Multi-Level Wordline Driver for Low Power SRAMs in Nano-Scale CMOS Technology

In this paper, a multi-level wordline driver scheme is presented to improve SRAM read and write stability while lowering power consumption during hold operation. The proposed circuit applies a shaped wordline voltage pulse during read mode and a boosted wordline pulse during write mode. During read, the applied shaped pulse is tuned at nominal voltage for short period of time, whereas for the remaining access time, the wordline voltage is reduced to a lower level. This pulse results in improved read noise margin without any degradation in access time which is explained by examining the dynamic and nonlinear behavior of the SRAM cell. Furthermore, during hold mode, the wordline voltage starts from a negative value and reaches zero voltage, resulting in a lower leakage current compared to conventional SRAM. Our simulations using TSMC 65nm process show that the proposed wordline driver results in 2X improvement in static read noise margin while the write margin is improved by 3X. In addition, the total leakage of the proposed SRAM is reduced by 10% while the total power is improved by 12% in the worst case scenario of a single SRAM cell. The total area penalty is 10% for a 128Kb standard SRAM array.

Multi-level wordline driver for robust SRAM design in nano-scale CMOS technology

In this paper, a multi-level wordline driver scheme is presented to improve 6T-SRAM read and write stability. The proposed wordline driver generates a shaped pulse during the read mode and a boosted wordline during the write mode. During read, the shaped pulse is tuned at nominal voltage for a short period of time, whereas for the remaining access time, the wordline voltage is reduced to save the power consumption of the cell. This shaped wordline pulse results in improved read noise margin without any degradation in access time for small wordline load. The improvement is explained by examining the dynamic and nonlinear behavior of the SRAM cell. Furthermore, during the hold mode, for a short time (depending on the size of boosting capacitance), wordline voltage becomes negative and charges up to zero after a specific time that results in a lower leakage current compared to conventional SRAM. The proposed technique results in at least 2× improvement in read noise margin while it improves write margin by 3× for lower supply voltages than 0.7 V. The leakage power for the proposed SRAM is reduced by 2% while the total power is improved by 3% in the worst case scenario for an SRAM array. The main advantage of the proposed wordline driver is the improvement of dynamic noise margin with less than 2.5% penalty in area. TSMC 65 nm technology models are used for simulations.

Facing up to binge drinking: Reducing binge drinking in adolescent males

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an oro-facial trauma-based brief intervention, designed to raise adolescent males’ awareness about the immediate dangers of binge drinking.
Design: Non-randomised controlled exploratory trial
Setting: Secondary level schools
Materials & Methods: Pre, post and follow up validated questionnaires were used to assess a variety of descriptive data and changes in behaviour. Sixty Year 12 students were recruited in the pilot study and 182 in the definitive study.
Intervention: A brief visual presentation containing salient information and anonymised photographs relating to oro-facial injuries.
Main Outcome Measures: Intention to binge drink.
Results: The majority of participants obtained alcohol from off-license or licensed premises. At the commencement of the study, 68% of the participants were regular drinkers. Whilst there was no change in drinking behaviour, the intervention group reported that it was significantly more likely (compared to the control group) that they would reduce their drinking to less than binge levels.
Conclusion: The intervention resulted in participants reporting a more negative attitude towards binge drinking and increased their intention to disengage from binge drinking.

Explaining binge drinking among adolescent males using the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Binge drinking among adolescents in Northern Ireland is prevalent and has detrimental eff ects on public health. Health education interventions, based on valid explanatory models of health behaviour, are required to reduce binge drinking behaviour among adolescents. " is paper examines the utility of the " eory of Planned Behaviour in explaining binge drinking behaviour among adolescent males. Using questionnaire responses from 94 adolescent boys attending secondary schools in the Belfast area, logistic regression modelling suggested that the " eory of Planned Behaviour explained 36% of the variance in self-reported binge drinking behaviour. Attitudes towards binge drinking were the strongest predictor of binge drinking behaviour. Tackling attitudes about binge drinking is a challenge to be considered when designing interventions to reduce binge drinking among this population