Semiconductor Control Circuit Busy Signal Sequencing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current semiconductor memory devices face challenges in efficiently managing operations and communication between the memory controller and the memory device, particularly in handling instruction codes and command sets, which can lead to inefficiencies and errors in data processing and storage.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor memory device with a control circuit that receives commands and executes operations based on instruction codes, generating and managing signals to indicate busy states and prevent concurrent operations, ensuring proper sequencing and timing of commands and data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the semiconductor memory device executes multiple operations based on command sets, then operational throughput is improved, but errors due to concurrent execution of commands may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit generates a busy signal in advance before executing operations, indicating to the memory controller that the device is about to process commands. This preliminary signaling prevents the memory controller from issuing new commands during active operation, thereby avoiding concurrent execution errors while maintaining high throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit continuously monitors the execution state of operations and provides feedback to the memory controller through the busy signal. When operations are in progress, the busy signal is asserted to feedback the current busy state, preventing new command issuance until operations complete, thus ensuring reliable sequential execution
2Speed
If the memory controller and memory device communicate efficiently, then data transfer speed is improved, but timing synchronization errors may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit acts as an intermediary between the memory controller and the internal operation execution units. It manages the timing and sequencing of command reception, processing, and completion signaling, thereby coordinating data transfer operations without requiring complex timing synchronization between the memory controller and memory device
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit prepares the device for data transfer by asserting the busy signal before operations begin, allowing the memory controller to initiate high-speed data transfer without worrying about timing conflicts. This preliminary state indication enables efficient communication while maintaining timing integrity
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive a first command and execute, based on the first command, a first operation and a second operation. The second operation is executed after the first operation. The control circuit is further configured to output a first signal from a start of the first operation to a start of the second operation. The first signal indicates that the semiconductor device is in a busy state in which the semiconductor device refrains from accepting, from an external controller, a second command for execution of the first operation and a third command for execution of the second operation.