A CMOS Majority Logic Gate and its Application to One-Step ML Decodable Codes

The majority logic (ML) gate (MLG) is required in fast decoder implementations to protect memories from transient soft errors. In this paper, a novel MLG design is proposed; it consists of a pMOS pull-up network, an nMOS pull-down network, and an inverter. The proposed design is applicable to an arbitrary number of inputs γ (and operating as a mirror circuit when γ is odd). The proposed designs are simply requiring a small number of transistors; when simulated, they offer improved metrics such as reduction in delay, area, and power dissipation compared with existing designs found in the technical literature. When the combined power-delay-area product (PDAP) is considered, the advantages of the proposed designs are pronounced. The application of the proposed MLGs to design fast decoders for one-step ML decodable (OS-MLD) codes is also presented; the results show that the proposed MLGs are very efficient circuits for this coding application.