PDS: Pseudo-differential sensing scheme for STT-MRAM

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Abstract

STT-MRAM has been considered as one of the most promising nonvolatile memory candidates in the next-generation of computer architecture. However, the read reliability and dynamic write power concerns greatly hinder its practical application. In this paper, we propose a synergistic solution, namely pseudo-differential sensing (PDS), to jointly address these two concerns. Three techniques, including cell cluster, asymmetric sensing amplifier (ASA) and self-error-detection-correction (SEDC), are proposed to implement the PDS concept. Our experimental results show that the PDS scheme with the 3T3MTJ cell cluster can reduce the area (∼21.7%) and write power (∼25.6%) of the differential sensing (DS) scheme while improve the read reliability (read margin, ∼35.6%) of the typical sensing (TS) scheme for a 16 Mbit cache. Furthermore, the PDS scheme with the 1T3MTJ cell cluster can outperform both the TS and DS schemes in terms of area (∼40.0%, ∼66.1%), read latency (∼16.6%, ∼32.1%), read power (∼16.7%, ∼37.1%), write latency (∼5.4%, 16.3%) and write power (∼18.6%, ∼43.4%).

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 53rd Annual Design Automation Conference, DAC 2016
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781450342360
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 Jun 2016
Event53rd Annual ACM IEEE Design Automation Conference, DAC 2016 - Austin, United States
Duration: 5 Jun 20169 Jun 2016

Publication series

NameProceedings - Design Automation Conference
Volume05-09-June-2016
ISSN (Print)0738-100X

Conference

Conference53rd Annual ACM IEEE Design Automation Conference, DAC 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAustin
Period5/06/169/06/16

Keywords

  • Asymmetric sensing
  • Error detection and correction
  • Reliability
  • STT-MRAM
  • Write power

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