Power Efficient Embedded Memory Design for Mobile Video Applications
Abstract
This thesis mainly addresses the issue of low-power technology for streaming media
applications. In order to ensure high output video quality under low-voltage supply, the proposed
8-bit pixel memory is sized by different bit positions. A novel MSEpixel estimation method is then
developed according to bit failure rates to directly evaluate the video quality for every 8-bit sizing
combination. Based on this estimation, one area-priory and one quality-priority mobile video
applications are proposed by SPIDER algorithms.
The results show that both luma and chroma data should be considered. More than 70%
power is saved in memory units by using sizing-priority SPIDER algorithms. And the proposed
SPIDER design methodology for low-voltage application is a feasible and efficient trade-off
between the memory reliability and area overhead. Besides, a sample SRAM chip is designed for
tape-out for further verification of the proposed SPIDER methodology.