A novel Si-Tunnel FET based SRAM design for ultra low-power 0.3V VDD applications

Steep sub-threshold transistors are promising candidates to replace the traditional MOSFETs for sub-threshold leakage reduction. In this paper, we explore the use of Inter-Band Tunnel Field Effect Transistors (TFETs) in SRAMs at ultra low supply voltages. The uni-directional current conducting TFETs limit the viability of 6 T SRAM cells. To overcome this limitation, 7 T SRAM designs were proposed earlier at the cost of extra silicon area. In this paper, we propose a novel 6 T SRAM design using Si-TFETs for reliable operation with low leakage at ultra low voltages. We also demonstrate that a functional 6 T TFET SRAM design with comparable stability margins and faster performances at low voltages can be realized using proposed design when compared with the 7 T TFET SRAM cell. We achieve a leakage reduction improvement of 700 X and 1600 X over traditional CMOS SRAM designs at V
_DD
of 0.3 V and 0.5 V respectively which makes it suitable for use at ultra-low power applications.