Tohoku Univ. Technology：A Nonvolatile Register with a Reference Load Sharing Scheme：T24-081
Reduction in power consumption and area by minimizing the number of MTJ devices
Intermittent computing executes tasks as energy accumulates, enabling continuous edge computing under unstable, low-power energy harvesting conditions. Ensuring processing continuity before and after frequent power interruptions is essential. A nonvolatile logic circuit using nonvolatile registers allows internal state retention with only local data transfers, making it a promising option. Conventional nonvolatile registers connect 1-bit memory circuits (nonvolatile flip-flops, NV-FFs) per bit, requiring two MTJ devices per bit, leading to significant area and energy overhead. This invention proposes the Reference-Load Sharing Scheme (RLSS), where 1-bit information is retained between an MTJ device and a reference MTJ device using a sequential backup-restore process. This reduces MTJ device count, shares circuit functions, and achieves 49% lower energy consumption and 34% area reduction, as confirmed by simulations.
- Company：Tohoku Techno Arch Co., Ltd.
- Price：Other
