Semiconductor System Clock Synchronization With Periodic Data-Clock Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor systems face challenges in maintaining clock synchronization operations during high-speed data transfer, leading to increased current consumption and inefficiencies in data handling.
Innovation Solution
The semiconductor system includes a driving signal generation circuit and a sync enable signal generation circuit to manage pull-up and pull-down signals, extending the sync enable signal interval during operations, and a data clock input circuit to divide the data clock frequency, ensuring clock synchronization is maintained across multiple memory devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the data clock is continuously generated during normal operations, then high-speed data transfer is maintained, but current consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data clock input circuit is configured to periodically receive the data clock during extended intervals rather than continuously. The sync enable signal extends the clock reception interval to include periods before and after normal operations, allowing the circuit to operate periodically at high speed while remaining inactive during idle periods, thus reducing overall current consumption while maintaining high-speed transfer capability when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The sync enable signal is generated in advance to extend the data clock reception interval before the normal operation starts. This preliminary extension ensures that the data clock is already being received and synchronized before the actual data transfer begins, allowing for smoother transitions and reducing the need for continuous clock generation during setup and teardown periods
2Reliability
If the data clock reception interval is extended, then clock synchronization is maintained, but the interval for receiving data clock is longer than necessary during normal operations
Solution Approach 1:
The data clock reception interval is made dynamic by extending it only when synchronization signals are detected. The sync enable signal dynamically adjusts the clock reception window to include the necessary extension periods before and after operations, rather than maintaining a fixed continuous interval. This dynamic adjustment ensures synchronization reliability while minimizing unnecessary extended intervals during normal operations
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple memory devices operate independently, then data transfer flexibility is improved, but clock synchronization between devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sync enable signal generation mechanism serves multiple functions: it extends the data clock reception interval, maintains clock synchronization, and coordinates operations across multiple memory devices. By using a universal synchronization approach that can be applied to any number of devices, the system maintains both the flexibility of independent device operation and the reliability of synchronized clocking across all devices
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device includes a driving signal generation circuit configured to generate a pull-up driving signal that is enabled when a data clock input control signal is input during a normal operation, configured to generate a pull-down driving signal that is enabled when any one of a write signal and a read signal is input, and configured to generate the pull-down driving signal that is enabled after a set interval when a synchronization signal is input, and a sync enable signal generation circuit configured to generate a sync enable signal for receiving a data clock from a time at which the pull-up driving signal is enabled to a time at which the pull-down driving signal is enabled.