A novel DRAM architecture as a low leakage alternative for SRAM caches in a 3D interconnect context.

This paper presents a DRAM architecture that improves the DRAM performance/power trade-off to increase their usability on low power chip design using 3D interconnect technology. The use of a finer matrix subdivision and buffering the bitline signal at the localblock level allows to reduce both the energy per access and the access time. The obtained performances match those of a typical low power SRAM, while achieving a significant area and static power reduction compared to these memories. The 128 kb memory architecture proposed here achieves an access time of 1.3 ns for a dynamic energy of less than 0.2 pJ per bit. A localized refresh mechanism allows gaining a factor of 10 in static power consumption associated with the cell, and a factor of 2 in area, when compared with an equivalent SRAM.