Semiconductor Memory Device With Simplified Address Processing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capsule cameras for gastrointestinal tract imaging face challenges such as invasiveness, discomfort, high costs, and limitations in reaching the small intestine due to endoscopic procedures, and require inefficient data storage and transfer methods.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor memory device with a simplified address processing circuit that uses a predetermined address sequence for memory access, eliminating the need for an external address port and reducing power consumption and silicon area, allowing for efficient image storage and transfer in a swallowable capsule camera.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional semiconductor memory device with address processing circuit is used in capsule camera, then random access to memory is enabled, but power consumption and silicon area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the address processing circuit from the memory device, extracting only the essential memory array functionality. This extraction eliminates the power-consuming address decoding logic while retaining sequential read/write capability, directly resolving the contradiction between operation flexibility and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing random access through address ports as in conventional memory devices, the patent inverts the approach by implementing sequential access only. The memory is accessed in a predetermined sequence without address decoding, fundamentally changing the access paradigm to eliminate power consumption associated with address processing.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional semiconductor memory device with address processing circuit is used in capsule camera, then random access to memory is enabled, but silicon area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the address processing circuit from the memory device, retaining only the essential memory array. This extraction eliminates the silicon area occupied by address decoding logic, multiplexers, and associated control circuits, directly resolving the contradiction between operational flexibility and device area.
3Productivity
If data is transmitted from capsule camera externally, then data transfer is enabled, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses magnetic resonance imaging to create a copy of the internal capsule data externally. Instead of complex wireless transmission systems, the magnetic resonance signal serves as a copy of the stored data that can be read externally, simplifying the transmission system while maintaining data transfer capability.
4Ease of operation
If endoscopic procedures are used for gastrointestinal imaging, then physician control over field of view is achieved, but patient discomfort and procedure cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule camera performs self-service by autonomously navigating through the gastrointestinal tract and capturing images without external control. The capsule independently executes its imaging mission, eliminating the need for invasive endoscopic procedures and associated patient discomfort while maintaining diagnostic capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor memory device and an associated method suitable for use in specific applications with predictable memory access pattern, such as in a capsule camera. The memory device takes advantage of the memory access pattern to simplify address processing circuit to realize savings in power and silicon area. Because random access to the semiconductor device is not required, the interface from external to the semiconductor device is also simplified by eliminating at least the address port that is used to specify the memory locations accessed. The method is applicable not only to non-volatile memory technologies (e.g., flash memory), it is also applicable to volatile memory technologies, such as transient charge storage-based memory circuits (e.g., DRAMs) and metastable states-based memory circuits (e.g., SRAMs).