Capacitor Ground Path for DDR Enable Signal Harmonic Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing technologies face challenges in controlling the timing window of signal waveforms in memory modules with different wiring structures, such as T-branch and fly-by structures, leading to signal distortion and harmonic component issues, which cannot be adequately addressed by conventional resistor adjustments, affecting the performance of DDR2-SDRAM and DDR3-SDRAM modules.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a capacitor element in series with a specific transmission path branching to a ground plane to act as a short-circuit path for harmonic components, reducing the through rate and enlarging the timing window of the enable control signal, thereby mitigating signal distortion and harmonic effects without increasing the circuit complexity or cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the fly-by structure is used for wiring in DDR3-SDRAM modules, then signal transmission speed is improved, but signal waveform distortion increases due to reflection and harmonic components
Solution Approach 1:
A capacitor element is introduced as an intermediary component connected between the enable control signal transmission path and ground. This capacitor acts as a mediator that selectively filters harmonic components while allowing the fundamental signal to pass through, thereby reducing waveform distortion without affecting signal transmission speed
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor element changes the electrical parameters of the transmission path by providing a frequency-dependent impedance path to ground. This modifies the signal characteristics by attenuating high-frequency harmonic components while maintaining the integrity of the main signal, thus improving waveform quality
2Object-affected harmful factors
If resistor values are adjusted to suppress signal reflection, then waveform quality improves, but circuit complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adjusting resistor values, the invention changes the circuit configuration by adding a capacitor element connected to ground. This parameter change provides a new method to control signal reflection and harmonic components without modifying existing resistor values or increasing circuit complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor element is a simple, inexpensive passive component that can be easily integrated into the existing circuit. It provides effective harmonic suppression without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or multiple additional components, thus maintaining circuit simplicity
3Reliability
If the timing window is enlarged to accommodate signal distortion, then reliability improves, but productivity decreases due to reduced timing margin
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor element converts the harmful effect of harmonic components into a beneficial filtering action. By providing a low-impedance path to ground for high-frequency harmonics, it eliminates waveform distortion that would otherwise narrow the timing window, thus maintaining both reliability and timing margin
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively suppresses the narrowing of the timing window caused by harmonic components, allowing for stable memory operations across different DDR standards without imposing additional burdens on the semiconductor components, and maintains performance by optimizing the timing window for both DDR2-SDRAM and DDR3-SDRAM modules.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitor element arranged in series with a transmission path branching from a middle point of an enable control signal transmission path to a reference potential
Implementation Method 2
The capacitor element makes smaller a through rate and makes larger a timing window of the enable control signal than those when the capacitor element is not provided
Data Source
AI summary
To suppress a timing window from being narrowed undesirably by the harmonic component of a signal output from a semiconductor component without imposing a burden on the semiconductor component that controls access.A capacitor element is arranged in series with a specific transmission path branching from a predetermined node of a signal transmission path and reaching to a ground plane, the signal transmission path supplying an enable control signal that indicates the validity of a clock signal and a command and address signal output from a semiconductor component that controls access on a substrate to another semiconductor component to be accessed on the substrate. The capacitor element functions as a short-circuit path to the ground plane for the harmonic component of the enable control signal and makes smaller the through rate and makes larger the timing window of the enable control signal compared to those when the capacitor element is not provided.