexer coupled to the victim cache to transmit a response including data obtained from the second address of the victim cache.

A caching system including a first sub-cache and a second sub-cache in parallel with the first sub-cache, wherein the second sub-cache includes: line type bits configured to store an indication that a corresponding cache line of the second sub-cache is configured to store write-miss data, and an eviction controller configured to evict a cache line of the second sub-cache storing write-miss data based on an indication that the cache line has been fully written.

The embodiments described herein describe technologies for using the memory modules in different modes of operation, such as in a standard multi-drop mode or as in a dynamic point-to-point (DPP) mode (also referred to herein as an enhanced mode). The memory modules can also be inserted in the sockets of the memory system in different configurations.

A memory is provided that includes a write multiplexer, which multiplexes among a plurality of bit line columns. The multiplexer includes a positive boost circuit that applies a positive boost to a voltage at the gates of transistors to strengthen an on state of those transistors. The positive boosting may be in addition to, or instead of, negative boosting at a write driver circuit.