Semiconductor Device Clock Blocking for Duplicate Data Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor devices face errors due to duplicate repair data being stored in storage units during boot-up operations, which can lead to operational failures when this duplicate data is transmitted to storage units.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device is designed with a nonvolatile storage unit, a select signal generation unit, and a clock blocking unit to prevent duplicate data from being stored by generating select signals using a clock and blocking the clock when data from the nonvolatile storage unit matches data already stored in the units, ensuring that only unique data is transmitted and stored.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If repair data is transmitted from nonvolatile storage unit to storage units during boot-up operation, then the semiconductor device can utilize repair data for correcting defective cells, but duplicate data may be stored in multiple storage units causing operational errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by comparing data before storing it in storage units. The comparison unit checks whether data to be stored is identical to data already present in storage units, and only allows storage if the data is unique. This prevents duplicate data from being stored in the first place, eliminating the harmful effect before it can cause operational errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through a clock blocking unit that receives comparison results and adjusts the clock signal accordingly. When duplicate data is detected, the clock signal is blocked to prevent the storage unit from latching the duplicate data. This feedback mechanism dynamically controls the data storage process based on real-time comparison outcomes, ensuring data uniqueness.
2Reliability
If a comparison unit and clock blocking unit are added to prevent duplicate data storage, then data integrity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The comparison unit serves multiple functions: it compares data from the nonvolatile storage unit with data already in storage units, generates comparison results, and provides feedback to the clock blocking unit. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated circuits for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining data integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The clock signal acts as an intermediary between the data transmission path and the storage units. The clock blocking unit controls the clock signal based on comparison results, indirectly preventing duplicate data storage without requiring direct intervention in the data path. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall circuit design compared to implementing complex data path control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device may include a nonvolatile storage unit, a select signal generation unit suitable for generating a plurality of select signals using a clock, a plurality of storage units suitable for storing data transmitted from the nonvolatile storage unit in response to the plurality of select signals, respectively, and a clock blocking unit suitable for blocking the clock inputted to the select signal generation unit when the data transmitted from the nonvolatile storage unit is the same as the data stored in the plurality of storage units.