Adaptive Voltage Control Using Replica Clock Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional adaptive voltage scaling (AVS) control devices require large voltage margins to account for correlation errors between controlled circuits and AVS control devices, leading to unnecessary power loss by setting power supply voltages higher than necessary.
Innovation Solution
A voltage control device that includes a power supply circuit, a power supply voltage control circuit, and a clock generation circuit, where the clock generation circuit receives an internal voltage from a second internal circuit region with a longer wiring distance and generates a clock signal based on this voltage, allowing the selection of the lowest internal voltage and frequency to minimize power consumption while ensuring the power supply voltage remains equal to or higher than the lowest operating voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large voltage margin is set to account for correlation errors between controlled circuit and AVS control device, then reliability of operation is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controlled circuit is divided into multiple internal circuit regions with different wiring distances from the input unit. Each region experiences different voltage drops, allowing segmented measurement and evaluation of actual operating conditions across the circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
A clock generation circuit is created as a copy of the second internal circuit region, replicating its circuit configuration and wiring distance characteristics. This copy generates a clock signal that reflects the actual voltage conditions experienced by the controlled circuit without requiring excessive voltage margins.
2Use of energy by moving object
If power supply voltage is lowered to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but operation reliability deteriorates due to insufficient voltage margin
Solution Approach 1:
The clock generation circuit receives internal voltage as power supply and generates a clock signal that provides feedback information about the actual voltage conditions in the controlled circuit. This feedback enables dynamic adjustment of power supply voltage to maintain reliable operation at the lowest safe level without requiring excessive voltage margins.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter used for voltage control from a fixed conservative margin to a dynamic value based on actual internal voltage conditions. By monitoring the clock signal generated from the replica circuit, the system adapts the power supply voltage to match actual operating requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a voltage control device that includes a power supply circuit that supplies electric power to an input terminal of a controlled circuit, a power supply voltage control circuit that controls the power supply voltage to be supplied from the power supply circuit to the controlled circuit, on the basis of the clock signal to be supplied to the controlled circuit, and a clock generation circuit that receives a power supply that is the internal voltage to be applied to a second internal circuit region at a second wiring distance from the input terminal, and generates the clock signal on the basis of the internal voltage, the second wiring distance being longer than a first wiring distance at which a first internal circuit region is located in the controlled circuit, the first wiring distance and the second wiring distance being wiring distances in the controlled circuit from the input terminal.