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Design of a single-ended energy efficient data-dependent-write-assist dynamic (DDWAD) SRAM cell for improved stability and reliability

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Abstract

A data-dependent write-assist dynamic (DDWAD) SRAM cell is proposed to reduce the power consumption and enhance the relaibility against process, voltage, temperature variation and aging effect under static stress. The cell has distinct read and write circuits with single bit line for respective operations which improve the read stability. In the cell, write operation is performed using separate write signal WS instead of wordline WL. The write signal WS is introduced to reduce the discharging actvity at the write bit line BL to reduce the dynamic power consumption. The latch property of the cell is disabled during write operation to flip the data faster at the storage nodes. The proposed design approach provides high immunity to the data-dependent bit line leakage and results in lower voltage drop on BL, lower leakage current and lower parasitic capacitance. The proposed cell consumes approximately 60.4 % lower write power and 52.8 % read power compared to the other cells. The storage node does not float during read operation and thus cell is not sensitive to any positive noise. The data in the cell can be maintained even if the power supply is reduced to 300 mV.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to MOSTI-Malaysia for providing the financial assistance through e-Science Fund (03-02-01 SF 0203) to carry out this work.

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Correspondence to Ajay Kumar Singh.

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Singh, A.K., Saadatzi, M. & Venkataseshaiah, C. Design of a single-ended energy efficient data-dependent-write-assist dynamic (DDWAD) SRAM cell for improved stability and reliability. Analog Integr Circ Sig Process 90, 411–426 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10470-016-0840-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10470-016-0840-z

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