Data Output Circuit With Phantom Current Control for SSO Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional semiconductor data output circuits suffer from simultaneous switching output (SSO) noise, which distorts data output and increases fabrication costs due to the need for additional noise-preventing pads or pins, especially as the complexity and scale of semiconductor devices grow.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a data output circuit with pattern sensing units and phantom driving units that adjust phantom currents in response to data bit patterns, allowing for stable data output without additional pins by controlling the intensity of phantom source and sink currents to match the intensity of pull-up and pull-down currents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional noise-preventing pads or pins are added to suppress SSO noise, then data output stability is improved, but device complexity and fabrication cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a phantom driving unit as an intermediary component that generates phantom currents to counterbalance the SSO noise. This phantom driving unit acts as a mediator between the data driving units and the ground voltage terminal, dynamically adjusting the phantom sink current to compensate for simultaneous switching events without requiring additional external pads or pins.
Solution Approach 2:
The pattern sensing unit detects the switching patterns of data bits and provides feedback to the phantom driving unit. This feedback mechanism allows the system to anticipate and compensate for SSO noise by adjusting the phantom current intensity based on the detected data bit patterns, thereby maintaining data output stability without adding physical noise-preventing structures.
2Reliability
If additional noise-preventing pads or pins are added to suppress SSO noise, then data output stability is improved, but fabrication cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phantom driving unit serves as an intermediary that eliminates the need for additional physical pads or pins by generating compensating phantom currents internally. This approach reduces fabrication costs by avoiding the need to manufacture and assemble additional noise-preventing components while still achieving reliable data output.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If phantom currents are dynamically adjusted based on data bit patterns, then SSO noise suppression is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pattern sensing unit performs preliminary detection of data bit patterns before the actual data output occurs. By identifying potential SSO noise conditions in advance, the system can pre-adjust the phantom current intensity through the phantom driving unit, effectively suppressing noise before it impacts data output stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom driving unit dynamically changes the intensity parameter of the phantom sink current based on the detected data bit patterns. This parameter adjustment allows the system to adaptively suppress SSO noise by matching the phantom current intensity to the actual switching conditions, achieving effective noise suppression without requiring complex control circuits.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of data driving units, each configured to drive a corresponding data output pad by a power supply voltage supplied through a power supply voltage input pin and a ground voltage supplied through a ground voltage input pin, in response to a corresponding bit of a data code, a pattern sensing unit configured to sense a bit pattern of the data code and generate a pattern sensing signal, and a phantom driving unit configured to form a current path between the power supply voltage input pin and the ground voltage input pin and to drive the current path by a driving force determined in response to the pattern sensing signal.