Semiconductor Memory Serial Interface Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor memory devices with serial interfaces experience excessive power consumption during read operations due to unnecessary activation of the sense amplifier, gate-voltage generating unit, and drain-voltage generating unit during data output, leading to longer read times and higher power usage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an activating control unit that activates these units only when necessary, halting their operations when data is being outputted from the memory-cell matrix and held by the data holding unit, thereby reducing power consumption by optimizing the voltage-generating and amplifying unit operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sense amplifier, gate-voltage generating unit, and drain-voltage generating unit are activated during data output, then data can be held and outputted correctly, but power consumption increases and read time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the activation state of the sense amplifier and voltage generating units variable rather than static. The activating control unit dynamically adjusts their operational state based on real-time requirements: activating them only during the critical period when data needs amplification and holding, and deactivating them during other phases. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction by ensuring these components operate only when necessary for data correctness, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through the activating control unit, which periodically activates and deactivates the sense amplifier and voltage generating units based on the read operation phase. During the data hold period, these units are activated; during other periods, they are deactivated. This periodic on-off control pattern ensures that power is consumed only during the specific time window when data amplification and holding are required, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining data correctness and reducing power consumption.
2Reliability
If the sense amplifier and voltage generating units remain activated during data output, then data can be held in the data holding unit, but read time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The activating control unit dynamically manages the operational duration of the sense amplifier and voltage generating units. Instead of keeping them continuously activated, the system dynamically adjusts their active period to coincide precisely with the data hold requirement. This dynamic timing control ensures data can be properly held in the data holding unit during the necessary window while minimizing the overall read time by avoiding unnecessary extended activation of these components.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the activating control unit limits the operational time of amplifying and voltage-generating units, then power consumption is reduced, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The activating control unit serves as an intermediary component that mediates between the data holding unit and the amplifying/voltage-generating units. It receives signals from the data holding unit indicating when data needs to be held, and based on this information, it controls the activation timing of the sense amplifier and voltage generating units. This intermediary control mechanism reduces power consumption by preventing unnecessary activation of power-intensive components, while the added control complexity is localized to a single coordinating unit rather than distributed throughout the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
Reducing power consumption of a semiconductor memory device having a serial interface is disclosed. After parallel read-out data from a memory-cell matrix 14 are held in a data latch 17, the parallel read-out data are selected sequentially by a serial output selector 18 according to timing signals SL0-SL15 from a controller 20 and are outputted serially from an output buffer 19 as an output data DO. In an activating control unit 23, outputting an operation control signal AC to a gate-voltage generating unit 21, a drain-voltage generating unit 22, and a sense amplifier 16 is being halted during from when a timing signal SL0 is finished to when a timing SL10 is finished. Consequently, during the above mentioned period, the unnecessary operations of the gate-voltage generating unit 21, the drain-voltage generating unit 22, and the sense amplifier 16 are being halted and then the power consumption thereof can be reduced.