Memory Sensing Circuitry for In-Memory Comparison Operations

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing memory systems require significant power and time to perform comparison operations, as they often necessitate transferring data between memory arrays and processing resources via buses, which can be inefficient and power-intensive.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of sensing circuitry within memory arrays that allows for comparison operations to be performed directly on data stored in memory cells without transferring data via input/output lines, using logical operations like AND, OR, SHIFT, and INVERT to compare vectors and store results back within the array.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If data is transferred between memory arrays and processing resources via buses to perform comparison operations, then the operations can be executed using external processing units, but the power consumption and time required increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomparison operation executionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the memory array with sensing circuitry that includes logical operation units (AND, OR, SHIFT, INVERT) and comparison units, allowing comparison operations to be performed directly within the memory structure without external data transfer, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining operational capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the comparison function from external processing resources and embeds it directly into the memory array's sensing circuitry, eliminating the need for data transfer over buses and reducing the energy required for comparison operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If data is transferred between memory arrays and processing resources via buses to perform comparison operations, then the operations can be executed using external processing units, but the computational time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomparison operation executionVSAvoidcomputational time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the memory array with sensing circuitry that includes logical operation units (AND, OR, SHIFT, INVERT) and comparison units, allowing comparison operations to be performed directly within the memory structure without external data transfer, thereby reducing computational time while maintaining operational capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the comparison operation into multiple parallel stages (logical operations followed by comparison), allowing simultaneous processing of multiple data elements within the memory array, which significantly reduces the overall computational time required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If sensing circuitry with logical operation units is integrated within the memory array to perform comparison operations directly, then power consumption and computational time are reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomparison operation efficiencyVSAvoidmemory array structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing circuitry is designed with multi-functional logical operation units (AND, OR, SHIFT, INVERT) that can perform various logical operations in addition to comparison functions, allowing the same hardware structure to serve multiple purposes and justifying the increased complexity through enhanced versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the memory array with sensing circuitry that includes logical operation units (AND, OR, SHIFT, INVERT) and comparison units, allowing comparison operations to be performed directly within the memory structure without external data transfer, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining operational capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11205497B2Comparison operations in memory

Publication Date: 2021.12.21 MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Examples of the present disclosure provide apparatuses and methods related to performing comparison operations in a memory. An example apparatus might include a first group of memory cells coupled to a first access line and configured to store a first element. An example apparatus might also include a second group of memory cells coupled to a second access line and configured to store a second element. An example apparatus might also include sensing circuitry configured to compare the first element with the second element by performing a number of AND operations, OR operations, SHIFT operations, and INVERT operations without transferring data via an input/output (I/O) line.