Clock Gating Latch Circuit for Low-Power Full-Pulse Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization of integrated circuits has led to stricter design and manufacturing specifications, as well as reliability challenges, particularly in generating efficient latch output signals for enabling latch circuits.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an enabling latch circuit that generates a latch output signal based on an enable signal and a clock signal, which is then used to gate the clock signal and synchronize a synchronous logic circuit, thereby reducing power consumption and improving response time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the number of clock coupling transistors is reduced to minimize device complexity, then the enabling latch circuit can be miniaturized, but power consumption control and signal reliability become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The clock signal path is segmented into multiple controlled stages using the enable signal. The latch circuit is divided into clocked portions that are selectively activated, allowing the clock signal to be distributed to only the necessary flip-flops at any given time. This segmentation reduces the number of active clock coupling transistors while maintaining reliable signal generation in the activated portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The enabling latch circuit dynamically adjusts the clock signal distribution based on the enable signal state. When enabled, the latch output signal actively couples the clock signal to synchronous logic circuits; when disabled, the coupling is reduced or eliminated. This dynamic control allows the circuit to operate with fewer active transistors during normal operation while maintaining reliability when needed.
2Use of energy by moving object
If clock signal gating is implemented to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but the response time and duty cycle consistency may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The enable signal is prepared and propagated through the latch circuit before the clock signal is gated to the synchronous logic circuits. This preliminary action ensures that the clock coupling transistors are already in the correct conductive state when the clock signal arrives, eliminating any delay that would otherwise occur during transistor switching. The duty cycle is preserved because the enable signal transitions are timed to occur before the critical clock edges.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch output signal maintains continuous control over the clock signal path, ensuring that when the enable signal is active, the clock signal flows continuously without interruption to all enabled synchronous logic circuits. This continuous useful action prevents any gaps or delays in clock delivery, maintaining both response time and duty cycle consistency while still achieving power savings when the enable signal is inactive.
3Volume of moving object
If miniaturization is pursued to create smaller devices, then device size decreases, but manufacturing precision and design specifications become stricter
Solution Approach 1:
The enabling latch circuit serves multiple functions within a compact structure: it acts as a clock gate, a signal distributor, and a power management element simultaneously. By making the latch circuit universal in its functionality, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby minimizing device size while maintaining compliance with manufacturing specifications through optimized resource utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes critical parameters such as transistor dimensions, threshold voltages, and signal timing to ensure reliable operation in miniaturized conditions. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the design achieves the necessary manufacturing precision despite the reduced device size, allowing the clock coupling transistors to function reliably with fewer elements.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit includes a clocking transistor, a first enabling transistor coupled between the clocking transistor and a first node, and a second enabling transistor coupled between the clocking transistor and a second node. The integrated circuit also includes a branch-one transistor coupled between a first power supply and the first node, and a branch-two transistor is coupled between the first power supply and the second node. The gate terminal of the branch-one transistor is connected to the second node. The gate terminal of the branch-two transistor is connected to the first node. The clocking transistor, the first enabling transistor, and the second enabling transistor are first-type transistors. The branch-one transistor and the branch-two transistor are second-type transistors.