Address Decoder Using Multi-Bit Shift for Area Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Address decoding in System on Chip (SoC) integrated circuits is area-expensive due to the use of inequality comparators and shift operations, which consume significant space and resources.
Innovation Solution
A decoder design that performs a multi-bit shift operation in one clock cycle using shifting hardware operating on constants, eliminating the need for inequality comparators and reducing area consumption by utilizing XOR/XNOR logic, combinatorial logic, and shifting hardware that shifts all bits of an operand either right or left, with the number of bit positions determined by the window size of each region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inequality comparators are used for address decoding, then address decoding functionality is achieved, but area consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the inequality comparator components from the address decoding system. Instead of using traditional inequality comparators that require extensive logic circuits, the invention uses a simplified decoding approach that extracts only the necessary comparison functionality through direct bit matching and selection logic, thereby eliminating the area-expensive comparator structures while maintaining address decoding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, complex inequality comparator circuits with simpler, less area-intensive decoding logic. The invention uses basic logic gates and selection mechanisms that are computationally equivalent to inequality comparison but implementable with far fewer transistors and less silicon real estate, effectively using "cheaper" logical constructs to achieve the same functional outcome.
2Measurement precision
If multiple inequality comparators are used per slave window, then address matching precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple comparison operations into a single unified decoding process. Instead of implementing separate inequality comparators for each address bit comparison, the invention combines all address matching logic into an integrated decoding unit that processes the entire address simultaneously using selection lines and logic gates, thereby maintaining precise address matching while reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal decoder structure that can handle multiple address matching functions simultaneously. The selection lines and logic circuitry are designed to be multi-functional, capable of performing various address comparison tasks through different input configurations, thereby eliminating the need for dedicated comparators for each function and reducing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional address decoding is used with multiple slaves, then address space coverage is improved, but area usage becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the address space into distinct regions, each handled by dedicated selection lines and decoding logic. Instead of using a monolithic address decoder that must handle all address ranges, the invention divides the address space into manageable segments (such as device space, memory space, I/O space) and uses selective decoding for each segment, thereby maintaining comprehensive address space coverage while minimizing the area required for each decoding unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A decoder is disclosed that is used to select an area of address space in an Integrated Circuit. The decoder uses a hardware shifting module that performs shift operations on constants. Such a structure reduces an overall area consumption of the shifting module. Additionally, the decoder can perform a multi-bit shift operation in a single clock cycle.