Input Latency Control Circuit Using Pipeline Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional semiconductor memory devices with input latency control circuits require a large number of flip-flops to manage latency, leading to high power consumption and increased area occupancy, especially as operating frequencies and latency values increase, complicating circuit routing and degrading performance.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor memory device with an input latency control circuit that generates column and bank address signals using a clock buffer, command decoder, and input latency control circuit, which gates address signals in a pipeline mode based on internal clock and write command signals, reducing the number of flip-flops needed and improving timing control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large number of flip-flops are used to control latency in conventional input latency control circuits, then the latency control capability is improved, but the power consumption increases and the area occupancy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the latency control function into multiple pipeline stages, where each stage uses a smaller number of flip-flops. Instead of using a large number of flip-flops in a single stage, the control circuit divides the latency control into sequential stages, each handling a portion of the total latency requirement. This segmentation reduces the flip-flop count per stage while maintaining overall latency control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension by using pipeline registers to distribute flip-flops across multiple clock cycles. Rather than concentrating all flip-flops in one spatial location and time, the pipeline approach spreads them across time stages, effectively reducing the simultaneous flip-flop count and associated power consumption while achieving the same latency control function.
2Reliability
If a large number of flip-flops are used to control latency in conventional input latency control circuits, then the latency control capability is improved, but the area occupied in the semiconductor integrated circuit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the latency control function into multiple pipeline stages, where each stage uses a smaller number of flip-flops. Instead of using a large number of flip-flops in a single stage, the control circuit divides the latency control into sequential stages, each handling a portion of the total latency requirement. This segmentation reduces the flip-flop count per stage while maintaining overall latency control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension by using pipeline registers to distribute flip-flops across multiple clock cycles. Rather than concentrating all flip-flops in one spatial location and time, the pipeline approach spreads them across time stages, effectively reducing the simultaneous flip-flop count and associated area occupancy while achieving the same latency control function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of flip-flops is increased to handle higher operating frequencies and latency values, then the latency control range is improved, but the circuit routing becomes more complicated and performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the latency control function into multiple pipeline stages, where each stage uses a smaller number of flip-flops. Instead of using a large number of flip-flops in a single stage, the control circuit divides the latency control into sequential stages, each handling a portion of the total latency requirement. This segmentation reduces the flip-flop count per stage while maintaining overall latency control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic pipeline register allocation and control signal generation that adapts to different latency requirements. The control circuit dynamically activates or deactivates specific pipeline stages based on the required latency value, allowing flexible adaptation to various operating conditions without requiring a fixed large number of flip-flops for maximum latency.
Data Source
AI summary
An input latency control circuit, a semiconductor memory device including an input latency control circuit and method thereof are provided. The example semiconductor memory device may include a clock buffer configured to generate an internal clock signal based on an external clock signal, a command decoder configured to decode an external command signal to generate a write command signal and an input latency control circuit configured to gate an address signal in a pipeline mode to generate a column address signal and a bank address signal based on the internal clock signal, the write command signal and the write latency signal. The example input latency control circuit may include a master circuit configured to generate a column control signal and a first write address control signal based on an internal clock signal, a write command signal and a write latency signal, at least one column slave circuit configured to gate a first address signal in a pipeline mode to generate a column address signal in response to the column control signal and one of the first write address control signal and a second write address control signal and at least one bank slave circuit configured to gate a second address signal in the pipeline mode to generate the bank address signal in response to the column control signal and at least one of the first and second write address control signals.