Integrated Circuit Data Transfer Sections Stagger Inversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Integrated circuits experience high peak current consumption during data transfer, leading to noise and potential power supply insufficiency due to data toggling patterns, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.

Innovation Solution

The integrated circuit employs multiple data transfer sections with serial-to-parallel and parallel-to-serial conversion capabilities, allowing for data inversion in specific sections to stagger data patterns and reduce simultaneous toggling, thereby managing peak current consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data are transferred through multiple sections with serial-to-parallel conversion, then data transfer capability is improved, but peak current consumption increases due to simultaneous data toggling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer capabilityVSAvoidpeak current consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by controlling different second sections to invert data at different time periods or phases. Each second section operates with a staggered inversion timing, so that data toggling occurs periodically but not simultaneously across all sections. This distributes the current consumption over time, reducing peak current while maintaining overall data transfer capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the data transfer system into multiple first sections and multiple second sections. Each section handles a portion of the data independently, with the second sections performing serial-to-parallel conversion on different data subsets. This segmentation allows independent control of inversion timing in each section, enabling staggered operation that reduces simultaneous toggling and peak current consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by moving object

If data are inverted repeatedly in all sections, then data patterns are diversified to reduce peak current, but data transfer reliability deteriorates due to excessive inversions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeak current reductionVSAvoiddata transfer reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the inversion operation selective rather than universal. Different second sections are configured with different inversion characteristics - some sections invert data while others maintain original patterns. This local differentiation diversifies data patterns across the system to reduce peak current, while ensuring that not all data undergo excessive inversions, thereby maintaining transfer reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by applying data inversion only to certain sections or certain data bits within sections, rather than inverting all data in all sections. This selective inversion is sufficient to diversify data patterns and reduce peak current consumption, while avoiding the reliability issues that would arise from excessive or universal inversion operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10991400B2Integrated circuit
Publication Date: 2021.04.27 SK HYNIX INC
  • US10991400B2 patent drawing
  • US10991400B2 patent drawing
  • US10991400B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An integrated circuit includes: one or more first sections in which first to Nth data (where N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) corresponding to one command are transferred through one line; and two or more second sections in which the first to Nth data are serial-to-parallel converted in 1:N and transferred through N lines, wherein whenever the command is applied, the first to Nth data are transferred without being inverted or transferred after being inverted repeatedly in at least one second section among the two or more second sections.