Single-Ended Boost-Less (SE-BL) 7T Process Tolerant SRAM Design in Sub-threshold Regime for Ultra-Low-Power Applications

Abstract

A novel single-ended boost-less 7T static random access memory cell with high write-ability and reduced read failure is proposed. Proposed 7T cell utilizes dynamic feedback cutting during write/read operation. The 7T also uses dynamic read decoupling during read operation to reduce the read disturb. Proposed 7T writes "1" through one NMOS and writes "0" using two NMOS pass transistors. The 7T has mean $$(\mu )$$(μ) of 222.3 mV (74.1 % of supply voltage) for write trip point where 5T fails to write "1" at 300 mV. It gives mean $$(\mu )$$(μ) of 276 mV (92 % of supply voltage) for read margin, while 5T fails due to read disturb at 300 mV. The hold static noise margin of 7T is maintained close to that of 5T. The read operation of 7T is 22.5 % faster than 5T and saves 10.8 % read power consumption. It saves 36.9 % read and 50 % write power consumption as compared to conventional 6T. The novel design of proposed 7T consumes least read power and achieves the lowest standard deviation as compared to other reported SRAM cells. The power consumption of 1 kb 7T SRAM array during read and write operations is 0.70$$\times $$× and 0.65$$\times $$×, respectively, of 1 kb 6T array. The techniques used by the proposed 7T SRAM cell allow it to operate at ultra-low-voltage supply without any write assist in UMC 90 nm technology node. Future applications of the proposed 7T cell can potentially be in low-voltage, ultra-low-voltage and medium-frequency operations like neural signal processor, sub-threshold processor, wide-operating-range IA-32 processor, FFT core and low-voltage cache operation.