Semiconductor Device Adaptive Refresh Cycle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor systems face operational instability when switching from low-speed to high-speed mode due to overlapping operations, necessitating a technique to ensure stable transitions.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device and system that includes a monitoring circuit to detect speed changes in the clock signal, a cycle control circuit to adjust the refresh cycle, and a control circuit to generate appropriate command signals based on the system clock and refresh flag signals, allowing for adaptive operation speed management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the semiconductor system operates in high-speed mode with faster clock signals, then the processing speed and productivity are improved, but the risk of operation overlap and instability during mode switching increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by setting a longer refresh cycle when detecting high-speed mode operation. The control circuit extends the refresh cycle duration before actual operations occur, ensuring that any ongoing operations from low-speed mode have fully completed before high-speed mode operations begin. This prevents operation overlap and ensures stable transition between speed modes.
2Reliability
If the refresh cycle is extended to prevent operation overlap during mode switching, then the operational reliability is improved, but the time consumption and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the refresh cycle adaptive rather than fixed. The control circuit dynamically adjusts the refresh cycle duration based on the detected operation speed mode - using a longer cycle when transitioning to high-speed mode to prevent overlap, and a shorter cycle during stable high-speed operation to minimize time loss. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between reliability and time consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the semiconductor system supports multiple operation speeds, then the adaptability and versatility are improved, but the complexity of controlling refresh cycles and preventing operation overlap increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a control circuit that handles multiple speed modes through a unified approach. The control circuit uses a single speed detection mechanism and unified refresh cycle adjustment logic that works for both low-speed and high-speed modes, rather than requiring separate control mechanisms for each mode. This reduces the overall complexity while maintaining multi-speed adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device includes a monitoring circuit suitable for generating a monitoring signal indicating whether a speed of a memory clock signal is changed based on a speed information signal representing speed information of the memory clock signal; a cycle control circuit suitable for generating a refresh cycle control signal for controlling a refresh cycle based on a system clock signal, the memory clock signal, the monitoring signal and a refresh flag signal; and a control circuit suitable for generating the memory clock signal and the refresh flag signal based on the speed information signal, the system clock signal and the refresh cycle control signal.