SRAM POWER SAVINGS AND WRITE ASSIST

Abstract

A technique reduces power consumption of a bit cell in a memory and provides write assistance to the bit cell. When the bit cell is active, a power-saving write-assist circuit coupled to the bit cell is selectively sized according to a type of memory access. When the bit cell is inactive, the virtual power supply node floats to a predetermined voltage between a first voltage on a first power supply node coupled to the bit cell and a second voltage on a second power supply node coupled to the bit cell. A method for controlling power consumption of a bit cell and assisting a write to the bit cell includes providing a reference voltage to a virtual power supply node coupled to the bit cell. The reference voltage is provided based on an operational state of the bit cell and a type of memory access to the bit cell.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a bit cell of a memory, the method comprising: providing a reference voltage to a virtual power supply node coupled to the bit cell, the reference voltage being provided based on an operational state of the bit cell and a type of memory access to the bit cell.

2. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the providing comprises adjusting a strength of a circuit coupled to the virtual power supply node, the strength being adjusted to a first strength in response to the operational state of the bit cell being active and the type of memory access being a read, and the strength being adjusted to a second strength in response to the operational state of the bit cell being active and the type of memory access being a write, the first strength being stronger than the second strength.

3. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the operational state is an active state or a sleep state and the type of memory access is a read or a write.

4. The method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising: in response to the operational state being a sleep state, providing a predetermined voltage level on the virtual power supply node, the predetermined voltage level being between a first voltage level on a first power supply node coupled to the bit cell and a second voltage level on a second power supply node; in response to the operational state being an active state: providing a low resistance path between the second power supply node and the virtual power supply node, in response to the type of memory access being a read; and providing a higher resistance path between the second power supply node and the virtual power supply node in response to the type of memory access being a write.

5. The method, as recited in claim 4, wherein the reference voltage is a predetermined voltage above ground and the second voltage level is ground.

6. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the providing comprises: in response to the operational state being a sleep state, disabling a first transistor coupled between the virtual power supply node and a second power supply node and disabling a second transistor coupled between the virtual power supply node and the second power supply node; and in response to the operational state being an active state: enabling the first transistor; and enabling the second transistor in response to the type of memory access being a write.

7. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the providing is further based on a trim control signal.

8. A memory comprising: a bit cell coupled between a first power supply node and a virtual power supply node; and a circuit coupled between the virtual power supply node and a second power supply node, wherein the circuit provides a reference voltage to the virtual power supply node, the reference voltage being provided based on an operational state of the bit cell and a type of memory access to the bit cell.

9. The memory, as recited in claim 8, wherein the operational state is an active state or a sleep state and the type of memory access is a read or a write.

10. The memory, as recited in claim 9, wherein in the sleep state, the circuit provides a first voltage level as the reference voltage, and wherein in the active state, the circuit provides a second voltage level as the reference voltage in response to the type of memory access being a read.

11. The memory, as recited in claim 10, wherein the first voltage level is a predetermined voltage above ground and the second voltage level is ground.

12. The memory, as recited in claim 9, wherein in the sleep state, the circuit provides a predetermined voltage level as the reference voltage, the predetermined voltage level being between a first voltage level on the first power supply node and a second voltage level on the second power supply node, and wherein in the active state: the circuit provides the second voltage level as the reference voltage via a low resistance path between the second power supply node and the virtual power supply node, in response to the type of memory access being a read, and the circuit provides a higher resistance path between the second power supply node and the virtual power supply node in response to the type of memory access being a write.

13. The memory, as recited in claim 8, further comprising: a control circuit configured to provide to the circuit, a select signal, a state control signal, and an indicator of the type of memory access to the bit cell.

14. The memory, as recited in claim 8, wherein the circuit comprises: a first transistor coupled between the virtual power supply node and the second power supply node and responsive to a state control signal; a second transistor coupled between the virtual power supply node and the second power supply node and responsive to the state control signal and an indication of the type of memory access to the bit cell; and a diode coupled between the virtual power supply node and the second power supply node.

15. The memory, as recited in claim 14, wherein the circuit further comprises: a logic circuit configured to generate a control signal based on the state control signal and the indication of the type of memory access to the bit cell.

16. The memory, as recited in claim 14, wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs) and the first transistor has Y fins and the second transistor has X-Y fins, where X and Y are positive integers.

17. The memory, as recited in claim 14, wherein the circuit comprises: an additional transistor coupled between the virtual power supply node and the second power supply node and responsive to the state control signal, the indication of the type of memory access to the bit cell and a trim control signal.

18. The memory, as recited in claim 8, wherein the circuit couples the virtual power supply node to ground with a first strength in response to the type of memory access being a read and couples the virtual power supply node to ground with a second strength in response to the type of memory access being a write, the first strength being greater than the second strength.

19. A method for controlling a bit cell of a memory comprising: providing a reference voltage to a virtual power supply node coupled to the bit cell, wherein, in a first operational state of the bit cell, the reference voltage has a predetermined level between a first voltage on a first power supply node coupled to the bit cell and a second voltage on a second power supply node, wherein, in a second operational state of the bit cell, the reference voltage is the second voltage provided with a first strength in response to a read, and the reference voltage is the second voltage provided with a second strength in response to a write, the first strength being greater than the second strength.

20. The method, as recited in claim 19, wherein the virtual power supply node floats from the second voltage to the reference voltage during the write in the second operational state of the bit cell.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a circuit diagram for an exemplary bit cell and associated circuitry.

[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary bit cell coupled to a power-saving circuit.

[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary bit cell coupled to a power-saving write-assist circuit consistent with at least one embodiment of the invention.

[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary waveforms for operation of the circuit of FIG. 3 consistent with at least one embodiment of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary bit cell coupled to a power-saving write-assist circuit implementing trim control consistent with at least one embodiment of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a functional block diagram of a memory array consistent with at least one embodiment of the invention.

[0017] The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] A technique reduces power consumption of a bit cell in a memory and provides write assistance to the bit cell. When the bit cell is active, a power-saving write-assist circuit coupled to the bit cell is selectively sized according to a type of memory access. When the memory access is a read, the power-saving write-assist circuit is sized to be large enough to sink charge from complementary bit lines without developing a voltage drop across the power-saving write-assist circuit that would impact read performance. When the memory access is a write, the power-saving write-assist circuit is sized to develop a voltage drop across the power-saving write-assist circuit that reduces the strength of the bit cell pull-up devices making the bit cell easier to write. When the bit cell is inactive, the virtual power supply node floats to a predetermined voltage between a first voltage on a first power supply node coupled to the bit cell and a second voltage on a second power supply node coupled to the bit cell, thereby reducing power consumption. In at least one embodiment, the technique reduces the read current of half-selected bit cells of an array of bit cells (e.g., bit cells coupled to an active word line but in an unaccessed column) by reducing the gate-to-source voltage on a pass gate of the bit cell, thereby reducing the differential developed on half-selected columns of the array of bit cells and reducing bit line precharge power consumption, which is a substantial portion of power consumed by an active bit cell.

[0019] An exemplary power consumption reduction technique uses at least a first region of a memory and a second region of the memory and a controller unit determines independent operating states for the first region and the second region. For example, each of the first region and the second region of the memory is able to operate in at least a wake state and a sleep state. A virtual domain Referring to FIG. 2, when the controller unit (not shown) determines that a region including bit cell 140 has an awake state, the controller unit provides a corresponding control signal to that region to configure bit cell 140 in an awake state using circuit 202. For example, a control signal (e.g., control signal WAKE) enables footer transistor 204 to couple a virtual power supply node (e.g., virtual power supply node VVSS) to an actual power supply node (e.g., ground power supply node VSS). Accordingly, the voltage on the virtual power supply node VVSS is approximately 0V.

[0020] When the controller unit determines that the region is in a sleep state, the controller unit provides a corresponding control signal to each bit cell in the region to select a positive nonzero level (e.g., approximately 500 mV) that is less than the power supply voltage, but low enough to keep the bit cell within a retention voltage limit, to be used as the ground reference for that region (e.g., one semiconductor diode drop above ground). For example, control signal WAKE is inactive (e.g., WAKE=‘0’) and turns off footer transistor 204. Accordingly, the voltage on virtual power supply node VVSS will float up until diode 206 turns on and provides a path to power supply node VSS. In at least one embodiment, the voltage on the virtual power supply node VVSS has a level that is a one semiconductor diode voltage drop above ground. Use of that predetermined level reduces power consumption due to leakage current of the bit cell since power supplied to the bit cell is reduced by reducing the power supply voltage by a voltage drop across a semiconductor diode (i.e., VT). Thus, coupling bit cell 140 or sets of instantiations of bit cell 140 (e.g., hundreds or thousands of instantiations of bit cell 140 that share circuit 202 ) to circuit 202 reduces power consumption of half-selected bit columns of an array of bit cells during a memory access as compared to bit cell 140 being directly coupled to power supply node VSS, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0021] A power consumption reduction and write assist technique includes selectively configuring a power-saving write-assist circuit coupled to a power supply node of the bit cell according to a status of the bit cell (e.g., active or asleep) and according to a type of memory access (i.e., read or write). The technique reduces power consumption in the sleep state of the bit cell and provides write assistance in an active state of the bit cell. Referring to FIG. 3, power-saving write-assist circuit 302 is coupled to virtual ground node VVSS and is configured to reduce power consumption of bit cell 140 as compared to the bit cell coupled directly to power supply node VSS and to provide write assistance to bit cell 140. In at least one embodiment, power-saving write-assist circuit 302 includes footer transistor 304, footer transistor 308, and diode 306. Logic within power-saving write-assist circuit 302 selectively enables footer transistor 304, footer transistor 308 according to control signal WAKE and a read control signal (e.g., control signal RDEN). When a controller unit (not shown) determines that the bit cell is in a sleep state (i.e., inactive), the controller unit provides control signal WAKE having an inactive level (e.g., WAKE=‘0’) to bit cell 140. When control signal WAKE is inactive, footer transistor 304 and footer transistor 308 are inactive and power-saving write-assist circuit 302 is configured to provide a positive nonzero voltage that is less than power supply voltage VDD, but low enough to keep the bit cell within a retention voltage limit to be used as the ground reference (e.g., one semiconductor diode drop above ground). Thus, power-saving write-assist circuit 302 reduces power consumption of bit cell 140 when bit cell 140 is configured in a sleep state.

[0022] When the controller unit determines that bit cell 140 has an awake state, the controller unit provides a corresponding control signal that configures power-saving write-assist circuit 302 in an awake state. For example, control signal WAKE is active (e.g., WAKE=‘1’) and enables footer transistor 304 to couple virtual power supply node VVSS to power supply node VSS (e.g., ground) and footer transistor 308 is selectively enabled based on control signal WAKE and the type of access to bit cell 140.

[0023] When bit cell 140 is in an active state and footer transistor 304 is enabled, if a memory access is a read (e.g., RDEN=‘1’), then footer transistor 308 is also enabled and footer transistor 304 and footer transistor 308 couple virtual power supply node VVSS to ground with a first strength. Footer transistor 304 and footer transistor 308 have sizes that firmly pull virtual power supply node VVSS to ground and keep virtual power supply node VVSS at ground for the duration of the read. When the memory access is a write (e.g., RDEN=‘0’), then footer transistor 308 is disabled and footer transistor 304 couples virtual power supply node VVSS to ground with a second strength. Footer transistor 304 has a size that causes footer transistor 304 to pull virtual power supply node VVSS to ground, but as a bit line discharges to virtual power supply node VVSS, virtual power supply node VVSS floats up towards VDD, thereby weakening a pull-up transistor (e.g., pull-up transistor 105 and pull-up transistor 107 in FIG. 1) of bit cell 140 since the pull-up transistor is biased with a gate-to-source voltage of VVSS-VDD. The weakening of the pull-up transistor increases writability of bit cell 140.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 3, in at least one embodiment of power-saving write-assist circuit 302, footer transistor 304 has size Y and footer transistor 308 has size X-Y. In at least one embodiment, X and Y are positive numbers. In at least one embodiment, X is greater than Y. In at least one embodiment, footer transistor 304 and footer transistor 308 are fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs), X and Y are positive integers, and X is greater than Y. Each FinFET includes either multiple fins per finger or multiple fingers in parallel. In at least one embodiment, footer transistor 304 includes one finger with Y fins per finger and footer transistor 308 includes one finger with X- Y fins per finger. However, in other embodiments, footer transistor 304 and footer transistor 308 are implemented using other transistor types, other sizes or ratios of sizes. Table 1 summarizes the selective configuration of virtual power supply node VVSS in an exemplary power-saving write-assist circuit.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Selective Configuration of Virtual Power Supply Node VVSS WAKE RDEN WSS 0 0 floats to VSS + VT 0 1 floats to VSS + VT 1 0 VSS using a first strength and floats up slightly as bit lines discharge (write-assist on selected column and dynamic power savings on half-selected columns) 1 1 VSS using a second strength and stays at VSS for duration of READ, the second strength being greater than the first strength

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in at least one embodiment of power-saving write-assist circuit 302, when control signal WAKE is inactive, indicating a sleep mode of bit cell 140, virtual power supply node VVSS floats to a predetermined level, level 402, e.g., one semiconductor diode drop (VT) above VSS. When control signal WAKE is active, indicating an active mode of bit cell 140, and control signal RDEN is active (e.g., RDEN=‘1’), power-saving write-assist circuit 302 has a first strength that firmly pulls virtual power supply node VVSS to level 404, e.g., VSS, and stays at that level for the duration of the read (e.g., using a path between virtual power supply node VVSS and power supply node VSS that has low or negligible resistance). When control signal WAKE returns to an inactive level, virtual power supply node VVSS floats back to the predetermined level, e.g., level 406 is one semiconductor diode drop (VT) above VSS.

[0026] When control signal WAKE is active, indicating an active mode of the bit cell, and control signal RDEN is inactive (e.g., RDEN=‘0’), indicating a write, power-saving write-assist circuit 302 has a second strength, which is weaker than the first strength, pulls virtual power supply node VVSS to VSS. As bit lines in bit cell 140 discharge, VVSS reaches level 408 as virtual power supply node VVSS floats up towards VDD (e.g., via a path between virtual power supply node VVSS and power supply node VSS with increased resistance as compared to the path when control signal RDEN is active) and weakens the pull-up transistors in bit cell 140, thereby assisting the write of bit cell 140. Since level 408 is not all the way at VSS, a pass gate transistor of bit cell 140 will be weaker than during a read, and bit lines BLT and BLC will not develop as much differential, thus reducing power consumption during a subsequent precharge of bit lines. Any degradation of stability of bit cell 140 is mitigated by an increase in stability as the bit line discharges. Since virtual power supply node VVSS cannot float higher unless charge is pulled from the bit lines to virtual power supply node VVSS, bit line BLT/BLC discharges, as illustrated by level 410, to charge virtual power supply node VVSS to a level above VSS. When word line WL turns off before control signal WAKE becomes inactive, virtual power supply node VVSS returns to VSS at level 412 and gradually floats back up to the predetermined level (e.g., one semiconductor diode drop above VSS) after control signal WAKE returns to an inactive level.

[0027] In at least one embodiment, a power-saving write-assist circuit implements trim transistors that adjust the strength of the power-saving write-assist circuit for a read or a write. Referring to FIG. 5, an exemplary power-saving write-assist circuit 502 includes trim transistors 520 and 522, which are selectively enabled by logic within power-saving write-assist circuit 502 to implement a target strength of the power-saving write-assist circuit 502 for a write access adjusted according to a control signal (e.g., control signal TRIM[0] . . . [P]) to compensate for variations in manufacturing process. Trim transistors are selectively enabled to fine tune the actual strength of power-saving write-assist circuit 502 to achieve a target strength during a write. For example, if manufacturing produces an undersized footer transistor 504 and the undersized footer transistor impacts write performance (e.g., virtual power supply node VVSS floats too high and causes stability problems), then at least one control signal TRIM[0] . . . [P] is enabled to increase the actual strength of the power-saving write assist circuit during a write access to the target strength. In at least one embodiment, all trim transistors are active during a read and control signal TRIM[0] . . . [P] is predetermined during production test or a diagnostic mode of an integrated circuit including the bit cell 140 to achieve a target strength during a write. In other embodiments, other configurations of trim transistors are used, e.g., at least one trim transistor is selectively enabled according to control signal TRIM[p] and in response to an active level of control signal WAKE for achieving target strengths during reads and writes.

[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates a high level block diagram of a portion of memory bank 600 that places the memory cell, controller and address decoder, and associated circuitry in context. Controller and address decoder 601 includes row decoder 602 coupled to decode a row address and includes word line drivers that drive word lines WL[0] through WL[M] based on the row address. The word lines are coupled to memory cells 603. Write data is driven to memory cells 603 via complementary bit lines (BLT[0], BLC[0], BLT[], BLC[1], and BLT[N], BLC[N]) according to write column select signals WRCS[]. Complementary bit lines (BLT[0], BLC[0], BLT[1], BLC[1], and BLT[N], BLC[N]) are also coupled to memory cells 603, circuitry 615, and to sense amplifier 617 through read column select transistors (not shown) controlled by RDCSX[N:0]. Column decoder 616 receives the column address and selects the appropriate bit line pair to be coupled to sense amplifier 617 using the RDCSX[N:0] signals. In an embodiment, sense amplifier 617, which is controlled by SA control 618, is the embodiment shown as sense amplifier circuit 120 or another embodiment. Note that the precharge circuitry, keepers, write driver, associated column select circuitry, and write column select signals, which are also controlled by controller and address decoder 601 during write operations, are included in associated circuitry 615 for ease of illustration.

[0029] Thus, a technique for reducing power consumption and providing write assist to a memory cell is disclosed. The description of the invention set forth herein is illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. For example, while the invention has been described in an embodiment in which a six-transistor bit cell is used in a column-muxed memory design, one of skill in the art will appreciate that the teachings herein can be utilized with memory cells including other numbers of transistors and other memory cell organization. The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth, as used in the claims, unless otherwise clear by context, is to distinguish between different items in the claims and does not otherwise indicate or imply any order in time, location, or quality. For example, “a first access,” and “a second access,” does not indicate or imply that the first access occurs in time before the second access. Variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein may be made based on the description set forth herein, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.