Memory Address Encoding With Reduced Bit Toggling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems experience high power consumption due to frequent toggling of address bits when accessing memory cells, particularly when using natural binary code formats, which leads to increased power usage in memory access operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing address bits with reduced Hamming distance, such as reflected binary code (RBC) or Gray code, to minimize the number of toggles required when switching between address bits, thereby reducing power consumption by converting address bits from natural binary code to reduced Hamming distance binary code formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If natural binary code format is used for address bits, then memory addressing is simple and straightforward, but power consumption increases due to frequent toggling of address bits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of address bit encoding from natural binary code to Gray code, where consecutive addresses differ by only one bit. This parameter change reduces the number of bit transitions during sequential addressing, directly lowering power consumption while maintaining the simplicity of memory addressing operations
2Productivity
If address bits are frequently toggled to access sequential memory cells, then memory access continuity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies Gray code encoding to address bits, changing the parameter of how addresses are represented. In Gray code, consecutive numerical values differ by exactly one bit position, which minimizes toggling during sequential memory access operations while maintaining continuous access capability
Data Source
AI summary
Memory units are accessed using address bits. The address bits used to access memory units can have various formats. The address bits to access successive locations that are to be sequentially accessed can have a reduced Hamming distance binary code format to reduce a quantity of toggling to switch from one set of address bits to another set of address bits.