Memory Access Line Energy Recycling for Lower Power and Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Memory systems face energy inefficiencies due to the generation and dissipation of heat during repeated charging and discharging of access lines, leading to increased power consumption and thermal management challenges.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a staggered programming operation and energy recycling mechanism where access lines of different blocks are coupled via conductive paths, allowing energy transfer between them, and using a reservoir capacitor to recycle energy through a switching component that selectively couples or isolates access lines based on voltage thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If access lines are repeatedly charged and discharged during memory operations, then memory access speed is improved, but energy consumption increases and heat is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures the energy that would otherwise be dissipated as heat during access line discharge and redirects it through conductive paths to assist in charging subsequent access lines. This converts the harmful wasted energy into a beneficial resource that accelerates subsequent operations without requiring additional power supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces conductive paths as intermediary elements between access lines to enable energy transfer. These conductive paths act as mediators that capture energy from discharging lines and deliver it to lines requiring charging, facilitating efficient energy recycling without direct coupling between memory blocks.
2Speed
If access lines are repeatedly charged and discharged during memory operations, then memory access speed is improved, but heat dissipation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful heat-generating energy dissipation during access line discharge into a useful resource by capturing the electrical energy through conductive paths and utilizing it for subsequent line charging, thereby reducing both energy consumption and heat generation from repeated operations.
3Use of energy by moving object
If energy is transferred between access lines of different blocks, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces conductive paths as intermediary elements between access lines to enable energy transfer. These conductive paths act as mediators that capture energy from discharging lines and deliver it to lines requiring charging, facilitating efficient energy recycling without direct coupling between memory blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive paths serve multiple functions: they act as energy storage elements, energy transfer channels, and voltage equalization pathways. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
4Loss of energy
If a reservoir capacitor is used to recycle energy, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir capacitor serves multiple functions: it acts as an energy storage element, a voltage reference, and a decoupling component. By consolidating these functions into a single component, the patent achieves improved energy efficiency while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir capacitor enables the memory system to recycle and reuse its own energy internally, reducing dependence on external power sources. This self-service mechanism captures wasted energy and makes it available for subsequent operations, improving overall energy efficiency without requiring complex external power management circuits.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces power consumption and heat dissipation by transferring energy that would otherwise be lost, improving efficiency and thermal management, and enabling reliable operation during unexpected power loss.
Implementation Method 1
A memory system may recycle energy between one or more memory devices via a voltage supply node using a reservoir capacitor.
Implementation Method 2
The switching component may be configured to selectively couple or isolate the access lines based on a voltage threshold.
Data Source
AI summary
In some implementations, a memory system may perform a staggered access operation on a first access line of a first one or more access lines and a second access line of a one or more second access lines, the second access line coupled to the first access line, wherein the staggered access operation comprises a first activation of the first access line during a first duration and a second activation of the second access line during a second duration subsequent to the first duration.