Signal Line Swing Control for Faster Low-Power Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional semiconductor integrated circuits face delays and increased current consumption due to the length of global input/output (GIO) lines, which hinder high-speed data processing and are exacerbated by the full swing range of data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A signal line control circuit with a data level controller that reduces the swing range of signal lines by maintaining data levels at a predetermined level for a specific time, then lowering or raising them to be lower than the external power supply voltage or ground voltage, respectively, after data processing is complete, thereby reducing signal delay and current consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is transmitted through the GIO line with full swing range, then data transmission reliability is improved, but signal transmission delay increases and current consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the signal swing range adjustable rather than fixed. The data level controller dynamically changes the swing range of the GIO line based on operational needs - using full swing range for critical transitions to ensure reliability, and reduced swing range for other operations to minimize delay and power consumption. This transforms the static full-swing system into a dynamic adaptive system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameter (voltage swing range) of the GIO line signal. By controlling the data level to vary the swing range between full swing (for reliability) and reduced swing (for speed and power efficiency), the system optimizes the trade-off between reliability and transmission performance. The data level controller adjusts this parameter based on the specific operational context.
2Reliability
If data is transmitted through the GIO line with full swing range, then data transmission reliability is improved, but current consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the voltage swing range of the GIO line based on operational requirements. The data level controller enables the system to switch between full swing mode (when reliability is critical) and reduced swing mode (when power efficiency is prioritized), making the current consumption adaptive rather than constant.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the voltage swing parameter of the GIO line signal to control current consumption. By reducing the swing range from full swing to a smaller range, the patent directly reduces the current drawn during signal transitions while maintaining adequate signal integrity for proper data transmission.
3Area of stationary object
If the GIO line length increases due to increased integration, then device area increases, but signal transmission delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the signal characteristics by reducing the voltage swing range on the GIO line. This parameter change decreases the signal transition time, which directly reduces the transmission delay effect of the long GIO line. The reduced swing range allows faster edge transitions, compensating for the increased line length caused by device integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit for controlling a signal line transmitting data. The circuit includes a data level controller that, when the level of the data transmitted through the signal line is changed, controls the level of the data to be lower than an external power supply voltage level and higher than a ground voltage level after a predetermined time.