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. A row controller circuit simultaneously actuates word lines in parallel for an in-memory compute operation. A column processing circuit includes a clamping circuit that clamps a voltage on the bit line to a level exceeding an SRAM cell bit flip voltage during execution of the in-memory compute operation. The column processing circuit may further include a current mirroring circuit that mirrors the read current developed on each bit line in response to the simultaneous actuation to generate a decision output for the in-memory compute operation. The mirrored read current is integrated by an integration capacitor to generate an output voltage that is converted to a digital signal by an analog-to-digital converter circuit.

Abstract: A process monitoring technique for transistor-based devices is described. The technique utilizes an oscillator-based sensor and operates in two phases: calibration and measurement. During calibration, the oscillator is supplied with a calibration current, and the resulting frequency is measured. A correction factor is calculated by dividing the measured frequency by the calibration current. In the measurement phase, the oscillator is supplied with current from the device under test, such as a memory cell or other transistor-based structure. The frequency produced is measured and divided by the correction factor to determine the current from the device. This approach yields a current value independent of parasitic resistances and capacitances in the oscillator. The technique enables accurate process variation monitoring with little modification to existing circuit structures and is applicable to various transistor-based devices, including SRAM cells, logic circuits, and analog circuits.

Abstract: The memory array of a circuit includes sub-arrays with memory cells arranged in a row-column matrix where each row includes a word line and each sub-array column includes a local bit line. A control circuit supports two modes of circuit operation: a first mode where only one word line in the memory array is actuated during a memory read and a second mode where one word line per sub-array are simultaneously actuated during the memory read. An input/output circuit for each column includes inputs to the local bit lines of the sub-arrays, a column data output coupled to the bit line inputs, and a sub-array data output coupled to each bit line input. In memory computation operations are performed in the second mode as a function of feature data and weight data stored in the memory.

Abstract: An in-memory computation circuit includes a memory array including sub-arrays of with SRAM cells connected in rows by word lines and in columns by bit lines. A row controller circuit selectively actuates word lines across the sub-arrays for an in-memory compute operation. A computation tile circuit for each sub-array includes a column compute circuit for each bit line. Each column compute circuit includes a switched timing circuit that is actuated in response to weight data on the bit line for a duration of time set by an in-memory compute operation enable signal. A current digital-to-analog converter powered by the switched timing circuit operates to generate a drain current having a magnitude controlled by bits of feature data for the in-memory compute operation. The drain current is integrated to generate an output voltage.

Abstract: An array of a memory includes sub-arrays with memory cells arranged in a row-column matrix where each row includes a word line and each sub-array column includes a local bit line. A row decoder supports two modes of memory operation: a first mode where only one word line in the memory array is actuated during a read and a second mode where one word line per sub-array are simultaneously actuated during the read. An input/output circuit for each column includes inputs to the local bit lines of the sub-arrays, a column data output coupled to the bit line inputs, and a sub-array data output coupled to each bit line input. BIST testing of the input/output circuit is supported through data at both the column data output and the sub-array data outputs in order to confirm proper memory operation in support of both the first and second modes of operation.

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. A row controller circuit simultaneously actuates word lines in parallel for an in-memory compute operation. A column processing circuit includes a current mirroring circuit that mirrors the read current developed on each bit line in response to the simultaneous actuation to generate a decision output for the in-memory compute operation. A bias voltage for word line driver and a configuration of the current mirroring circuit to inhibit drop of a voltage on the bit line below a bit flip voltage during execution of the in-memory compute operation. The mirrored read current is integrated by an integration capacitor to generate an output voltage that is converted to a digital signal by an analog-to-digital converter circuit.

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. A row controller circuit simultaneously actuates word lines in parallel for an in-memory compute operation. A column processing circuit includes a read circuit that operates to reduce sensitivity to variation in bit line read current. Additionally, a testing circuit senses analog signals on the complementary bit lines to identify one of the complementary bit lines as having a less variable read current. That identified one of the complementary bit lines is coupled to the read circuit for the in-memory compute operation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a self-timed memory circuit with a bypass mode for testing output shadow logic. The circuit is applicable to various memory types, including ROM, HistoRAM, and TCAM. In normal operation, the memory array outputs data through sense amplifiers and latches, controlled by self-timing circuitry. The output then passes through shadow logic for additional processing. The bypass mode allows direct testing of the shadow logic by inputting test patterns (address bits or search keys) that bypass the memory array. These test signals use the same self-timing mechanisms as normal operations, providing for accurate timing representation. This approach enhances fault coverage for shadow logic, enabling detection of transient faults and at-speed errors that might be missed by conventional static testing.

Abstract: A memory array includes sub-arrays with memory cells arranged in a row-column matrix where each row includes a word line and each sub-array column includes a local bit line. A control circuit supports: a first mode where only one word line in the memory array is actuated during a column multiplexed memory access operation; and a second mode where one word line per sub-array is simultaneously actuated during an in-memory computation operation. An input/output circuit for each column includes inputs to the local bit lines of the sub-arrays, a column data output coupled to the bit line inputs to provide data read from the array in the first mode, and a sub-array data output coupled to each bit line input to provide weight data read from the array in the second mode. A computational circuit executes the in-memory computation as a function of feature data and the read weight data.

Abstract: A memory circuit includes an address port, a data input port and a data output port. An upstream shadow logic circuit is coupled to provide address data to the address port of the memory circuit and input data to the data input port of the memory circuit. A downstream shadow logic circuit is coupled to receive output data from the data output port of the memory circuit. The memory circuit includes a bypass path between the address port and the data output port. This bypass path is activated during a testing operation to pass bits of the address data (forming test data) applied by upstream shadow logic circuit from the address port to the data output port.

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. A row controller circuit simultaneously actuates word lines in parallel for an in-memory compute operation. A column processing circuit includes a read circuit that operates to reduce sensitivity to variation in bit line read current. Additionally, a testing circuit senses analog signals on the complementary bit lines to identify one of the complementary bit lines as having a less variable read current. That identified one of the complementary bit lines is coupled to the read circuit for the in-memory compute operation.

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. A row controller circuit simultaneously actuates word lines in parallel for an in-memory compute operation. A column processing circuit includes a current mirroring circuit that mirrors the read current developed on each bit line in response to the simultaneous actuation to generate a decision output for the in-memory compute operation. A bias voltage for word line driver and a configuration of the current mirroring circuit to inhibit drop of a voltage on the bit line below a bit flip voltage during execution of the in-memory compute operation. The mirrored read current is integrated by an integration capacitor to generate an output voltage that is converted to a digital signal by an analog-to-digital converter circuit.

Abstract: A memory circuit includes an address port, a data input port and a data output port. An upstream shadow logic circuit is coupled to provide address data to the address port of the memory circuit and input data to the data input port of the memory circuit. A downstream shadow logic circuit is coupled to receive output data from the data output port of the memory circuit. The memory circuit includes a bypass path between the address port and the data output port. This bypass path is activated during a testing operation to pass bits of the address data (forming test data) applied by upstream shadow logic circuit from the address port to the data output port.

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.

Abstract: An in-memory computation circuit includes a memory array including sub-arrays of with SRAM cells connected in rows by word lines and in columns by local bit lines. A row controller circuit selectively actuates one word line per sub-array for an in-memory compute operation. A global bit line is capacitively coupled to many local bit lines in either a column direction or row direction. An analog global output voltage on each global bit line is an average of local bit line voltages on the capacitively coupled local bit lines. The analog global output voltage is sampled and converted by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit to generate a digital decision signal output for the in-memory compute operation.

Abstract: The memory array of a circuit includes sub-arrays with memory cells arranged in a row-column matrix where each row includes a word line and each sub-array column includes a local bit line. A control circuit supports two modes of circuit operation: a first mode where only one word line in the memory array is actuated during a memory read and a second mode where one word line per sub-array are simultaneously actuated during the memory read. An input/output circuit for each column includes inputs to the local bit lines of the sub-arrays, a column data output coupled to the bit line inputs, and a sub-array data output coupled to each bit line input. In memory computation operations are performed in the second mode as a function of feature data and weight data stored in the memory.

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.

Abstract: A memory circuit includes an array of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. A word line is connected to the memory cells of each row. A row decoder circuit operates in response to an internal clock and an address to selectively apply a word line signal to one word line and further generate a dummy word line signal. A control circuit includes a clock generator that generates the internal clock which is reset in response to a reset signal. A first delay circuit receives the dummy word line signal and outputs a first delayed dummy word line signal. A second delay circuit receives the dummy word line signal and outputs a second delayed dummy word line signal. A multiplexer circuit selects between the first and second delayed dummy word line signals for output as the reset signal in response to a logic state of a mode control signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a carrier substrate, a buried dielectric region overlying the carrier substrate, and a semiconductor film separated from the carrier substrate by the buried dielectric region. NMOS transistors and PMOS transistors are disposed at a surface of the semiconductor film and coupled together to form a static random access memory (SRAM) cell. The NMOS transistors and the PMOS transistors each include a gate dielectric layer having a thickness greater than three nanometers and an active region in the semiconductor film. The active region of the PMOS transistors are formed from a silicon-germanium alloy.

Abstract: A circuit includes a memory array with SRAM cells connected in rows by word lines and in columns by bit lines. A row controller circuit simultaneously actuates, through a word line driver circuit for each row, 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 bit line clamping circuit includes a sensing circuit that compares the analog voltages on a given pair of bit lines to a threshold voltage. A voltage clamp circuit is actuated in response to the comparison to preclude the analog voltages on the given pair of bit lines from decreasing below a clamping voltage level.