3D Die Interface Clock Alignment With Controllable Delay Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
In three-dimensional stacked semiconductor elements, data and clock signals often misalign during transmission due to signal delays, necessitating numerous delay strings that consume layout area and cause unnecessary power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a controllable delay line, clock generator, and phase detector on each die to adjust and align clock signals, using phase relationship information to synchronize data and clock phases across dies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large number of delay strings are added to the data signal transmission path to adjust transmission phase, then the data signal and clock signal can be aligned, but a large amount of layout area is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a clock signal transmission path as an intermediary mechanism. Instead of modifying multiple data signal paths with delay strings, the clock signal is transmitted through a dedicated path with a controllable delay line, serving as a mediator to synchronize all data signals simultaneously. This reduces the area from multiple distributed delay strings to a single centralized delay line.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the phase adjustment function from multiple individual data signal paths into a single unified clock signal path. By adjusting the clock signal phase centrally, all data signals are synchronized simultaneously, consolidating what would have been multiple separate delay adjustment mechanisms into one, thereby reducing total layout area.
2Reliability
If a large number of delay strings are disposed in the transmission path to adjust transmission phase, then signal alignment is achieved, but unnecessary power consumption is caused due to signal transition
Solution Approach 1:
The clock signal acts as an intermediary that controls the timing of all data signals. By adjusting the clock phase centrally rather than individually controlling each data signal path, the number of active transitions in delay elements is minimized. The controllable delay line on the clock path requires far fewer switching operations compared to multiple delay strings distributed across data paths, reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the clock signal itself to carry the phase adjustment information. The controllable delay line processes only the clock signal to generate phase relationship information, which then automatically controls the transmission timing of all data signals. This self-regulating mechanism eliminates the need for separate control signals for each data path, reducing overall power consumption.
3Reliability
If multiple delay strings are used to adjust data signal phase, then transmission phase alignment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clock signal transmission path serves as a intermediary that simplifies the system architecture. Instead of having multiple independent delay adjustment mechanisms for each data signal, a single controllable delay line on the clock path provides centralized phase control. This intermediary approach reduces device complexity by consolidating multiple functions into one mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The clock signal path with controllable delay line performs a universal function of synchronizing all data signals simultaneously. This single mechanism replaces multiple specialized delay strings that would each need to adjust individual data signals, demonstrating multi-functionality that reduces overall device complexity while maintaining phase alignment capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface device is adapted for a semiconductor device including a first die and a second die. The first die and the second die are electrically connected to each other to be stacked into a 3D structure. The interface device includes a controllable delay line, a clock generator, and a phase detector (PD) arranged on the second die. The controllable delay line receives a source clock signal of the first die. The controllable delay line delays the source clock signal to generate a first delayed clock signal. The clock generator generates a second delayed clock signal according to the first delayed clock signal. The PD detects a phase difference between a gained clock signal of the first die and the second delayed clock signal to generate phase relationship information. Based on the phase relationship information, the controllable delay line adjusts a delay amount to the source clock signal.