Multi-Interface ZQ Calibration Circuit for Faster Memory Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory devices support only a ZQ calibration feature for a single interface, leading to increased command and time requirements when performing calibration across multiple interfaces, which hampers high-speed and high-power efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A ZQ calibration circuit that includes a ZQ controller to detect the end of one interface mode and switch to another, a ZQ engine to generate reference voltages for each mode, and a ZQ driver to output signals based on calibration codes, enabling simultaneous ZQ calibration across multiple interfaces within a single command and time unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ZQ calibration is performed on multiple interfaces using a single interface calibration method, then each interface can be calibrated individually, but the command count and calibration time increase by the number of interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple interface calibrations into a single unified calibration process. The ZQ calibration circuit performs calibration for multiple interfaces simultaneously by sharing common calibration resources and using a single command sequence, thereby reducing the total calibration time while maintaining signal integrity across all interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The ZQ calibration circuit is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple interface modes. It can detect the current interface mode and automatically adjust calibration parameters accordingly, allowing a single calibration circuit to serve multiple interfaces with different modes without requiring separate calibration circuits for each interface.
2Reliability
If ZQ calibration is performed on multiple interfaces using a single interface calibration method, then each interface can be calibrated individually, but the command count increases by the number of interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The ZQ calibration circuit is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple interface modes. It can detect the current interface mode and automatically adjust calibration parameters accordingly, allowing a single calibration circuit to serve multiple interfaces with different modes without requiring separate calibration circuits for each interface.
3Productivity
If separate ZQ calibration circuits are used for each interface mode, then calibration can be performed simultaneously on multiple interfaces, but the device complexity and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple interface calibrations into a single unified calibration process. The ZQ calibration circuit performs calibration for multiple interfaces simultaneously by sharing common calibration resources and using a single command sequence, thereby reducing the total calibration time while maintaining signal integrity across all interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A ZQ calibration circuit includes: a ZQ controller configured to detect an end of one interface mode, among a plurality of interface modes in which ZQ calibration is supported, and to instruct a switch to another interface mode in response to the one interface mode coming to an end; a ZQ engine configured to generate a first reference voltage corresponding to the one interface mode through a multi-reference voltage generator, to generate a second reference voltage corresponding to the another interface mode in response to the switch to the another interface mode being instructed, to perform the ZQ calibration based on the first reference voltage or the second reference voltage, and to output a calibration code; and a ZQ driver configured to output an output signal through an input/output pad based on the calibration code.