Ringing Masking Device Buffer Control Unit Signal Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor memory devices experience data errors due to ring-back noise, particularly when data strobe signals return to a high impedance state, leading to errors in synchronization with corrupted rising and falling edges, which existing solutions fail to fully address across varying input modes.
Innovation Solution
A ringing masking device with a data strobe buffer unit and a buffer control unit that advances the generation of a burst end signal and latches it at the rising edge, preventing errors by synchronizing the control signal with the data strobe signal, regardless of input mode, using a pulse generation unit, counter unit, and control signal generation unit to manage the buffer control signal effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the data strobe signal returns to high impedance state after postamble, then the signal can be reused for next operation, but ringing occurs causing data errors during latching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by generating the burst end signal before the actual end of data strobe signal, and latching it at the rising edge. This advance preparation ensures that when the data strobe signal returns to high impedance state and is reused for next operation, the driver is already disabled, preventing ringing from occurring. The control signal is prepared in advance to mask the harmful ringing effect before it can corrupt the data latching process.
2Reliability
If the driver signal is disabled early to prevent ringing, then data errors are avoided, but normal pulses may be blocked during fast or slow input modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback by using the pulse signal generated from the data strobe signal to control the latching and output of the burst end signal. The control signal generation unit monitors the pulse signal and only outputs the buffer control signal to disable the driver when both the burst end signal and pulse signal are high. This feedback mechanism ensures that normal pulses are not blocked even in fast or slow input modes, while still preventing ringing by disabling the driver at the appropriate moment based on real-time signal conditions.
3Device complexity
If the burst end signal is generated without latching, then the timing is simpler, but the signal may not be synchronized properly with varying input modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by latching the burst end signal at the rising edge in advance. This latching operation prepares the signal with precise timing characteristics before it is used to generate the buffer control signal. By latching at the rising edge, the patent ensures proper synchronization with varying input modes (fast, normal, slow) while adding minimal complexity - only a simple latch circuit is needed to achieve this precise timing alignment.
Data Source
AI summary
A ringing masking device includes a data strobe buffer unit buffering a data strobe signal and outputting a rising pulse and a falling pulse synchronized with a buffer signal. A buffer control unit latches a burst end signal to generate a buffer control signal and outputs the buffer control signal according to a control of a pulse signal generated in synchronization with the buffer signal.