Semiconductor Device Mode Control Circuit for Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current semiconductor devices face inefficiencies in data storage operations, particularly in activating write modes without external data, leading to higher power consumption and complex logic level combinations for command/address signals.
Innovation Solution
The semiconductor device incorporates a mode control circuit, write control circuit, and internal data generation circuit to activate pattern input modes and generate operation set signals, enabling write enablement signals for storing internal data without external data, reducing power consumption by optimizing logic level combinations for first and second write modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If write modes are activated using conventional logic level combinations of command/address signals, then data storage operation is enabled, but power consumption increases and logic complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of logic level combinations for command/address signals to differentiate between first write mode and second write mode. By assigning specific logic level patterns (e.g., different combinations of high/low states across multiple CA signals), the device can identify and activate the appropriate write mode, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining reliable data storage operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the write operation into two distinct modes (first write mode and second write mode) with different logic level requirements. This segmentation allows the device to selectively activate only the necessary write mode based on the specific operation needed, avoiding the power consumption associated with activating both modes or using a more complex universal write mode for all operations.
2Reliability
If write modes are activated using conventional logic level combinations of command/address signals, then data storage operation is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the logic level parameters of command/address signals to create distinct, easily distinguishable patterns for first write mode and second write mode. By defining specific logic level combinations (such as particular high/low states on CA0-CA7 signals), the patent simplifies the decoding logic required in the mode control circuit, reducing overall device complexity while ensuring reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inverted or complementary logic level patterns to differentiate between write modes. For example, if the first write mode is activated by a specific combination of high/low states, the second write mode may be activated by the inverse pattern. This inversion approach simplifies the control logic by allowing the use of straightforward logical operations (such as NOR gates detecting specific low-state patterns) rather than complex multi-condition evaluation.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device includes a mode control circuit, a write control circuit and an internal data generation circuit. The mode control circuit activates a pattern input mode according to a logic level combination of a chip selection signal, configured to activate a command/address signal to generate an operation set signal from the command/address signal. The mode control circuit generates a mode control signal, which is enabled by the operation set signal, according to a logic level combination of the chip selection signal and the command/address signal, in a write mode after the pattern input mode is activated. The write control circuit generates a write enablement signal, which is enabled according to a logic level of the mode control signal. The internal data generation circuit generates internal data to be stored into a core circuit according to the write enablement signal.