Selectable Input Buffer Timing Matching for Setup/Hold Margin
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The switching between different input buffers with varying performance characteristics in semiconductor memory devices reduces the margin of setup/hold times due to delay offsets, leading to potential mismatches between address and clock signals.
Innovation Solution
An input buffer circuit is designed with a first and second buffer, each with distinct characteristics, along with corresponding delay matching circuits and a selection circuit to adjust and match delays, ensuring consistent timing margins by selecting between the buffers based on a flag or selection signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If switching between different input buffers with different performance characteristics is performed to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but delay offset occurs and setup/hold time margin is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The input buffer is divided into multiple segments (first input buffer with high-performance characteristics and second input buffer with low-performance characteristics). Each segment can be independently selected based on operational requirements, allowing the system to switch between high-speed mode and low-power mode while maintaining reliable timing margins through dedicated delay matching circuits for each segment
Solution Approach 2:
The input buffer system dynamically switches between different buffer configurations based on operational modes. A buffer selection circuit selects between the first and second input buffers, and delay matching circuits dynamically adjust delay amounts to compensate for performance differences, enabling adaptive power management without sacrificing timing reliability
2Power
If high-performance high-current input buffer is used to increase driving capability, then driving capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the input buffer system have different characteristics optimized for specific functions. The first input buffer is designed with high-performance characteristics for maximum driving capability when needed, while the second input buffer is designed with low-performance characteristics for minimal power consumption during normal operation. The buffer selection circuit locally chooses which buffer configuration to activate based on operational requirements
Data Source
AI summary
An input buffer circuit is disclosed, which relates to a technology for a receiver circuit including a plurality of input buffers having different characteristics. The input buffer circuit includes a first buffer configured to output a first input signal by buffering a command address received based on a flag signal, a second buffer configured to output a second input signal by buffering the command address based on the flag signal, a first delay matching circuit configured to output a first matching signal by delaying the first input signal by a first delay time, a second delay matching circuit configured to output a second matching signal by delaying the second input signal by a second delay time, and a selection circuit configured to select any one of the first matching signal and the second matching signal based on a selection signal.