Clock Gating Circuit Topology for Lower On-Chip Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
As electronic devices integrate more logic circuits onto a single chip, power consumption per unit area increases, leading to significant heat generation and a critical need to reduce power consumption, particularly in clock gate devices that consume the most power.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor circuit design that includes specific transistor configurations to propagate and determine node values based on clock signal voltage levels, optimizing power supply and ground voltage distribution to reduce overall power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If more logic circuits are integrated on a single chip, then functionality and processing capability are improved, but power consumption per unit area increases and heat generation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the clock signal distribution function from the main logic circuits and implements it through a dedicated clock tree structure with separate buffering stages. This separation allows independent optimization of clock signal delivery without affecting the core logic circuit functionality, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The clock distribution network is segmented into multiple buffering stages (first buffer, second buffer, third buffer) that distribute clock signals to different regions of the chip. This segmentation reduces the capacitive load on individual clock sources and enables localized clock signal management, decreasing power consumption per unit area while supporting high-density logic circuit integration.
2Loss of energy
If clock gate devices are used to control clock signal distribution, then power consumption control is improved, but the clock gate devices themselves consume significant power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate buffering stages between the clock source and the logic circuits. These buffers act as mediators that can be selectively enabled or disabled to control clock signal distribution. This approach provides power consumption control functionality without requiring high-power clock gate devices, as the buffers consume significantly less power while achieving the same clock distribution control objective.
3Speed
If transistor switching speed is increased to improve circuit operation, then processing speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic clock signal distribution through the buffered clock tree structure, where clock signals are delivered in synchronized cycles rather than continuously. The buffering stages enable efficient charge sharing and reduce redundant switching operations, allowing transistors to switch at optimal speeds while minimizing power consumption associated with continuous high-speed switching.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are semiconductor circuits. A semiconductor circuit includes a first circuit configured to propagate a value of a first node to a second node based on a voltage level of a clock signal; a second circuit configured to propagate a value of the second node to a third node based on the voltage level of the clock signal; and a third circuit configured to determine a value of the third node based on a voltage level of the second node and the voltage level of the clock signal, wherein the first circuit comprises a first transistor gated to a voltage level of the first node, a second transistor connected in series with the first transistor and gated to the voltage level of the third node, and a third transistor connected in parallel with the first and second transistors and gated to a voltage level of the clock signal to provide the value of the first node to the second node.