Latch Circuit Distribution for Semiconductor I/O Area

The latch circuit is divided into multiple banks (first bank, second bank, third bank, fourth bank) that are spatially separated and independently organized. Each bank handles specific groups of latches, allowing parallel operation and reducing the congestion that would occur if all latches were placed in a single location. This segmentation enables the circuit to scale to higher I/O speeds without proportionally increasing the area required for signal line routing.

The patent transitions from a conventional single-plane latch arrangement to a three-dimensional stacked architecture where latch banks are disposed at different vertical levels (first level, second level) connected via through-electrodes. This vertical dimension allows multiple latch banks to coexist without increasing the planar footprint, effectively decoupling I/O speed scaling from area consumption by utilizing the Z-axis for additional capacity.

The large number of pipe latches are segmented into multiple banks (first through fourth banks) with each bank containing a subset of latches. This segmentation reduces the complexity of signal line routing by grouping latches with similar control signals together, making the disposal and interconnection of numerous latches more manageable within the limited area.

Multiple latch banks are designed with identical or similar internal structures, allowing them to perform the same pipe latch function simultaneously. This universal design enables the system to increase storage capacity by replicating functional units rather than creating increasingly complex unique circuits, thereby scaling quantity while controlling device complexity through standardization.