Wordline Charge Sharing for Low-Energy Memory Programming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The high capacitance of wordlines in vertical integrated memory devices requires significant charge to change voltage, particularly during programming operations, leading to increased energy consumption and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implement charge sharing between access lines (wordlines) in a counter-phase manner to boost the voltage of one or more access lines, utilizing energy stored in charged wordlines of one group to partially charge the wordlines of another group through a transistor switch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If charge sharing between wordlines is implemented, then energy consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the charging functions of multiple wordlines by connecting them through switches to form charge-sharing groups. When one wordline is charged, its stored charge can be shared with other wordlines in the same group, effectively combining their energy resources. This reduces the total energy required for voltage flips while adding minimal circuit complexity through shared switch networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of wordline connections through switches that can selectively connect or disconnect wordlines based on operational needs. The controller dynamically manages which wordlines are charged together and when charge sharing occurs, allowing the system to adapt energy distribution to specific access patterns and minimize overall energy consumption.
2Productivity
If voltage is applied to wordlines for programming operations, then memory cells can be programmed, but energy consumption increases due to high capacitance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent groups multiple wordlines into charge-sharing groups where the capacitive loads are effectively shared. When programming operations require voltage changes on multiple wordlines, the charge from one wordline can be redistributed to others in the group, reducing the total energy expenditure while maintaining the ability to program memory cells efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers energy that would otherwise be lost during voltage transitions. When a wordline's voltage needs to be flipped, the charge from a previously charged wordline in the same group is reused, effectively recovering energy that would have been dissipated as heat during conventional charging operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces energy consumption by reusing energy spent on charging, optimizing programming efficiency and reducing the energy budget for wordline voltage flips.
Implementation Method 1
charge sharing between access lines (e.g., wordlines) to boost the voltage of one or more access lines
Implementation Method 2
utilizing energy stored in charged wordlines of one group to partially charge the wordlines of another group through a transistor switch
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatus related to memory devices. In one approach, a memory device includes a memory array. The memory array has first tiles and second tiles. Each of the tiles includes memory cells. Wordlines are configured to select the memory cells in the first and second tiles. A controller programs the selected memory cells by applying a first voltage to a first wordline, and a second voltage to a second wordline. The first and second voltages are applied in a counter-phase manner. The second voltages boosted by charge sharing between the first and second wordlines.