Memory Clock Coordination for Low-Power CA Decoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face challenges in aligning decoding clocks with command/address bits at decoders, leading to high power consumption and latency, particularly at high clock speeds, due to misalignment and propagation delays.
Innovation Solution
The memory system delays the initiation of the decoding clock by one or more unit intervals of the internal clock, aligning it with the arrival of command/address bits at the decoder, thereby reducing power expenditure and eliminating time delay boundaries during decoding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the decoding clock is initiated simultaneously with the CA clock, then the clock tree structure is simple, but misalignment and propagation delays cause high power consumption and latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by delaying the initiation of the decoding clock relative to the CA clock. Specifically, the decoding clock is initiated one or more unit intervals after the CA clock, allowing the CA bits to be fully received and buffered at the decoder before decoding begins. This temporal ordering eliminates misalignment issues and propagation delay problems, reducing power consumption while maintaining a relatively simple clock tree structure.
2Loss of energy
If the decoding clock is delayed to align with CA bit arrival, then power consumption is reduced, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action to delay the decoding clock initiation by one or more unit intervals, which reduces power consumption by eliminating unnecessary clock cycles. This delay is optimized to the minimum necessary amount to ensure CA bit alignment, thereby minimizing the impact on overall latency while achieving significant power savings.
3Reliability
If the decoding clock is delayed using a delay circuit, then clock alignment is achieved, but power expenditure increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a delay circuit to align the decoding clock, the patent applies preliminary action by structurally designing the clock initiation sequence to naturally achieve alignment. The decoding clock is initiated one or more unit intervals after the CA clock without requiring additional delay circuits, thereby achieving reliable clock alignment while avoiding the power expenditure associated with delay circuitry.
4Measurement precision
If clock signals are continuously generated, then timing accuracy is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by initiating clock signals only when needed, rather than continuously generating them. The CA clock and decoding clock are initiated one or more unit intervals apart only when commands are being processed, and can be stopped or reset when not in use. This approach maintains timing accuracy during operation while significantly reducing power consumption during idle periods.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for techniques for clock coordination with reduced power and latency at a memory system are described. The described techniques provide for a memory system to delay the initiation of a decoding clock at the origin of a clock tree. For example, the memory system may initiate a command/address (CA) clock at a first time corresponding to reception of a CS signal, and may initiate the decoding clock at a second time following the first time by one or more unit intervals of the internal clock. Further, the described techniques provide for the memory system to buffer a first set of CA and buffer a second set of the CA bits according to respective unit intervals of the CA clock such that all the CA bits may be decoded at the decoder according to a single edge of the decoding clock.