Asynchronous Pipeline Stage Power Gating for Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable wireless devices face significant power consumption due to leakage currents from electronic components, even when not actively in use, as existing solutions like switches to decouple from voltage or ground have limited application due to dynamic clock power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize asynchronous logic stages with power switches controlled by handshaking signals to selectively decouple stages from the power supply based on their state, reducing leakage current without increasing dynamic clock power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If switches are used to decouple electronic components from voltage or ground to reduce power consumption, then leakage current is reduced, but dynamic clock power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the processing pipeline into multiple independent stages, each with its own power control switch. This allows individual stages to be powered on or off independently based on activity, reducing leakage current in inactive stages without requiring system-wide clocking, thereby avoiding increased dynamic power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic power management by making the power supply connection to each pipeline stage controllable and changeable based on operational needs. Switches selectively connect or disconnect power to individual stages, creating a dynamic system that adapts power delivery to actual computational requirements, thus reducing leakage without incurring continuous dynamic clock power costs.
2Speed
If electronic components are kept powered on to maintain readiness, then response time is improved, but power consumption due to leakage current increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-charging capacitors and preparing circuit states before actual computation begins. When a pipeline stage is activated, the necessary electrical conditions are already in place, allowing rapid response without requiring continuous power to maintain readiness, thus reducing leakage current while preserving fast response capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous powering, the system uses periodic activation of pipeline stages based on actual computational needs. Power is supplied in periodic bursts when stages are actively processing, rather than continuously, which reduces leakage current while maintaining the ability to respond quickly when computation is required.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of leakage control in an asynchronous pipeline are disclosed. In an embodiment, a signal is received from a preceding stage at an operative stage of an asynchronous circuit device, and a switch associated with the operative stage is activated in response to the control signal being sent to the operative stage to enable power to the operative stage.