Paper 23 PDF
Paper 23 PDF
Paper 23 PDF
7, JULY 1968
Abstract-This paper describes a computer program for analyzing Several such models are possible, one of which is for-
a class of transmission line configurations which arise in the design mulated in Weeks.'
of memory arrays. The systems analyzed by the program consist of
interconnected pairs of mutually coupled distributed parameter The computer program described below extends the
transmission lines driven and terminated by linear lumped element model formulated in Weeks by including several pairs
networks. A brief discussion of the mathematical model and its im- of cascaded coupled transmission lines instead of one
plementation is given and applications of the program to the design single pair of coupled transmission lines. The termina-
of 2ID and 3D memory arrays are described. The applications illu- tions of the cascaded coupled transmission lines now
strate how the program can be used to evaluate pulse propagation
characteristics and noise generation mechanisms within a memory can be any linear network instead of a predescribed net-
array. work. The cascaded coupled lines can be connected in
such a way that a 3D memory sense line coupled into
Index Terms-Distributed parameter, mathematical models, an x line can be described. This allows simulation of
memory analysis, memory array models, memory design, memory noise cancellation schemes for 3D sense windings.
simulation, transmission line models. As long as the models are linear, the mathematical
INTRODUCTION operations required to construct a solution are nearly
independent of the details of the model. The analysis
r HE PROBLEM of constructing a mathematical given below is therefore essentially independent of the
model for simulating the electrical properties of memory array model, the point of departure being the
memory arrays has been considered by Weeks' most general set of equations describing pulse propaga-
who found that a memory array can be approximated by tion on a pair of mutually coupled transmission lines.
a system of linear transmission lines. In Weeks,' equiv- Following the mathematical discussion, a computer
alent circuits are established for ferrite cores and for program implementing the mathematical analysis is
intersections of wires crossing each other at right angles. described. Applications of the program to the design of
These equivalent circuits are then distributed uniformly actual memory arrays are illustrated by two examples.
over the length of a line in the memory array, thus
arriving at a transmission line model for the line. If the
mutual coupling between lines is sufficiently weak, then BASIc EQUATIONS
it is possible to characterize pulse propagation on the Consider a pair of uniform, parallel, linear, mutually
line by a single pair of transmission equations. If the coupled transmission lines which share a common return
coupling is not weak, then it is necessary to characterize path (see Fig. 1).
the array by at least two mutually coupled transmission Let x represent the distance measured along the lines.
lines. In the latter case, it is necessary to solve at least Let Vl(x, t) be the voltage between line 1 and the return
two pairs of mutually coupled transmission line equa- path at position x and time t. Let I1(x, t) be the current
tions. Practical considerations have limited the models in line 1 at position x and time t. Similarly, let V2(x, t)
in use to either single transmission line models or to and I(x, t) be the corresponding voltage and current
models consisting of two mutually coupled transmission for line 2. Let 17,(x,co), 12 (X, O), I,(x, co), and h2(x, (D) be
lines. the frequency transforms of Vl(x, t), V2(x, t), Ii(x, t),
Whereas the mathematical analysis of single trans- and 12(x, t), respectively. The general equations, in the
mission line models has already been treated in detail,' frequency domain, for a pair of mutually coupled, uni-
the present paper is devoted to the analysis of models form, linear transmission lines can be written in the
based on a pair of mutually coupled transmission lines. following form:
Manuscript received September 2, 1967. dV1(x, w)
The author was with IBM Corporation, Systems Development
Div., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He is now on educational leave of absence
-________ = Zl(W)I1(x, CO) +
dx
ZM(CW)12(X, C) (1)
from IBM and is working toward the doctoral degree in electrical en-
gineering at Syracuse University, Syracuse, N. Y.
1 W. T. Weeks, "Computer simulation of the electrical properties
of memory arrays," IEEE Trans. Electronic Computers, vol, EC-12,
pp. 874-886, December 1963.
- d =2(X
dx
' = ZM(W)I,1(X, C) + Z2(o)h2(X, W) (2)
CHEN: COMPUTER AIDED MEMORY DESIGN 641
x X+ A x
LINE 2 12(x,t)
x+
LINE I II( x,t)
RETURN PAT H
Fig. 1. A pair of uniform, parallel, linear, mutually Fig. 2. Equivalent circuit of an incremental section of a pair of
coupled transmission lines with a common return path. coupled transmission lines.
V -
dx
where
These are the desired decoupled equations. It should
_ Til T12] be observed that each pair is in the form of the differ-
LT21 T2J' (15) ential equations for a single transmission line. The solu-
tions of equations of this form are well known and can
T' is the transpose of T, (T')-l is the inverse of T', and be written down at once. They are given by
J and U are the column matrices
J1 = F1e-'lx + F2eyIx (26)
J rJ (X, c)
(16) Ul = Zoi(Fe-lx - F2eylx) (27)
,72(Xi c)
and
Lo2(x, co) (17) J2 = F3e-Y2 + F4eY2x (28)
U2 = Zo2(F3eY2x - F4el2x) (29)
The elements of the T matrix are, in general, complex
functions of the angular frequency w, but are indepen- where
dent of the distance variable x. The problem is to choose V/Zi/yi,
T so that (11) and (12) transform into two pairs of
Zoi = 71i= Vzlyl,
uncoupled equations, i.e., T is to be chosen so that (11) Z02= \Z2/Yy2 72 = VZ2y22
and (12) yield a pair of equations involving J1 and U1,
but not J2 and U2, and a pair of equations involving J2 The coefficients F1, F2, F3, and F4, which may depend
and C2, but not L1 and U1. on frequency but not on the distance variable x, are
Inserting (13) and (14) into (11) and (12), one finds determined by the boundary conditions imposed at the
the transformed equations ends of the transmission line system.
The current J1 and voltage U1 make up one of the two
dU independent modes of propagation of the system; the
-
dx
= (T'ZT)J (18) current J2 and voltage 12 make up the other mode.
Note that, in general, each mode has its own char-
dJ acteristic impedance Zo, or Z02 and its own propagation
- - - Th'Y(T')-1U. (19)
dx constant y1 or 72. The actual current and voltage trans-
forms are linear combinations of the mode currents and
After a lengthy but straightforward calculation of mode voltages, respectively. Thus, from (13), (14), and
eigenvalues and eigenvectors one finds a transformation (26) through (29) one obtains
matrix T such that T'ZT and T-1 Y(T')-l are diagonal.
That is, 1 = T,l(Fier-y + F2eY1Y) + T12(F3eY2x + F4eY2X) (30)
V, -
T22ZO1(Fle1lx - F2eylx)
T-1 Y(T)-l = BY ]. (21) - T21ZO2(F3e-"2 - F4e62x) (32)
Putting (20) and (21) and (16) and (17) into (18)
V2 = T12Zo1(Fle-7x - F2e7lx)
and (19), one obtains + T11ZO2(F3 e-82x- F4e72x). (33)
dUl In order to calculate the time domain response of the
- ___= z,Jl (22)
dx transmission line system, it is necessary to compute the
frequency domain solutions [(30) through (33)] at all
- Y--Ul (23) required frequencies, and then make use of either (5)
dx or (6) as the case may be,
CHEN: COMPUTER AIDED MEMORY DESIGN 64i"W3
LINE 2
LINE
Fig. 5. Basic transmission line configuration for the computer program where EK1 and EK2 are voltage sources, and IK1 and IK2
are current sources.
ARRAY
LI -I-
I+
Fig. 7. Driving network.
R 22 t/C2
R2 2
2I'
-IL
-Wv-fL2
+
T CM
LM
Fig. 8. Driving network equivalent circuit.
RI L
I
Cl
4.4.
+
4.
4.
Un 4.
4.
0 4.
4. 4.
-J
J
+ 4.4.44.4.4 +++ Ee|++++++++
++++++++++ +l+
+++++++++ +++++++++ + ~~~~~~~~~~~~+......
+ +
.......................................
+ +
+@
1 I I 1 1 III I
NANOSECONDS
Fig. 12. Typical calculated sense-end output of 2' D array.
CHEN: COMPUTER AIDED MEMORY DESIGN 647
7 PLANE
PLANE 2
--.i 1.
-,
it 1/t f w- A ;- ,
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I
7L/ - Ile I
~L
'/
/ YI /
0 TERMINAT ION/
* //
/ /LANE 72
XI / / / /I / /I
TERMINATION A _ -.I
ao
0
a 0
O
a 00a
0 0 0 0 0
a0 0
U, O 0000 000 0 0
-J 0 00
a O 0000000000000000000000000000
0 0 0a
ji
4i 0
0
0
0
0
oo 0
lI I I I I I I I I I I I I I l lI_
NANOSECONDS
Fig. 15. Typical computed sense amplifier output of 3D array.