Semiconductor Storage Device Signal Segmentation for Chip Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems require a dedicated memory controller and additional signal lines to manage multiple memory chips, limiting their scalability and increasing manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor storage device design that uses a general-purpose memory controller with a selection unit and a switch unit, dividing the chip selection signal into two signals to enable the selection of multiple memory chips without adding additional signal lines, allowing for increased chip count and reduced manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dedicated memory controller with additional signal lines is used to manage multiple memory chips, then the number of selectable chips increases, but the manufacturing cost increases and general purpose components cannot be used
Solution Approach 1:
The chip selection signal is segmented into two separate signals: a first signal transmitted directly from the memory controller to the selection unit, and a second signal transmitted from the memory controller to the switch unit. This segmentation allows the system to control multiple memory chips using the same signal lines, eliminating the need for additional dedicated signal lines and enabling the use of general purpose memory controllers.
Solution Approach 2:
A switch unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the memory controller and the selection unit. The switch unit receives the second signal from the memory controller and controls the connection between the selection unit and multiple memory chips. This intermediary enables signal reuse and allows a general purpose memory controller to manage more chips than the number of physical signal lines would normally permit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional signal lines are added to the memory controller to select more memory chips, then the number of selectable chips increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chip selection functionality is segmented across two signal paths: one path carries the first signal from the memory controller to the selection unit, and the other path carries the second signal from the memory controller to the switch unit. This segmentation allows the system to logically extend chip selection capability without physically adding more signal lines to the memory controller, thereby maintaining signal line simplicity while increasing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a temporal or control dimension to chip selection by introducing the switch unit that responds to the second signal. Instead of adding more spatial dimensions (signal lines), the invention uses a control dimension where the switch unit dynamically configures connections based on the second signal, enabling more chips to be selected through time-multiplexed or dynamically routed signal usage.
Data Source
AI summary
To increase the number of selectable chips without adding a signal line to a general purpose memory controller. A semiconductor storage device includes a memory controller, a plurality of memory chips, a selection unit which is connected to the memory controller and is connected with the plurality of memory chips to be able to select any one of the plurality of memory chips, and a switch unit which is connected to the memory controller and the selection unit. The memory controller and the selection unit are connected by a signal line for transmitting a first signal outputted from the memory controller and configured to select the memory chips. The memory controller and the switch unit are connected by a signal line for transmitting a second signal outputted from the memory controller and configured to select the memory chips.