Binary Multiplier Partial-Product Layout for Lower Area and Power

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing binary multipliers in General Purpose Processors (GPP), Digital Signal Processors (DSP), and hardware accelerators face challenges with high area and power consumption due to the large number of bit combinations and required half- and full-adders, particularly in applications like wireless and wireline communication systems and machine learning algorithms.

Innovation Solution

A novel binary multiplier design that generates and aligns partial products based on selector bits, reduces the number of bits to be added through optimized partial product groupings and uses a Wallace tree combination, thereby minimizing silicon area and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional binary multiplier designs are used, then multiplication functionality is achieved, but silicon area and power consumption increase due to large number of bit combinations and adders

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultiplication functionalityVSAvoidsilicon area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the multiplication process into generating two distinct sets of partial products: a first set defining a_i*(b_{i-1}:b_0) + b_i*(a_{i-1}:a_0) and a second set defining a_i*b_i. This segmentation allows for optimized grouping and reduction of bits to be added, thereby reducing silicon area while maintaining multiplication functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by organizing partial products into two separate sets with different structural characteristics. The first set handles cross-term products while the second set handles direct product terms, creating a multi-dimensional organization that enables more efficient reduction trees and reduces the overall adder count.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If traditional binary multiplier designs are used, then multiplication functionality is achieved, but power consumption increases due to large number of bit combinations and adders

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultiplication functionalityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting partial products into two sets with distinct generation methods, the patent reduces the total number of bits requiring addition operations. Since power consumption in multipliers is directly proportional to the number of active adders and bit combinations, this segmentation directly reduces power consumption while preserving multiplication functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the structural parameters of partial product organization by defining two different sets with different mathematical formulations. This parameter change in how partial products are structured and grouped leads to fewer reduction steps and fewer adders, thereby reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Area of stationary object

If optimized partial product generation is used, then silicon area is reduced, but circuit complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesilicon areaVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the generation of multiple partial products into two consolidated sets that can be processed through unified reduction trees. By combining similar operational patterns into standardized generation units and using systematic shifting and summing procedures, the circuit complexity is managed efficiently while achieving area reduction through optimized resource sharing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4036704B1multiplier
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4036704B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4036704B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4036704B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

An apparatus, method and computer program is described comprising: generating a first set of partial products that define ai∗(bi-1:bo) + bi∗(ai-1:ao) for all values of i, dependent on the values of selector bits ai and bi; generating a second set of partial products that define aibi for all values of i; and shifting and summing the first and second sets of partial products.