Shared Selecting Signal Circuit for Lower-Area ICs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing integrated circuits face challenges in reducing area and power consumption due to the use of independent power sources and selecting modules for each component.
Innovation Solution
The integrated circuit device and chip device share a common reference voltage channel or selecting signal providing module, allowing the first cell and second cell, or the selecting modules, to receive the same reference voltage or selecting signals, thereby reducing area and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each component uses an independent power source, then the reliability and independence of each component is improved, but the area and power consumption of the integrated circuit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent power sources into a shared reference voltage channel that serves multiple cells simultaneously. Instead of each cell having its own dedicated power source, a single reference voltage channel provides reference voltages to multiple cells, reducing the overall area while maintaining functional independence through shared infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference voltage channel is designed with universal functionality to serve multiple cells and components within the integrated circuit. This multi-functional design allows the same power source infrastructure to support various cells (e.g., memory cells, logic cells) without requiring dedicated power paths for each, thereby reducing area while preserving operational independence.
2Reliability
If each component uses an independent power source, then the reliability and independence of each component is improved, but the power consumption of the integrated circuit increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple independent power sources into a shared reference voltage channel, the patent reduces redundant power generation and distribution infrastructure. The merged channel serves multiple cells efficiently, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining the ability to independently control and reference voltages for each cell through the shared channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal reference voltage channel design allows a single power infrastructure to serve multiple functions and multiple cells simultaneously. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for each cell to have its own dedicated power source, thereby reducing total power consumption while preserving the operational independence and reliability of individual cells through shared voltage referencing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If each selecting module operates independently, then the flexibility and control precision is improved, but the device complexity and area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent selecting signal providing modules into a shared module that generates selecting signals for multiple selecting modules simultaneously. This consolidation reduces device complexity by eliminating redundant signal generation infrastructure while maintaining the flexibility and control precision needed for each individual selecting module through the shared signal source.
4Area of stationary object
If redundant components are eliminated through sharing, then the area and power consumption decreases, but the potential impact on reliability must be managed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple power source functions into a shared reference voltage channel, reducing area while managing reliability through design considerations that ensure the shared channel can reliably serve multiple cells. The merging is performed in a way that maintains functional independence and control over each cell's voltage references.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal reference voltage channel is designed to serve multiple cells with a single infrastructure, reducing area while ensuring that the multi-functional design does not compromise the reliability of individual cell operations. The shared channel maintains the ability to provide stable, controlled reference voltages to each cell independently.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit device includes a plurality of selecting modules, wherein each of the plurality of selecting modules is configured to receive a first input signal, a second input signal, a first selecting signal and a second selecting signal, and select the first input signal or the second input signal to generate an output signal according to a first selecting signal and a second selecting signal; and a selecting signal providing module, configured to provide the first selecting signal and the second selecting signal.