To: pompsander who wrote (46655 ) 7/6/2000 9:04:00 PM From: mishedlo Respond to of 93625 New patent for Rambus? What does it refer to. ====================================================== The link below refers to the abstract of patent # 6,085,284. This is dated 4 of July 2000. Method of operating a memory device having a variable data output length and an identification registerpatents.uspto.gov Inventors: Farmwald; Michael (Berkeley, CA); Horowitz; Mark (Palo Alto, CA). Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Mountain View, CA). Appl. No.: 252,993 Abstract A method of operating a synchronous memory device, wherein the memory device includes a plurality of memory cells and a register for storing an identification value which identifies the memory device on a bus. Block size information is provided to the memory device, wherein the block size information specifies an amount of data to be output onto a bus in response to a read request. The read request is issued to the memory device, and includes identification information, wherein in response to the read request, the memory device determines whether the identification information corresponds to the identification value stored in the register. When the identification information corresponds to the identification value, the memory device outputs an amount of data corresponding to the block size information onto the bus synchronously with respect to at least a first external clock. The memory device may further include a programmable register. An access time value may be provided to the memory device wherein, in response, the memory device stores the access time value in the programmable register. Here, the access time value is representative of a delay to transpire before data is output onto the bus in response to the read request.