Data Buffer Control Circuit Timing Margin
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Solution Overview
Problem
As semiconductor memory frequencies increase, it becomes challenging to maintain a sufficient operational margin between the time the data buffer is enabled and the time data is input, due to the limitations in the traditional data buffer control circuit's timing skew and propagation delays.
Innovation Solution
A data buffer control circuit is designed with an internal command signal generator and a buffer enable signal generator that activates the buffer enable signal in sync with the falling edge of an internal clock signal, allowing for earlier activation and ensuring a sufficient operational margin during data input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the clock frequency is increased to improve data rate, then the productivity is improved, but the operational margin between buffer enable time and data input time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer enable signal is activated in advance by utilizing the falling edge of the internal clock signal, which occurs before the rising edge. This preliminary activation of the data buffer allows sufficient time for data input even at high clock frequencies, resolving the contradiction between improved productivity and maintained reliability.
2Productivity
If the clock cycle time is shortened to increase frequency, then the productivity is improved, but the time margin for buffer operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The data buffer is enabled preliminarily by triggering the buffer enable signal with the falling edge of the internal clock signal, which occurs earlier in the clock cycle. This allows the buffer to be ready before data input is required, maintaining sufficient operation margin even when the overall clock cycle time is shortened for higher frequencies.
3Device complexity
If the buffer enable signal is activated later to synchronize with rising edge, then the device complexity is reduced, but the operational margin deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of activating the buffer enable signal at the rising edge, the invention utilizes the falling edge of the internal clock signal to trigger preliminary activation. This approach maintains relatively simple device complexity while significantly improving the operational margin by enabling the buffer earlier in the clock cycle.
Data Source
AI summary
A data buffer control circuit and a semiconductor memory apparatus including the same are presented. The data buffer control circuit may include an internal command signal generator and a buffer enable signal generator. The internal command signal generator is configured to generate an internal command signal that is activated if delayed command signals are conditioned in a predetermined state of level combination. The buffer enable signal generator is configured to generate a buffer enable signal, which enables a data buffer receiving data in a writing mode, from the internal command signal in sync with a falling edge of an internal clock signal.