Low-Power DEB-TED Decoder With Selective SEC-DEC Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional error correction schemes for multiple-bit errors in memory devices require significant circuitry, consume excessive power, and result in longer latency, making them unsuitable for low-power integrated circuits.

Innovation Solution

A double error correction (DEC) system with reduced power consumption is implemented using a syndrome generator, controller, error location decoders, and a multiplexer, which selectively activates single or double error correction mechanisms based on error detection signals to minimize active components and power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If DEC-TED circuitry is utilized to correct single errors, then error correction capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror correction capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The error correction system is divided into separate SEC and DEC modules that operate independently. The controller selectively activates only the necessary module based on error detection, avoiding the power consumption of running a full DEC-TED system for all error cases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between SEC and DEC correction modes based on the detected error type. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to use minimal power for single-bit errors while providing enhanced correction capability only when double-bit errors are detected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If DEC-TED circuitry is utilized to correct single errors, then error correction capability is improved, but time delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror correction capabilityVSAvoidtime delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the correction process into SEC and DEC paths, the system can process single-bit errors through the faster SEC path, avoiding the longer processing time required by full DEC-TED circuitry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial correction (SEC) when sufficient for the error type, rather than always applying the more comprehensive but slower DEC-TED correction process. This partial action reduces time delay while maintaining adequate correction capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Speed

If pure combinational circuits are used for error correction, then correction speed is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrection speedVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic clock signals to control the sequential operation of flip-flops and logic gates, enabling error correction to occur in controlled cycles rather than continuous operation, thereby reducing dynamic power consumption while maintaining correction speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically activates only the necessary correction circuits based on error detection results. This dynamic switching between active and inactive states reduces power consumption compared to continuously active pure combinational circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3350930B1Low-power double error correcting-triple error detecting (deb-ted) decoder
Publication Date: 2023.07.26 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3350930B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3350930B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3350930B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Error detection and correction decoding apparatus performs single error correction-double error detection (SEC-DED) or double error correction-triple error detection (DEC-TED) depending on whether the data input contains a single-bit error or a multiple-bit error, to reduce power consumption and latency in case of single-bit errors and to provide powerful error correction in case of multiple-bit errors.