Single in-line memory module

Abstract

A full width single in-line memory module (SIMM) for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) memory expansions is disclosed. A printed circuit board having a multiplicity of DRAM memory elements mounted thereto is arranged in a data path having a width of 144 bits. The SIMM of the present invention further includes on-board drivers to buffer and drive signals in close proximity to the memory elements. In addition, electrically conductive traces are routed on the circuit board in such a manner to reduce loading and trace capacitance to minimize signal skew to the distributed memory elements. The SIMM further includes a high pin density dual readout connector structure receiving electrical traces from both sides of the circuit board for enhanced functionality. The SIMM is installed in complementary sockets one SIMM, at a time to provide memory expansion in full width increments. Finally, symmetrical power and ground routings to the connector structure insure that the SIMM cannot be inserted incorrectly, wherein physically reversing the SIMM in the connector slot will not reverse power the SIMM.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of computer systems and memory hardware. More particularly, the present invention relates to modular circuit boards which may be combined to form a memory structure within a computer system.

ART BACKGROUND

Single In-Line Memory Modules ("SIMMs") are compact circuit boards designed to accommodate surface mount memory chips. SIMMs were developed to provide compact and easy to manage modular memory components for user installation in computer systems designed to accept such SIMMs. SIMMs generally are easily inserted into a connector within the computer system, the SIMM thereby deriving all necessary power, ground, and logic signals therefrom.

A SIMM typically comprises a multiplicity of random access memory ("RAM") chips mounted to a printed circuit board. Depending on the user's needs, the RAM memory chips may be dynamic RAM (DRAM), non volatile static RAM (SRAM) or video RAM (VRAM). Because DRAM memories are larger and cheaper than memory cells for SRAMs, DRAMs are widely used as the principal building block for main memories in computer systems. SRAM and VRAM SIMMs have more limited application for special purposes such as extremely fast cache memories and video frame buffers, respectively. Because DRAMs form the largest portion of a computer system memory, it is therefore desirable that memory modules flexibly accommodate the computation needs of a user as the users' requirements change over time. Moreover, it is desirable that the SIMM modules may be added to the computer system with a minimum user difficulty, specifically in terms of configuration of a SIMM within a particular memory structure. In the past, SIMMs have generally been designed to provide memory increments of one or more megabytes (MB), but where the memory addition comprises only a portion of the full data path used in the computer system. A leading example of the prior art organization and structure is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,605, issued Apr. 7, 1987 to Clayton. Clayton discloses a compact modular memory circuit board to which are mounted nine memory chips which are arranged to provide memory increments in eight bit (one byte) data widths, plus parity bits. Thus, because most computer systems use data paths of 32, 64 or more bits, the SIMM constructed according to Clayton cannot provide a memory increment for the entire data path. Instead the user must obtain and install multiple SIMMs, in combination with performing any additional configuration requirements necessary to make the separate SIMMs modules function as a single memory unit, such as setting base addresses for the SIMM modules installed.

As a result, a user seeking to increase his usable main memory by adding SIMMs constructed according to the prior art, typically must insert multiple SIMMs to achieve a memory expansion for the entire data path of his computer. The foregoing is a consequence of typical prior art SIMM architecture, wherein the SIMM is arranged around DRAM parts which comprise one byte wide memory increments. Thus in a data path having a width of 32 bits, there being eight bits per byte, a 1 megabyte expansion of main memory using SIMMs constructed according to the prior art would require four SIMM modules each of one megabyte capacity in order to obtain a full data path expansion of one megabyte.

As will be described in more detail in the following detailed description, the present invention provides, among other attributes, facility for providing memory expansion in full data path widths, thereby relieving the user of configuring and installing multiple SIMMs modules to obtain any desired memory increment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A full width single in-line memory module (SIMM) for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) memory expansions is disclosed. A printed circuit board having a multiplicity of DRAM memory elements mounted thereto is arranged in a data path having a width of 144 bits. The SIMM of the present invention further includes on-board drivers to buffer and drive signals in dose proximity to the memory elements. In addition, electrically conductive traces are routed on the circuit board in such a manner to reduce loading and trace capacitance to minimize signal skew to the distributed memory elements. The SIMM further includes a high pin density dual read-out connector structure receiving electrical traces from both sides of the circuit board for enhanced functionality. The SIMM is installed in complementary sockets one SIMM at a time to provide memory expansion in full width increments. Finally, symmetrical power and ground routings to the connector structure insure that the SIMM cannot be inserted incorrectly, wherein physically reversing the SIMM in the connector slot will not reverse power the SIMM.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIG. 1a illustrates the electrical schematic of a first side of the single in-line memory module (SIMM) according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 1b illustrates the electrical schematic for a left-to-right mirror image layout of memory elements on a second side of the SIMM.

FIG. 2 illustrates the physical layout of the memory elements and drivers placed on the SIMM.

FIG. 2a is a magnified view of the dual read-out connector structure on the SIMM.

FIG. 3 illustrates the stacked conductive layers separated by insulating dielectric necessary to build up the interconnections for the electrical schematic shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b.

FIGS. 4a and 4b are a connector diagram illustrating the data, address and control signals routed to the SIMM.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A bus architecture for integrated data and video memory is disclosed. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, times, signals etc., are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known circuits and devices are shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention unnecessarily.

The preferred embodiment of the SIMM described herein is designed and intended to be used with the integrated data and video memory bus disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/886,671, filed May 19, 1992, entitled "A Bus Architecture For Integrated Data and Video Memory".

It will be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that the specifications disclosed herein can or may be changed without departing from the scope of the present invention. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in terms of the data path width matching that of the integrated data and video memory bus disclosed in the above-referenced U.S. Patent Application, it will be appreciated that changing the design of the bus is within the scope of the present invention, wherein the SIMM may be matched to the data path width of the integrated memory bus.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1a wherein an electrical block diagram of memory elements mounted to a first, obverse side of the SIMM is shown. In FIG. 1a, a multiplicity of dynamic RAM (DRAMs) 10 are grouped into two clusters 10a and 10b. There are nine DRAMs ten in each cluster. A driver 15 receives control signals, and address signals from an external bus arrangement (not shown) through a dual sided connector 30. A multiplicity of control lines 20 route RAS(row access strobe), CAS- (column access strobe), WE- (write enable), and OE- (output enable), control signals from driver 15 to all the DRAMs 10 mounted to SIMM 5. Moreover, driver 15 buffers and subsequently distributes address signals 21 to all DRAMs 10 mounted to SIMM 5. For purposes of clarity in the present figure, the specific routing of data, address and control lines to all the DRAMs 10 is omitted. However, as can be seen from FIG. 1a, all DRAMs 10 have four data lines, DRAMs 10 being any of several commercially available DRAMs arranged in a "by-four" configuration. As will be seen below in connection with FIG. 1b, DRAMs 10 each of DRAM clusters 20a and 10b are matched with mirror image DRAMs 10 mounted to the opposite side of SIMM 5 and placed in electrical communication by electrical traces passing through a multiplicity of vias (not shown).

The specific routing of the electrical traces on SIMM 5 are dependent upon the specific architecture of the memory chips chosen for a specific implementation of SIMM 5. However, all SIMMs 5 constructed according to the teachings of the present invention have a full width data path extending from connector 30 to all devices operating on SIMM 5, including all DRAMs 10, driver 15, and any other logic elements necessary to implement the desired function of SIMM 5. As presently preferred, SIMM 5 embodies a 144 bit data path, comprising 128 data lines (DATA[127:0]), 16 error correction lines (CBW[15:0]) which implement a known error correction code, one RAS-, two CAS- signals, one WE signal and one reset line. The routing for all control signals 20, address signals 21 and data signals 25 minimize conductive trace capacitance and loading in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,892, entitled `High Speed Electrical Signal Interconnect Structure`, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and which is incorporated herein by reference. The trace routing control for all control signals 20 are taken from driver 15 to the central DRAM 10 for each DRAM cluster 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d. DRAMs surrounding the central DRAM 10 are coupled to control signals 20 via short sub traces (not shown), thereby minimizing total capacitance, and increasing signal rise times.

With brief reference to FIG. 3, the stack up used to route all control, addresses, data, and power and ground signals is illustrated.

With brief reference to FIG. 1b, a second, reverse side of SIMM 5 is shown. In FIG. 1b, two additional DRAM clusters 10c and 10d are shown arranged as DRAM dusters 10a and 10b on the obverse side. Each DRAM 10 in DRAM clusters 10c and 10d similarly receives four input lines in addition to address and control lines passed from driver 15 on the obverse side through conductive vias to the mirror image reverse side of SIMM 5, thereby doubling the available surface area to which DRAMs 10 may be mounted. Moreover, SIMMS as presently preferred utilized thin small outline package (TSOP) DRAMs 10 to reduce overall thickness of SIMMs S. When thus constructed, the double sided SIMMS of the present invention is no thicker than prior art single sided SIMMs (e.g., as taught by Clayton).

Briefly referring to FIG. 4, the high number density connector 30 used to connect SIMM 5 to the memory module socket (not shown) is illustrated. In FIG. 4, connector 30 is seen to have 200 pin terminations, therefore permitting a large number of signals to be routed to and from SIMM 5. In the preferred embodiment of SIMM 5, it is intended that SIMM 5 specifically incorporate the data path architecture consistent with an integrated data and video memory bus such as that described in above referenced copending U.S. Patent Applications assigned to Sun Microsystems, Inc., Mountain View, Calif., which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. In particular, the data path architecture implemented on SIMM 5 includes 128 data lines, 16 error correction code lines (referred to CBW [15:0] in FIGS. 1-6), in addition to a multiplicity of control signals necessary to accomplish DRAM memory accesses. Such control signals, collectively referred to control lines 20 in FIGS. 1a and 1b, include one RAS- signal, two CAS- signals, one WE- signal, and one reset line per SIMM 5. Thus, not including the control signals 20 which are used for controlling operation of DRAMs 10, the data path used for transmission of data to and from DRAMs 10 is seen to be 144 bites wide. Disregarding the error correction code signals, referred to in FIGS. 1-4 as CBW [15:0], the actual data path width of SIMM 5 for writing and reading data to and from memory is 128 bits wide, or 16 bits, identical to that of the integrated data and video memory bus. Accordingly, SIMMS of the present invention may be installed into the memory bus in full width increments.

A total memory capacity available on a SIMM 5 may be computed as follows. Depending on the capacity of each RAM 10 mounted to SIMM 5 the total memory capacity of each SIMM module 5 can vary from four megabytes (MB) to a maximum of sixty-four MB, distributed over a total of thirty-six DRAMs 10. Using commercially available 256K.times.4 l Mbit DRAMs 10, four megabytes of memory may be provided on SIMM 5. Alternatively, when 16 megabit parts become available, because the addressable address space of SIMM 5 is very large, greater than two gigabits, SIMM 5 can easily accommodate the higher 16 megabit parts and make available a total capacity of 64 megabytes on a SIMM 5 having 36 DRAMs mounted to it.

Operation of SIMM 5 is controlled by control signals 20 as will be briefly discussed below. For a complete discussion on the actual operation of SIMM 5 in connection with the integrated data and video bus, the reader is referred to the above copending U.S. Patent Application, entitled "A Bus Architecture".

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, wherein the physical arrangement of DRAMs 10 and driver 15 are illustrated on SIMM 5. In addition to the DRAM clusters 10a and 10b shown on the obverse side of SIMM 5, the SIMM 5 is noted to have two contact regions 50a and 50b on the lower edge of SIMM 5. Contact regions 50a and 50b consist of narrowly spaced conductive contact pads tuning longitudinally across the bottom edge of SIMM 5 from pin 0 to pin 199, corresponding in number to the connector map illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b and the pinout summary in Table 1 illustrated below.

TABLE 1______________________________________SIMM Pin DescriptionsPin Descriptions______________________________________D<0-127 Data BitsA<0-11> Address BitsCBW<0-7> Check Bit Write Enables/data bus to on board devices used in Video SIMMCBW<8-5> Check Bit Write EnablesCAS<0-1>* Column Address StrobesRAS<0-1>* Row Address StrobesBUSY* Video Frame Buffer Busy Signal - indicates that frame buffer is busy doing refresh or reload operationsSIRQ* UART InterruptVIRQ* Video InterruptWE* Write EnableMRST* Reset SignalMCLK MBus Clock - Sent to the VBCIOSEL* Differentiates between memory address space and I/O address spaceROE* Currently used by VSIMM to generate DTOE signals. OE* on the DSIMMs is tied to Ground.______________________________________ In FIG. 2, a detail of the bottom edge of SIMM 5 is shown in FIG. 2a, a magnified view of the contact region of contact regions 50a and 50b are shown in perspective view. In FIG. 2a, it is seen that contact regions 50a and 50b consist of a large number of closely spaced contact pads 35 on the obverse side of SIMM 5 and a mirror image yet electrically distinct set of contact pads 36 on the reverse side of SIMM 5. In contrast to SIMMs constructed according to the prior art, the SIMM 5 of the present invention doubles the pinout capacity of a SIMM by "breaking" the connection between the obverse and reverse sides of SIMM 5, thereby effectively doubling the edge area which may be dedicated to electrical functions. For purposes of clarity, in contrast to prior art SIMM modules having contact pins placed on 0.1" centers, the spacing of contacts 35 and 36 on SIMM 5 are placed on 0.050" centers, the contact pads 35 and 36 themselves being 0.040" in lateral dimension thereby yielding a space of 0.010" between contact pads. However, the precise spacing and dimensions is not specific to the present invention, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that numerous spacing and pad placement schemes are possible using the "dual read out" arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 2a in contact regions 50a and 50b. Thus, operating together, the reduced spacing and dual readout arrangement of contact regions 50a and 50b provide a vastly improved pinout density available for SIMM modules, over four times that suggested by Clayton. In particular, because 200 pins are available for use on SIMM 5, the full data path width of 144 bits in addition to control signals and power and ground connections is accommodated by connector 50 and connector regions 50a and 50b of SIMM 5.

As previously noted in connection with the memory capacities according to the type of DRAM 10 installed on SIMM 5, it should be appreciated that the principal benefit of SIMM 5 constructed according to the teachings of the present invention is that memory expansion may be accommodated in full data path width increments. In contrast to memory expansion using SIMMs of the prior art, use of SIMM 5 in expanding memory, especially memory in association with integrated data and video memory of the above referenced copending application, memory may be expanded one SIMM at a time, and does not require multiple modules to be inserted to gain a single increment in memory expansion. The above result is principally derived from the accommodation of a full data path signal path on SIMM 5, thus facilitating easy installation of additional memory.

Finally, connector 30 further provides for power and ground to be connected to all DRAMs 10 and driver 15. Notably, all power and ground leads are symmetrically arranged within Connector 50, as is more clearly seen in Table 2 illustrated below.

TABLE 2__________________________________________________________________________base +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8__________________________________________________________________________ 0 GND GND D0 D7 D1 D6 D2 D5 8 D3 D4 D32 D39 D33 D38 D34 D37 16 VCC VCC D35 D36 D8 D15 D9 D14 24 D10 D13 D11 D12 D40 D47 D41 D46 32 GND GND D42 D45 D43 D44 D16 D23 40 D17 D22 D18 D21 D19 D20 D48 D55 48 VCC VCC D49 D54 D50 D53 D51 D52 56 D24 D31 D25 D30 D26 D29 D27 D28 64 GND GND D56 D63 D57 D62 D58 D61 72 D59 D60 CBWO CBW7 CBW1 CBW6 CBW2 CBW5 80 VCC VCC CBW3 CBW4 -CAS0 -CAS1 -RAS0 -RAS1 88 -ROE -BUSY -VIRQ -SIRQ A0 A1 A2 A3 96 A4 A5 GND GND GND GND A6 A7104 A8 A9 A19 A11 -MRST -WE -IOSEL MCLK112 GND GND GND GND CBW8 CBW15 VCC VCC120 CBW9 CBW14 CBW10 CBW13 CBW11 CBW12 D64 D71128 D65 D70 D66 D69 D67 D68 GND GND136 D96 D103 D97 D102 D98 D101 D99 D100144 D72 D79 D73 D78 D74 D77 VCC VCC152 D75 D76 D104 D111 D105 D110 D106 D109160 D107 D108 D80 D87 D81 D86 GND GND168 D82 D85 D83 D84 D112 D119 D113 D118176 D114 D117 D115 D116 D88 D95 VCC VCC184 D89 D94 D90 D93 D91 D92 D120 D127192 D121 D126 D122 D125 D123 D124 GND GND__________________________________________________________________________ Power (VCC) and ground (GND) leads are seen to alternate every sixteen pins. If a SIMMS were inadvertently inserted in a reversed position into a memory module socket, the symmetrical power ground leads prevent the SIMMS from being reverse-powered, and likely destroyed.

The foregoing has described a physical architecture for a single in-line memory module compatible with an integrated data and video memory. It is contemplated that changes and modifications may be made by one or ordinary skill in the art, to the device components and arrangements of the elements of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it is anticipated that SIMM 5 may be used with memory arrangements other than the integrated data and video memory incorporated by reference from the above-referenced copending application. However, SIMM 5 is optimally designed for use in the integrated video memory, and the user would derive optimal benefit from use in such a system.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiment, it is evident that numerous alternative modifications, variations and uses will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A single in-line memory module for memory expansion in a computer system having a memory bus with n data lines, said single in-line memory module comprising the elements of:

a printed circuit board, said printed circuit board having a first side and a second side, said printed circuit board having an electrical connector;

a first set of memory elements arranged on said printed circuit board, said set of memory elements having a total of at least n data lines; and

a driver circuit mounted on said printed circuit board, said driver circuit coupled to a set control signals in said electrical connector, said driver circuit transmitting said controls signals to said first set of memory elements.

2. A single in-line memory module as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical connector comprises a full width data path such that one of said single in-line memory modules can increase a main memory in said computer system.

3. A single in-line memory module as claimed in claim 2 wherein said full width data path comprises 144 data lines.

4. A single in-line memory module as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical connector has symmetrical power and ground contacts such that said single in-line memory module is not damaged if said single in-line memory module is inserted into said computer system backwards.

5. A single in-line memory module as claimed in claim 1 wherein said single in-line memory module further comprises the elements of:

a second set of memory elements arranged on said printed circuit board, said first and second set of memory elements having a total of at least n data lines; and

a driver circuit mounted substantially centered on said first side of said printed circuit board, said driver circuit coupled to a set control signals in said electrical connector, said driver circuit transmitting said controls signals to said first set of memory elements and said second set of memory elements.

6. A single in-line memory module as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

said first set of memory elements is arranged on the first side of said printed circuit board and comprises a first subset arranged to the left of said driver circuit and a second subset arranged to the right of said driver circuit; and

said second set of memory elements is arranged on the second side of said printed circuit board and comprises a third subset being mirror image of said first subset and a fourth subset being mirror image of said second subset.

7. A single in-line memory module as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first, second, third, and fourth subsets of memory elements each comprise nine memory elements arranged in a three by three matrix and said driver circuit transmits said control signals directly to a center memory element in said first and second memory element subsets such that signal skew is minimized.

8. A single in-line memory module as claimed in claim 7 wherein said control signals comprise column address strobe (CAS), row address strobe (RAS), write enable (WE), and output enable (OE) signals.

9. A single in-line memory module as claimed in claim 8 wherein said driver circuit further drives address lines.

10. (Added) A single in-line memory module as claimed in claim 5 wherein said electrical connector has symmetrical power and ground contacts such that said single in-line memory module is not damaged if said single in-line memory module is inserted into said computer system backwards.

11. A single in-line memory module as claimed in claim 5 wherein said single in-line memory module provides data in a first data path at least as wide a second data path used a central processing unit in said computer system.

12. A single in-line memory module for memory expansion in a computer system having a memory bus with n data lines, said single in-line memory module comprising the elements of:

a printed circuit board, said printed circuit board having a first side and a second side, said printed circuit board having an electrical connector, said electrical connector comprising a first set of electrical contacts on said first side of said printed circuit board and a second set of electrical contacts on said second side of said printed circuit board;

a first set of memory elements arranged on said printed circuit board, said set of memory elements having a total of at least n data lines; and

a driver circuit mounted on said printed circuit board, said driver circuit coupled to a set control signals in said electrical connector, said driver circuit transmitting said controls signals to said first set of memory elements.

13. The single in-line memory module for memory expansion of claim 12 wherein said first set of electrical contacts and said second set of electrical contacts are electrically distinct.

14. A single in-line memory module for memory expansion in a computer system having a memory bus with n data lines, said single in-line memory module comprising the elements of:

a printed circuit board, said printed circuit board having a first side and a second side, said printed circuit board having an electrical connector, said electrical connector comprising a first set of electrical contacts on said first side of said printed circuit board and a second set of electrical contacts on said second side of said printed circuit board;

a first set of memory elements arranged on said first side of said printed circuit board, said first set of memory elements coupled to first set of electrical contacts;

a second set of memory elements arranged on said second side of said printed circuit board, said second set of memory elements coupled to second set of electrical contacts, said first and second set of memory elements having a total of at least n data lines; and

a driver circuit mounted on said printed circuit board, said driver circuit coupled to a set control signals in said electrical connector, said driver circuit transmitting said controls signals to said first set of memory elements.

15. The single in-line memory module for memory expansion of claim 14 wherein said first set of electrical contacts and said second set of electrical contacts are electrically distinct.