A 40nm 256kb 6T SRAM with threshold power-gating, low-swing global read bit-line, and charge-sharing write with Vtrip-tracking and negative source-line write-assists

Chao Kuei Chung, Chien Yu Lu, Zhi Hao Chang, Shyh-Jye Jou, Ching Te Chuang, Ming Hsien Tu, Yu Hsuan Chen, Yong Jyun Hu, Paul Sen Kan, Huan Shun Huang, Kuen Di Lee, Yung Shin Kao

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    1 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    This paper presents a 256kb 6T static random access memory (SRAM) with threshold power-gating (TPG), low-swing global read bit-line (GRBL), and charge-sharing write with Vtrip (VTP) tracking and negative source-line (NVSL) write-assists (WA). The TPG facilitates lower NAP mode voltage/power and faster wake-up for the cell array, while low-swing GRBL reduces the dynamic read power. A variation-tolerant charge-sharing write scheme, where the floating 'Low' global write bit-line (GWBL) is used to capacitively couple down the local bit-line (LBL), is combined with a cell Vtrip-tracking and NVSL write-assists to improve the write-ability. The 256kb test chip is implemented in UMC 40nm low-power (LP) CMOS technology. Error-free full-functionality is achieved from 1.18GHz at 1.5V to 100MHz at 0.65V without redundancy. The TPG scheme reduces the power by 70% (55%) at 1.5V (0.5V) in NAP mode. The low-swing GRBL reduces dynamic read power by 3.5% (8%) at 1.1V (0.65V). The VTP-WA and NVSL-WA improve the write VMIN by 50mV (from 0.7V to 0.65V) and reduce write bit failure rate by 2.75× at 0.65V.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationInternational System on Chip Conference
    EditorsKaijian Shi, Thomas Buchner, Danella Zhao, Ramalingam Sridhar
    PublisherIEEE Computer Society
    Pages455-460
    Number of pages6
    ISBN (Electronic)9781479933785
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 5 Nov 2014
    Event27th IEEE International System on Chip Conference, SOCC 2014 - Las Vegas, United States
    Duration: 2 Sep 20145 Sep 2014

    Publication series

    NameInternational System on Chip Conference
    ISSN (Print)2164-1676
    ISSN (Electronic)2164-1706

    Conference

    Conference27th IEEE International System on Chip Conference, SOCC 2014
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityLas Vegas
    Period2/09/145/09/14

    Keywords

    • 6T SRAM
    • low power
    • power-gating
    • write-assist

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