Semiconductor Auto-Pre-Charge Control Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor devices face challenges in efficiently performing auto-pre-charge operations due to the complexity of synchronizing clock signals and command decoding, leading to increased layout area and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The semiconductor device incorporates a flag shifting circuit and an auto-pre-charge control circuit that generate and shift flag signals based on multiple operation clock signals, allowing for synchronized auto-pre-charge signal generation and reduced layout area and power consumption by sharing a shifting circuit across different clock signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate pre-charge control circuits are used for each clock signal, then timing control precision is improved, but device complexity and layout area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple pre-charge control functions into a single shared control circuit. The control circuit receives different clock signals (first clock signal and second clock signal) and generates corresponding pre-charge control signals by selectively enabling different processing paths based on which clock signal is detected. This consolidation reduces the number of separate control circuits needed while maintaining precise timing control for each clock domain.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed with multi-functionality to handle different clock signals and generate appropriate pre-charge control signals for each. It can selectively process the first clock signal or the second clock signal based on which is currently active, making a single circuit perform multiple pre-charge control functions that would traditionally require separate dedicated circuits.
2Measurement precision
If multiple separate control circuits are implemented for different clock signals, then timing accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple pre-charge control functions into a single control circuit, the patent reduces the total number of active circuits operating simultaneously. The control circuit selectively activates processing paths based on which clock signal is present, ensuring that only the necessary control logic is powered at any given time, thereby reducing overall power consumption compared to having multiple always-on separate circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit operates periodically based on the detected clock signals, enabling pre-charge control only when needed for each clock domain. This periodic activation pattern ensures that the control circuit consumes power only during active clock periods rather than continuously, reducing average power consumption while maintaining timing accuracy during operational phases.
3Speed
If auto-pre-charge operation is automatically performed after read or write operations, then operation speed is improved, but synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit automatically detects which clock signal is currently active (first or second clock signal) and self-configures to generate the appropriate pre-charge control signal without requiring external intervention or complex synchronization logic. This self-service capability simplifies the overall synchronization system by eliminating the need for separate synchronization control mechanisms for each clock domain.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit generates pre-charge control signals in advance of the actual pre-charge operation by detecting clock signal transitions and proactively preparing the necessary control signals. This preliminary action ensures that pre-charge operations are executed at the correct timing for each clock domain without requiring complex real-time synchronization, thereby maintaining high operation speed while reducing synchronization complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device includes a flag shifting circuit and an auto-pre-charge control circuit. The flag shifting circuit generates a first shifted flag signal by shifting a first flag signal by a second latency period, the first flag signal generated based on a first operation clock signal, and configured to generate a second shifted flag signal by shifting a second flag signal by a first latency period, the second flag signal generated based on a second operation clock signal. The auto-pre-charge control circuit generates an auto-pre-charge signal by shifting the first shifted flag signal and the second shifted flag signal by a recovery period based on the first operation clock signal and the second operation clock signal.