SRAM
Mohammad Sharifkhani
Effect of Mismatch
Data Retention Voltage
DRV Mote-carlo simulation
Inv. with VL Input @ Read load
Inv. with VR Input @ Write load
Init cond. VL=1, VH=0
Shmoo plot
• A shmoo plot is a graph that represents how a particular test passes or fails when parameters like frequency, voltage, or temperature are varied and the test is executed repeatedly.
• The shape of the failing region is meaningful and helps in determining the cause of the failure.
• A shmoo plot of normal circuit operation shows better high-frequency performance as supply voltage increases, as shown in Fig. 1a.
• Other shapes frequently seen include the curlback (Fig. 1b), ceiling (Fig. 1c), floor (Fig. 1d), wall (Fig. 1e), finger (Fig. 1f), and breaking wave (Fig. 1g).
Techniques for improving reliability
• Read assist circuits
• Write assist circuits
• Error correction methods
Multiple voltages for NM improvement
Threshold voltage variation
S. Mukhopadhyay, JSSC 2007
Monte-carlo simulationAccess (reductionin the BL-differential produced), Higher Vt lower BL swing
Read (data flipping while reading), lower v-trip
write (unsuccessful write) Higher Vt weaker PU ration
hold (data flipping at a lower supply voltage in standby mode)
Solution: Adaptive body bias
Dynamic VDD Selection
Higher write noise margin more power
Read Write-assist circuitsKeeps WL voltage in check (lower for stable read)
Charge redistribution between cell VDD and down Vdd
Pulsed WL and BL
Minimization of WL activation
Threats write:Read Modify Write is used for all columns
Pulsed WL and BL
On pseudo read columns the BLs are precharged to a lower voltage than VDD to maintain stability of the cell Weaker access lower delta V to trip the cell
Dynamic Body Bias
Forward BB: stronger PMOS makes a wider butter fly curve more SNM during read operationHigher leakage (only applied on selected banks)
On-chip programmable voltage generator with N-well resistors
Read assist
Pilo, JSSC’07 Divided BLs
Local SA
Read assist
When enabled the half selected BL/read BL get full swing
Masks the BL of the half selected columns that do not need full amplification to save power
10% more power at nominal voltageYet allows for 1.20.9 VDD reduction and keeps the array stable saves power at the endMask registers are
loaded during power up
Write assistWeaker PMOS is needed
Supply reduction of the to be written cells by ~200mV
Only the columns to be written on get the lower supply voltage: a power decoder is needed
Reference generator
Write voltageBi-directional/data dependent current flow
Old data: VDDVWR
New data: sink data from VWR to charge up the new 1 node
Writing old data pulls up VWR push-pull is needed at Ref. Generator
Redundancy in SRAMs
Redundancy
Error Correction Code
Multi-bit errors
Multi-bit errors: Interleaving
Future trends
• More than 6T cells
• Change in technology
• eDRAM
More transistors
Thin Body MOSFETs
Double Gate FinFET
Double Gate vs. Tri-Gate
Independent Gate operation
Applications
Independent Gate Operation6-T SRAM in Bulk-Si
6T SRAM with FinFET
6T SRAM with 2 FinFET
Embedded DRAM
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