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arXiv · 2407.12829

PICO-RAM: A PVT-Insensitive Analog Compute-In-Memory SRAM Macro with In-Situ Multi-Bit Charge Computing and 6T Thin-Cell-Compatible Layout

Zhiyu Chen·Ziyuan Wen·Weier Wan·Akhil Reddy Pakala·Yiwei Zou·Wei-Chen Wei·Zengyi Li·Yubei Chen·Kaiyuan Yang
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Abstract

Analog compute-in-memory (CIM) in static random-access memory (SRAM) is promising for accelerating deep learning inference by circumventing the memory wall and exploiting ultra-efficient analog low-precision arithmetic. Latest analog CIM designs attempt bit-parallel schemes for multi-bit analog Matrix-Vector Multiplication (MVM), aiming at higher energy efficiency, throughput, and training simplicity and robustness over conventional bit-serial methods that digitally shift-and-add multiple partial analog computing results. However, bit-parallel operations require more complex analog computations and become more sensitive to well-known analog CIM challenges, including large cell areas, inefficient and inaccurate multi-bit analog operations, and vulnerability to PVT variations. This paper presents PICO-RAM, a PVT-insensitive and compact CIM SRAM macro with charge-domain bit-parallel computation. It adopts a multi-bit thin-cell Multiply-Accumulate (MAC) unit that shares the same transistor layout as the most compact 6T SRAM cell. All analog computing modules, including digital-to-analog converters (DACs), MAC units, analog shift-and-add, and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) reuse one set of local capacitors inside the array, performing in-situ computation to save area and enhance accuracy. A compact 8.5-bit dual-threshold time-domain ADC power gates the main path most of the time, leading to a significant energy reduction. Our 65-nm prototype achieves the highest weight storage density of 559 Kb/mm${^2}$ and exceptional robustness to temperature and voltage variations (-40 to 105 $^{\circ}$C and 0.65 to 1.2 V) among SRAM-based analog CIM designs.

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Zhiyu Chen, Ziyuan Wen, Weier Wan, Akhil Reddy Pakala, Yiwei Zou, Wei-Chen Wei, Zengyi Li, Yubei Chen, Kaiyuan Yang. 2024-07-03. PICO-RAM: A PVT-Insensitive Analog Compute-In-Memory SRAM Macro with In-Situ Multi-Bit Charge Computing and 6T Thin-Cell-Compatible Layout. https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.12829

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