Pre-driver Voltage Adjustment for Semiconductor Memory Signal Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Semiconductor memory devices face limitations in high-speed data transmission due to large loads on data transfer units, leading to signal transfer delays and reduced operating speeds.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a pre-driver to adjust the voltage level of the data transferrer prior to signal transmission, ensuring it operates within a predetermined range relative to logic threshold voltages, thereby reducing delay times and increasing data transfer speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data transfer units are provided to transfer data to locations all around the semiconductor memory device, then data transfer capability is improved, but signal line length increases and load becomes large, causing signal transfer delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer capabilityVSAvoidsignal transfer delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-driver performs preliminary action by adjusting the voltage level of the data transferrer before the main driver activates and before data transmission occurs. This pre-conditioning of the voltage level reduces the time required for signal propagation through the long signal lines, thereby decreasing signal transfer delay while maintaining improved data transfer capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the voltage level parameter of the data transferrer using the pre-driver before data transmission. By adjusting this electrical parameter in advance, the system optimizes signal propagation characteristics, reducing transfer delays without compromising the data transfer capability provided by the distributed data transfer units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If various data transfer units and circuits are added to obtain stable operation and prevent interference, then operational stability is improved, but device load increases, limiting high-speed data transmission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational stabilityVSAvoiddata transmission speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-driver performs preliminary voltage level adjustment before data transmission, preparing the data transferrer in advance. This reduces the time required for signal propagation through the long signal lines, thereby decreasing signal transfer delay without adding more data transfer units or circuits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the voltage level parameter of the data transferrer using the pre-driver before data transmission. By adjusting this electrical parameter in advance, the system optimizes signal propagation characteristics, reducing transfer delays without compromising the operational stability provided by the various data transfer units and circuits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the voltage level of the data transferrer is not adjusted before signal transmission, then device complexity is reduced, but signal transfer delay increases, reducing operating speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidoperating speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-driver performs preliminary voltage level adjustment before the main driver activates and before data transmission occurs. This pre-conditioning of the voltage level reduces the time required for signal propagation, thereby increasing operating speed while adding only a simple pre-driver stage rather than complex circuitry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If data is outputted at higher speed after external read command, then operating speed increases and performance improves, but signal transfer delay through data transferrer becomes more significant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating speedVSAvoiddata transfer time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-driver performs preliminary voltage level adjustment before the main driver activates and before data transmission occurs. This pre-conditioning reduces the time required for signal propagation through the data transferrer, thereby decreasing the overall data transfer time and enabling higher operating speeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8300481B2Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving signals at high speed

Publication Date: 2012.10.30 MIMIRIP LLC

AI summary

A semiconductor memory device includes: a data transferrer configured to transfer data; a main driver configured to apply the data to the data transferrer in response to a control signal; and a pre-driver configured to decrease a voltage level of the data transferrer when the voltage level of the data transferrer is higher than a logic threshold voltage, and to increase the voltage level of the data transferrer when the voltage level of the data transferrer is lower than the logic threshold voltage prior to activation of the control signal.