Memory I/O Warmup Address Shifting for Stable High-Speed Reads
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed NAND I/O interfaces face challenges in performing warmup operations due to the thin time margin for switching clock paths, leading to glitches and instability in data transmission, especially as data transmission speeds exceed 3.6 Gbps.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an address shifter in the I/O interface to determine a shifted read address based on the original read address and warmup cycles, allowing dummy data to be transmitted during warmup periods, followed by actual data output from the precise original read address.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If high-speed data transmission is implemented in NAND I/O interfaces, then data transmission speed is improved, but clock path switching stability deteriorates due to thin time margins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a warmup period before actual data transmission begins. During this warmup period, the I/O interface performs preliminary operations to stabilize clock paths and circuits. The address shifter pre-calculates shifted addresses and the system pre-charges signal paths, ensuring that when high-speed data transmission starts, all timing margins are already optimized and stable, thus preventing glitches even at speeds exceeding 3.6 Gbps
2Reliability
If warmup operations are performed before data reading, then circuit stability is improved, but read time is increased due to additional warmup period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates idle time during the warmup period by continuously performing useful operations. Instead of leaving circuits idle to stabilize, the system continues to calculate shifted addresses, pre-charge signal paths, and prepare data buffers throughout the warmup period. This ensures that every moment of the warmup period contributes to stabilizing the system while simultaneously advancing the data retrieval process, thus minimizing the effective time penalty
3Adaptability or versatility
If address shifter is used to calculate shifted addresses, then compatibility with high-speed interfaces is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The address shifter acts as an intermediary component between the original address input and the memory array access. It receives the original read address, calculates the shifted address by accounting for the warmup period duration, and uses this shifted address to retrieve data that will be output after the warmup period ends. This intermediary calculation enables precise timing synchronization without requiring complex timing control logic throughout the entire I/O interface
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, devices, and systems for managing warmup operations in memory devices are provided. In one aspect, an input/output (I/O) interface of a memory device can be configured to receive a first address of first data to be read, receive warmup information that indicates a warmup period before reading the first data, and determine, based on the first address and the warmup information, a second address of second data to be read during the warmup period before reading the first data.