Memory bus architecture for concurrently supporting volatile and non-volatile memory modules

• Main Authors: HINKLE JONATHAN R, SWEERE PAUL
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.02.2014
• Subjects: CALCULATING; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS; PHYSICS; PRINTED CIRCUITS

A memory/storage module is provided that implements a solid state drive compatible with Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) signaling on a double-data-rate compatible socket. A detachable daughter card may be coupled to the memory module for converting a memory bus voltage to a second voltage for memory devices on the memory module. Additionally, a hybrid memory bus on a host system is provided that supports either DDR-compatible memory modules and/or SATA/SAS-compatible memory modules. In one example, the memory/storage module couples to a first bus (DDR3 compatible socket) to obtain voltage and/or other signals, but uses a second bus for data transfers. In another example, the memory module may repurpose/reuse electrical paths that typically carry non-data signals for data traffic to/from the memory/storage module. Such data traffic for the memory/storage module permits concurrent data traffic for other memory modules on the same memory bus.