Sense Amplifier Timing Control for Stable Data Amplification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Semiconductor memory devices face errors due to varying driving capabilities of sense amplifier circuits, leading to erroneously reversed polarity in bitline pairs, especially when the sense amplifier is located far from the power supply.

Innovation Solution

A semiconductor memory device with a controller that adjusts the activation order and time interval of sensing control signals for sense amplifiers based on their distance from the power supply, using a configuration of NMOS and PMOS transistors to stabilize data amplification on bitline pairs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the sense amplifier circuit is located far from the power supply, then the memory device can accommodate more sense amplifiers, but the driving capability varies causing errors in sensed data including bitline pairs with erroneously reversed polarity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of sense amplifiersVSAvoidaccuracy of sensed data

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different time intervals for sensing control signals to different sense amplifier circuits based on their specific distance from the power supply. Each sense amplifier circuit receives a customized time interval that compensates for its specific location-related driving capability variations, ensuring accurate data sensing regardless of distance from the power supply.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If the time interval between sensing control signals is fixed, then the control logic is simple, but driving capability variations cause errors in sensed data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol logic complexityVSAvoidaccuracy of sensed data

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the time interval parameter of the sensing control signals based on the distance between sense amplifier circuits and the power supply. By adjusting this temporal parameter, the system compensates for driving capability variations without requiring complex control logic, maintaining simplicity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If sense amplifiers are activated simultaneously, then the operation speed is fast, but voltage differences between bitlines are not properly amplified due to driving capability variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing operation speedVSAvoidamplification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses periodic action by sequentially activating sensing control signals with different time intervals for different sense amplifier circuits. This sequential periodic activation ensures that each sense amplifier operates at the optimal moment to amplify voltage differences accurately, maintaining both speed and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS8213252B2Semiconductor memory device comprising sense amplifiers configured to stably amplify data

Publication Date: 2012.07.03 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A semiconductor memory device adjusts a timing interval between the activation of first and second amplifiers in a sense amplifier circuit based on the distance between the sense amplifier circuit and corresponding power supply.