Oxide Semiconductor Storage Element for Low Power Signal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nonvolatile storage devices for signal processing circuits, such as those used in CPUs, are complex to manufacture and have limitations on data rewriting due to storage element deterioration, and external storage backup is inefficient for short power shutdowns, leading to high power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A storage element comprising phase-inversion elements, selection transistors, and capacitors formed in an oxide semiconductor layer, which allows data to be held and retrieved efficiently with minimal power consumption by using a feedback loop mechanism to maintain signal states during power fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is stored in a nonvolatile storage device located in the periphery of the volatile storage device, then data can be retained during power shutdown, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and the storage element deteriorates due to repeated writing and erasing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the volatile storage device's data in a nonvolatile storage device before power shutdown. This copying mechanism allows data to be retained without requiring the nonvolatile storage to be permanently integrated into the circuit, simplifying manufacturing while ensuring data retention during power interruptions.
2Reliability
If data is stored in an external storage device, then data can be backed up during power shutdown, but it takes a long time to return data from external storage to volatile storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by copying data to the nonvolatile storage device before power shutdown occurs. This advance preparation ensures that when power is restored, the data is already available in the nonvolatile storage, eliminating the need for time-consuming data retrieval from external storage devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a nonvolatile storage device as an intermediary between the volatile storage device and external storage. This intermediary storage located in the periphery enables fast data transfer while providing the reliability of nonvolatile storage, bridging the gap between speed and data retention requirements.
3Use of energy by moving object
If power supply is stopped to reduce consumed power, then energy consumption decreases, but data in volatile storage is lost and requires backup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system monitors power shutdown conditions and automatically triggers data copying to nonvolatile storage before power is cut. This feedback loop ensures data is protected during power shutdown without requiring continuous power supply, enabling energy savings while maintaining data retention.
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
The solution enables efficient data holding and retrieval with low power consumption, even during short power shutdowns, by using transistors with extremely low off-state current in oxide semiconductor layers, thus reducing the time required to resume operations and minimizing data loss.
Implementation Method 1
transistors with extremely low off-state current in oxide semiconductor layers
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to provide a signal processing circuit which can be manufactured without a complex manufacturing process and suppress power consumption. A storage element includes two logic elements (referred to as a first phase-inversion element and a second phase-inversion element) which invert a phase of an input signal and output the signal, a first selection transistor, and a second selection transistor. In the storage element, two pairs each having a transistor in which a channel is formed in an oxide semiconductor layer and a capacitor (a pair of a first transistor and a first capacitor, and a pair of a second transistor and a second capacitor) are provided. The storage element is used in a storage device such as a register or a cache memory included in a signal processing circuit.