SRAM system design for memory based computing

• Main Author: Zia, Muneeb
• Published: Georgia Institute of Technology 2013
• Subjects: Look-up table; Asymmetric SRAM; Spatial computing; Temporal computing; Re-configurable computing; Memory based computing; Pulsed read operation; Memory management (Computer science); Random access memory
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1853/47636

The objective of the research was to design and test an SRAM system which can meet the performance criteria for Memory Based Computing (MBC). This form of computing consists of a Look-Up Table (LUT) which is basically memory array mapped with a function; the computations thereafter consist of essentially read operations. An MBC framework requires very fast and low power read operations. Moreover, the cells need to be read stable as major part of the computation is done by reading the LUTs mapped in the SRAM array. Design and measurement of a prototype MBC test-chip with SRAM system optimized for read-heavy applications is presented in this thesis. For this purpose, a prototype MBC system was designed and taped out. Essential study of the write-ability of the core LUT is also presented. The core memory array for function table mapping was characterized for leakage, write-ability and power saving associated with pulsed read mode.