Data Alignment Circuit for Semiconductor Memory Using Reduced Latch Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data alignment circuits in semiconductor memory devices require a large number of latch circuits for prefetch operations, leading to increased area consumption and power consumption, especially as operational speeds increase.
Innovation Solution
A data alignment circuit with reduced latch units, where odd and even data are aligned using different edges of the data strobe signal, and additional latch sub-units are used to shift signals by half or one clock cycle, minimizing the number of latch circuits required for n-bit prefetch operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional data alignment circuits use multiple latch units to align data in parallel for prefetch operations, then data alignment capability is improved, but the number of latch circuits increases leading to larger layout area and higher power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple latch units into a reduced set of latch circuits that can handle both even and odd data alignment functions. Specifically, the invention uses a smaller number of latch units that are configured to process different data groups (even and odd indexed data) through shared resources, thereby reducing the total number of latch circuits needed while maintaining the parallel data alignment capability for prefetch operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch circuits in the invention are designed to perform multiple functions - they can align both even-indexed and odd-indexed data groups through different operational modes or timing sequences. This multi-functionality allows a reduced number of latch units to replace what would traditionally require separate dedicated latch circuits for each data group, thereby reducing overall circuit area while preserving data alignment productivity.
2Productivity
If conventional data alignment circuits use multiple latch units to align data in parallel for prefetch operations, then data alignment capability is improved, but the number of latch circuits increases leading to higher power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple latch units into a reduced set of latch circuits that can handle both even and odd data alignment functions. Specifically, the invention uses a smaller number of latch units that are configured to process different data groups (even and odd indexed data) through shared resources, thereby reducing the total number of latch circuits needed while maintaining the parallel data alignment capability for prefetch operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch circuits in the invention are designed to perform multiple functions - they can align both even-indexed and odd-indexed data groups through different operational modes or timing sequences. This multi-functionality allows a reduced number of latch units to replace what would traditionally require separate dedicated latch circuits for each data group, thereby reducing overall circuit area while preserving data alignment productivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional data alignment circuits use sequential data input through multiple latch units, then data alignment is achieved, but the circuit complexity increases with the number of prefetch operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple latch units into a reduced set of latch circuits that can handle both even and odd data alignment functions. Specifically, the invention uses a smaller number of latch units that are configured to process different data groups (even and odd indexed data) through shared resources, thereby reducing the total number of latch circuits needed while maintaining the parallel data alignment capability for prefetch operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic control mechanisms that allow the reduced set of latch circuits to adaptively switch between different alignment modes (even data alignment, odd data alignment) based on the current operational requirements. This dynamic behavior enables a smaller, more manageable circuit to perform the work of what would traditionally require a larger, static array of dedicated latch units, thereby reducing circuit complexity while maintaining alignment precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Data externally inputted in series are output aligned in parallel for a prefetch operation by a data alignment circuit. In the prefetch operation, sequential odd numbered data are latched in response to a rising data strobe signal and sequential even numbered data are latched in response to a falling data strobe signal. Thereafter, the data are output aligned only in response to the falling data strobe signal. The number of latch circuits is reduced. The data alignment circuit includes: a first latch unit that latches the data in response to the data strobe signal to output first and second alignment signals that are output aligned to the falling edge of the data strobe signal; and a second latch unit that latches the first and second alignment signals at the falling edge of the data strobe signal to output align third and fourth data alignment signals that are aligned to the falling edge of the data strobe signal.