Configurable Memory IC Pins for Higher Bandwidth in Limited Pin Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
The decreasing circuit area for memory IC device pins due to increased functionality and density leads to higher overhead and manufacturing costs, limiting the number of pins and communication speed between memory IC devices and host devices.
Innovation Solution
Configurable pins in memory IC devices that can be enabled, disabled, or altered in functionality based on configuration data to optimize pin usage, reducing the size of interconnect circuitry and manufacturing costs, and improving communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If more pins are added to support additional functionality and higher density, then the functionality and data capacity increase, but the circuit area available for pins decreases and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements configurable pins that can be dynamically assigned to different functions (data pins, clock pins, or auxiliary pins) based on operational mode. This multi-functionality allows the same physical pin to serve multiple purposes, increasing adaptability without requiring additional pins, thereby resolving the contradiction between functionality and circuit area.
2Quantity of substance
If the circuit area for data and clock pins decreases to increase density, then pin density increases, but the overhead associated with clock pins increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic pin configuration where pins can be reconfigured between data and clock functions based on operational requirements. This dynamic allocation optimizes the ratio of data pins to clock pins, reducing clock pin overhead while maintaining high pin density, thus resolving the contradiction between pin density and device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If memory IC devices are built as either buffered or native mode to support different configurations, then adaptability to different host devices increases, but design time and semiconductor manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal memory IC device design with configurable pins that can operate in both buffered and native modes through software control. This eliminates the need for separate hardware designs for different modes, reducing design time and manufacturing costs while maintaining full configuration compatibility, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and ease of manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a host device comprising memory controller circuitry and a memory IC device connected to the memory controller circuitry. The memory IC device includes memory devices and pins connected to the memory devices and the memory controller circuitry. The pins route signals to and from the memory devices. The pins are configurable based on configuration data to perform memory operations.