Column Path Circuit Skew Mitigation via Address Transition Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional column path circuits in pseudo SRAM devices face issues with skew in page address signals leading to the generation of two different column selection signals for one read strobe signal, preventing normal data read operations.
Innovation Solution
A column path circuit is designed to detect level transitions in page address signals during the enabled period of a read strobe signal, regenerate the read strobe signal, and generate column selection signals, ensuring only one column selection signal is produced per read strobe signal by incorporating address transition detectors, a detection signal coupler, a ready signal generator, and page address buffers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If page address signals are input simultaneously to multiple buffers and decoders, then the circuit operation speed is improved, but skew in the signals causes multiple column selection signals to be generated for one read strobe signal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting address transitions before the read strobe signal is generated. The address transition detectors monitor changes in page address signals and generate transition detection signals that trigger the read strobe signal generation only when address changes are detected, preventing premature or duplicate column selection signal generation due to skew
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using transition detection signals from address transition detectors to control the generation of read strobe signals. The detection signal coupler ORs multiple transition detection signals and feeds this combined signal to the read strobe generator, creating a feedback mechanism that ensures column selection signals are generated only when necessary and only once per valid address change
2Reliability
If address transition detectors and detection signal coupler are added to detect and synchronize address changes, then column selection signal accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the address detection function into separate modular components: individual address transition detectors for each page address signal, a detection signal coupler to combine their outputs, and a read strobe generator. This modular segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function independently, making the complex control logic more manageable and maintainable while ensuring accurate column selection signal generation
Data Source
AI summary
A column path circuit includes address transition detectors which detect level transition of page address signals, thereby outputting transition detection signals each having a predetermined enable period, respectively. A detection signal coupler logically operates on the transition detection signals respectively outputted from the address transition detectors, and outputs a signal representing the results of the logical operation. A ready signal generator outputs a strobe ready signal having a predetermined enable period in response to an enabled state of the signal outputted from the detection signal coupler. A strobe signal generator generates a read strobe signal and a page address strobe signal for latch of the page address signals in response to the strobe ready signal. Page address buffers are enabled by the page address strobe signal, and latch the page address signals, thereby buffering the page address signals, a page address decoder which decodes the buffered page address signals respectively outputted from the page address buffers. And, a column selection signal generator outputs column selection signals respectively corresponding to the decoded page address signals in response to the read strobe signal.