Adaptive word line underdrive control for an in-memory compute operation where simultaneous access is made to plural rows of a static random access memory (SRAM)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12354644-B2
Application number	US-202217844434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2022
Priority date	Jul 9, 2021
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

An in-memory computation circuit includes a memory array with SRAM cells connected in rows by word lines and in columns by bit lines. Each row includes a word line drive circuit powered by an adaptive supply voltage. A row controller circuit simultaneously actuates word lines in parallel for an in-memory compute operation. A column processing circuit processes analog voltages developed on the bit lines in response to the simultaneous actuation to generate a decision output for the in-memory compute operation. A voltage generator circuit generates the adaptive supply voltage for powering the word line drive circuits during the simultaneous actuation. A level of the adaptive supply voltage is modulated dependent on integrated circuit process and/or temperature conditions in order to optimize word line underdrive performance and inhibit unwanted memory cell data flip.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An in-memory computation circuit, comprising:
a memory array including a plurality of static random access memory (SRAM) cells arranged in a matrix with plural rows and plural columns, each row including a word line connected to the SRAM cells of the row, and each column including at least one bit line connected to the SRAM cells of the column;
a word line drive circuit for each row having an output connected to drive the word line of the row, wherein the word line drive circuit is powered by an adaptive supply voltage;
a row controller circuit configured to simultaneously actuate the plurality of word lines by applying pulses through the word line driver circuits to the word lines for an in-memory compute operation;
a column processing circuit connected to the at least one line for each column and configured to process analog voltages developed on the bit lines in response to the simultaneous actuation of the plurality of word lines to generate a decision output for the in-memory compute operation; and
a voltage generator circuit configured to generate the adaptive supply voltage for powering the word line drive circuits during the simultaneous actuation of the plurality of word lines for the in-memory compute operation, said adaptive supply voltage having a level which is dependent on integrated circuit process conditions;
wherein the voltage generator circuit comprises:
a control circuit configured to generate a control signal;
wherein the control signal is configured to cause modulation of the level of the adaptive supply voltage away from a nominal level in response to an applicable integrated circuit process corner for transistor devices of the SRAM cells.

2. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 1 , wherein the voltage generator circuit is an adjustable voltage regulator controlled to generate the level of the adaptive supply voltage, and wherein the control signal is applied to the voltage generator circuit.

3. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 2 , wherein the applicable integrated circuit process corner is indicated by a programmed code stored in the control circuit, and wherein the control circuit includes a lookup table (LUT) correlating the programmed code to a value of the control signal.

4. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 2 , wherein the control circuit further comprises a temperature sensor, and wherein the control signal is configured to cause a temperature dependent tuning of the level of the adaptive supply voltage set in response to the applicable integrated circuit process corner.

5. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 4 , wherein the control circuit includes a lookup table (LUT) correlating sensed integrated circuit temperature to a tuning level for the value of the control signal.

6. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 2 , wherein the control circuit further comprises a temperature sensor, and wherein the control signal is configured to cause modulation of the level of the adaptive supply voltage away from the nominal level in response to an integrated circuit temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

7. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 6 , wherein the control circuit includes a lookup table (LUT) correlating sensed integrated circuit temperature to a value of the control signal.

8. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 1 , wherein the voltage generator circuit comprises:
a current source configured to generate a current applied to a first node; and
a series connection of a first and second transistor between the first node and a reference node;
wherein the adaptive supply voltage is generated at said first node;
wherein the first transistor is a replica of a passgate transistor within the SRAM cell;
wherein the second transistor is a replica of a pull down transistor within the SRAM cell.

9. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 8 , wherein the current generated by the current source has a magnitude set as a function of a reference current representative of current flowing through the passgate transistor and the pull down transistor for an applicable integrated circuit process corner.

10. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 9 , wherein the magnitude of the current generated by the current source is scaled by a factor applied to the reference current.

11. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 10 , wherein the first transistor is scaled by said factor for the replica of the passgate transistor and wherein the second transistor is scaled by said factor for the replica of the pull down transistor.

12. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 8 , further comprising an amplifier circuit having an input coupled to said first node and an output coupled to power the word line drive circuits.

13. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 8 , wherein the current source is controlled by the control signal to generate an adjustment to the current applied to the first node.

14. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 13 , wherein the control signal is configured to cause modulation of a level of the current away from a nominal current level.

15. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 14 , wherein the applicable integrated circuit process corner is indicated by a programmed code stored in the control circuit; and wherein the control circuit includes a lookup table (LUT) correlating the programmed code to a value of the control signal.

16. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 14 , wherein the control circuit further comprises a temperature sensor, and wherein the control signal is configured to cause a temperature dependent tuning of the level of the current set in response to the applicable integrated circuit process corner.

17. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 16 , wherein the control circuit includes a lookup table (LUT) correlating sensed integrated circuit temperature to a tuning level for the value of the control signal.

18. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 13 , wherein the control circuit further comprises a temperature sensor, and wherein the control signal is configured to cause modulation of the level of the current away from a nominal current level in response to an integrated circuit temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

19. The in-memory computation circuit of claim 18 , wherein the control circuit includes a lookup table (LUT) correlating sensed integrated circuit temperature to a value of the control signal.

20. An in-memory computation circuit, comprising:
a memory array including a plurality of static random access memory (SRAM) cells arranged in a matrix with plural rows and plural columns, each row including a word line connected to the SRAM cells of the row, and each column including at least one bit line connected to the SRAM cells of the column;
a word line drive circuit for each row having an output connected to drive the word line of the row, wherein the word line drive circuit is powered by an adaptive supply voltage;
a row controller circuit configured to simultaneously actuate the plurality of word lines by applying pulses through the word line driver circuits to the word lines for an in-memory compute operation;
a column processing circuit connected to the at least one bit line for each column and configured to process analog voltages developed on the bit lines in response to the simultaneous actuation of the plurality of word lines to generate a decision output for the in-memory compute operation;
a replica circuit that replicates a

Assignees

• St Microelectronics Int Nv

Inventors

• Dhori Kedar Janardan
• Chawla Nitin
• Kumar Promod
• Ayodhyawasi Manuj
• Rawat Harsh

Classifications

• G11C11/54

  using elements simulating biological cells, e.g. neuron · CPC title

• G11C11/419

  Read-write [R-W] circuits · CPC title

• G11C8/08 Primary

  Word line control circuits, e.g. drivers, boosters, pull-up circuits, pull-down circuits, precharging circuits, for word lines · CPC title

• G11C11/4125

  Cells incorporating circuit means for protecting against loss of information · CPC title

• H03K19/17728

  Reconfigurable logic blocks, e.g. lookup tables · CPC title