Semiconductor I/O Circuit Selective Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional semiconductor integrated circuits face issues with power consumption due to data transmission to both enabled and disabled memory banks, leading to increased power consumption and potential data loss due to resistance and noise in global input/output lines.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor integrated circuit with a data input/output circuit that uses a control unit to generate input control signals to selectively transmit data to only enabled memory banks, employing a repeater to manage data transmission between global and local input/output lines, thereby reducing unnecessary current generation and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is transmitted to all memory banks including disabled ones, then data transmission coverage is complete, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data transmission function from all memory banks and selectively applies it only to enabled memory banks. The control unit identifies which memory banks are enabled and the repeater forwards data only to those banks, removing the unnecessary data transmission to disabled banks and thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining complete data transmission coverage for active banks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of data transmission by using the control unit to determine which memory banks are enabled and routing data accordingly. The repeater dynamically forwards data to only the enabled banks based on control signals, allowing the system to adapt its transmission behavior and reduce power consumption when not all banks need to be accessed.
2Reliability
If repeater is added to global input/output line, then data loss is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the repeater as an intermediary device in the global input/output line. The repeater receives data from the data input buffer, amplifies and regenerates it, and forwards it to the appropriate input drivers connected to enabled memory banks. This intermediary component ensures reliable data transmission over the long global input/output line while maintaining system functionality.
3Loss of energy
If control unit is added to select global input/output line, then unnecessary current generation is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary action by determining which memory banks are enabled before data transmission occurs. It generates control signals based on bank address data and enables/disables the corresponding input drivers in advance. This preliminary selection prevents unnecessary current generation by ensuring that only enabled banks receive data, while the added complexity is offset by the energy savings.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a control unit for generating an input control signal to select a global input/output line to which data is transmitted. A repeater receives data from the global input/output line to output the data to a global input/output line corresponding to the input control signal. A plurality of input drivers receive the data from the repeater to transmit the data to a local input/output line connected to each memory bank.