Semiconductor Device I/O Driving Blocks Peripheral Region
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional semiconductor memory devices face increased complexity and area requirements due to the large number of drivers and multiplexers in the Y-hole region, which complicates data input/output operations and increases the loading on global input/output lines as the devices trend towards higher speeds and capacities.
Innovation Solution
The semiconductor device incorporates input/output driving blocks and data transfer blocks in a peripheral region, allowing data to be transmitted to global input/output lines by distinguishing data bandwidths, thereby reducing the area of the Y-hole region and decreasing the loading on global input/output lines by removing unnecessary drivers and multiplexers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If drivers and multiplexers are disposed in the Y-hole region to perform X4 operation, then data input/output capability is improved, but the area of the Y-hole region increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drivers and multiplexers from the Y-hole region and relocates them to the peripheral region. This separation removes the unnecessary components from the Y-hole area, reducing its area while maintaining the data input/output capability through the relocated components in the peripheral region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the semiconductor device into distinct functional regions: the Y-hole region dedicated to memory cell arrays and the peripheral region housing the input/output driving blocks. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized independently, with the peripheral region containing all necessary drivers and multiplexers for X4 operation without encroaching on the Y-hole region area.
2Productivity
If multiple drivers and multiplexers are added to increase data bandwidth, then data processing capacity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The input/output driving blocks in the peripheral region are designed to perform multiple functions: they serve as drivers for data output, multiplexers for data selection in X4 operation, and interface controllers for various data widths (X4, X8, X16). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining high data processing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of drivers, multiplexers, and control logic into integrated input/output driving blocks located in the peripheral region. By combining these functions into unified blocks rather than dispersing them throughout the Y-hole region, the overall device complexity is reduced while preserving the capability to handle high data bandwidth operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device may include pad blocks configured for receiving and outputting data. The semiconductor device may also include input/output driving blocks configured to transfer data received from global input/output lines to the pad blocks in response to a read operation, and transfer data from the pad blocks to the global input/output lines in response to a write operation. The input/output driving blocks are disposed in a peripheral region and control a width of the data.