A Reconfigurable Time-Domain In-Memory Computing Macro Using FeFET-Based CAM With Multilevel Delay Calibration in 28-nm CMOS
Abstract
Time-domain nonvolatile in-memory computing (TD-nvIMC) offers a promising pathway to reduce data movement and improve energy efficiency by encoding computation in delay rather than voltage or current. This work presents a fully integrated and reconfigurable TD-nvIMC macro, fabricated in 28 nm CMOS, that combines a ferroelectric FET (FeFET)-based content-addressable memory array, a cascaded delay element chain, and a time-to-digital converter. The architecture supports binary multiply-and-accumulate (MAC) operations using XOR- and AND-based matching, as well as in-memory Boolean logic and arithmetic functions. Sub-nanosecond MAC resolution is achieved through experimentally demonstrated 550 ps delay steps, representing a$2000\times $improvement over prior FeFET TD-nvIMC work, enabled by multilevel-state calibration with$\leq 100$ps resolution. Write-disturb resilience is ensured via isolated triple-well bulks. The proposed macro achieves a measured throughput of 222.2 MOPS/cell and energy efficiency of 1887TOPS/W at 0.85 V, establishing a viable path toward scalable, energy-efficient TD-nvIMC accelerators.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Ferroelectric and Negative Capacitance Devices
Magnetic properties of thin films
Advanced Memory and Neural Computing
Publication details
- Journal / source
- IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I Regular Papers
- Publisher
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 4036–4047
- Publication date
- 25 February 2026