Semiconductor Device Clock Driver Gate Line Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for semiconductor devices with low area flip-flop designs to meet the demands of highly integrated circuits, particularly in reducing manufacturing complexity and increasing efficiency while maintaining operational characteristics.
Innovation Solution
The semiconductor device incorporates a clock driver that outputs both a clock signal and an inverted clock signal, utilizing multiple gate lines to provide these signals to master and slave latch circuits, allowing for efficient data storage and retrieval with reduced circuit complexity and area usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If conventional flip-flop designs are used, then operational reliability is maintained, but circuit area increases and integration density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clock signal distribution function into the gate line structure itself. The gate lines are configured to directly receive and distribute both clock and inverted clock signals to multiple latch circuits simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate clock distribution networks. This merging of functions reduces overall circuit area while maintaining reliable clocking across all latch elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate lines serve multiple functions: they act as both data control gates and clock signal distribution paths. By making the gate lines universal structures that handle both data gating and clock distribution, the patent reduces the total number of dedicated signal paths needed, thereby reducing circuit area without compromising operational reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more gate lines are added to provide clock signals to multiple latch circuits, then clock distribution capability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gate lines are designed to serve dual purposes: controlling data flow into latch circuits and distributing clock signals to them. This multi-functionality allows the same structural elements to handle both data and clock distribution, improving clock distribution capability across multiple latch circuits without adding separate dedicated clock lines that would increase device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the clock distribution network with the data control gate structure. Instead of having separate clock lines running to each latch circuit, the clock signals are integrated into the gate line operation, allowing a single gate line structure to perform both data gating and clock distribution functions simultaneously.
3Reliability
If separate clock distribution networks are used for each latch circuit, then clock signal integrity is maintained, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate clock distribution networks into a unified gate line structure that serves all latch circuits. This consolidation reduces the total number of signal paths that need to be manufactured and aligned, simplifying the fabrication process while maintaining clock signal integrity through the shared gate line infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
By making gate lines universal structures that handle both data control and clock distribution, the patent reduces manufacturing complexity. Instead of requiring precise alignment and fabrication of separate dedicated clock lines to each latch circuit, the universal gate lines provide a more manufacturable solution that maintains clock signal integrity across all circuits.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device may include a clock driver including a first gate line, a second gate line, a third gate line and a fourth gate line each extending in a first direction, the first gate line and the second gate line each configured to receive a clock signal, and the third gate line and the fourth gate line each configured to receive an inverted clock signal; a master latch circuit overlapping the first gate line and the third gate line such that the master latch circuit receive the clock signal from the first gate line and receive the inverted clock signal from the third gate line; and a slave latch circuit overlapping the second gate line and the fourth gate line such that the slave latch circuit receives the clock signal from the second gate line, and receives the inverted clock signal from the fourth gate line.