SRAM Design: Overview and Memory Cell Design
This tutorial walks you through the initial steps in designing an SRAM and then focuses on the first circuit that we must design - the memory cell. An overview of the architecture will be presented in a block diagram that will describe the functions of the major blocks required to create an SRAM. A large portion of this video will be dedicated to the design and layout of the memory cell (also called the bit cell) and how it is arrayed. It starts with a description of how the memory cell works then analyzes how the cell is read and written, with specific attention paid to read disturb which can cause the cell to inadvertently flip when it is read. Waveforms from SPICE simulations of the memory cell will be presented along with a SPICE input file that can be used to create your own simulations. A SPICE netlist from the layout of the memory cell will also be supplied so that the actual parasitic capacitance can be included in the simulations. Suggested order for proceeding through the IEEE eLearning Series on Design of Integrated Circuits tutorials: 1. Integrated Circuit Digital Design Methodology; 2. Integrated Circuit Digital Design Methodology - Advanced Analysis and Simulation; 3. SRAM Design - Overview and Memory Cell Division; 4. SRAM Design - Array Design and Precharge; 5. SRAM Design - Sensing Scheme; 6. SRAM Design - MUX Factor and Data Buffer; 7. SRAM Design - Write Path; 8. SRAM Design - ROW Decoder; 9. SRAM Design - Address Buffer; 10. SRAM Design - Clock Buffer; 11. SRAM Design - Control Circuitry; 12. SRAM Design - Sensing and Write Control.
What you will learn:
- Provide a walk through of the initial steps in designing an SRAM
- Examine the first circuit that we must design – the memory cell
- Present an overview of the architecture in a block diagram that will describe the functions of the major blocks required to create an SRAM
Related courses:
Who should attend: Electrical engineer, Design engineer, Product engineer, Lead engineer, Project engineer, Manufacturing engineer
Instructor
Doug Sheppard
Doug Sheppard has 33 years experience designing and developing integrated circuits. He is currently President, Owner and founder of Valence, Inc (www.valence-inc.com) that was started in 1993. Valence specializes in digital integrated circuit design with a main focus on memories. Some of the key products are embedded libraries, custom memories & memory compiler products
Publication Year: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4244-3004-8