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research article

Gain-Cell Embedded DRAMs: Modeling and Design Space

Bonetti, Andrea  
•
Golman, Roman
•
Giterman, Robert  
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March 1, 2020
Ieee Transactions On Very Large Scale Integration (Vlsi) Systems

Among the different types of dynamic random-access memories (DRAMs), gain-cell embedded DRAM (GC-eDRAM) is a compact, low-power, and CMOS-compatible alternative to conventional static random-access memory (SRAM). GC-eDRAM achieves high memory density, as it relies on a storage cell that can be implemented with as few as two transistors and that can be fabricated without additional process steps. However, since the performance of GC-eDRAMs relies on many interdependent variables, the optimization of the performance of these memories for the integration into their hosting system, as well as the design investigation of future GC-eDRAMs, proves to be highly complex tasks. In this context, modeling tools of memories are key enablers for the exploration of this large design space in a short amount of time. In this article, we present GC-eDRAM modeling tool (GEMTOO), the first modeling tool that estimates timing, memory availability, bandwidth, and area of GC-eDRAMs. The tool considers parameters related to technology, circuits, and memory architecture, and it enables the evaluation of architectural transformations as well as advanced transistor-level effects, such as the increase in the access delay due to the deterioration of the stored data. The timing is estimated with a maximum deviation of 15% from postlayout simulations in a 28-nm FD-SOI technology for different memory sizes and architectures. Moreover, the measured random cycle frequency of a GC-eDRAM fabricated in a 28-nm CMOS bulk process is estimated with a 9% deviation when considering 6-sigma random process variations of the bitcells. The proposed GEMTOO modeling tool is used to show the intricacies in design optimization of GC-eDRAMs, and based on the results, optimal design practices are derived.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1109/TVLSI.2019.2955933
Web of Science ID

WOS:000519545300004

Author(s)
Bonetti, Andrea  
•
Golman, Roman
•
Giterman, Robert  
•
Teman, Adam  
•
Burg, Andreas  
Date Issued

2020-03-01

Publisher

IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC

Published in
Ieee Transactions On Very Large Scale Integration (Vlsi) Systems
Volume

28

Issue

3

Start page

646

End page

659

Subjects

Computer Science, Hardware & Architecture

•

Engineering, Electrical & Electronic

•

Computer Science

•

Engineering

•

computer-aided design

•

embedded dynamic random-access memory (dram)

•

gain cell (gc)

•

gc-edram modeling tool (gemtoo)

•

memory design

•

memory organization

•

modeling tool

•

power

•

time

Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
TCL  
Available on Infoscience
March 29, 2020
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/167700
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