Resonant Clock Network With Staggered Inductor Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Resonant clocking in integrated circuits is inefficient at frequencies outside the resonant frequency range, leading to malformed clock waveforms and performance issues, and transitioning between resonant and conventional modes causes abrupt loading and voltage overshoot, affecting power consumption and reliability.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a switch bank with control logic to stagger the turn-on and turn-off of inductors in the clock network, allowing gradual energy transfer and avoiding sudden changes, thereby maintaining clock waveform integrity and reducing current demand and voltage overshoot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If resonant clocking is used to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but clock waveform integrity deteriorates at frequencies outside the resonant frequency range
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between resonant clocking mode and conventional clocking mode based on the operating frequency. A frequency detector monitors the clock frequency and controls a switch to select the appropriate clocking mode, ensuring optimal performance across a wide frequency range while maintaining power efficiency.
2Device complexity
If the inductor is abruptly connected to the clock network when transitioning into resonant mode, then the transition is simple, but voltage overshoot and current demand spikes occur
Solution Approach 1:
Before fully connecting the inductor to the clock network, the control logic prepares the circuit by initially connecting the inductor to a capacitor that is charged to the clock voltage. This preliminary action prevents voltage overshoot and current spikes by avoiding abrupt connections, then gradually transitions to full resonant mode.
3Device complexity
If the inductor is abruptly disconnected from the clock network when transitioning out of resonant mode, then the transition is simple, but voltage overshoot and electromagnetic interference occur
Solution Approach 1:
Before disconnecting the inductor from the clock network, the control logic prepares by initially connecting the inductor to a capacitor. This preliminary action provides a discharge path for the inductor current, preventing voltage overshoot and electromagnetic interference that would occur with abrupt disconnection, then gradually completes the transition to conventional mode.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables seamless transitions between resonant and conventional clocking modes without degrading clock waveforms, reducing power consumption, and enhancing the reliability of the clock network by controlling energy transfer and current flow.
Implementation Method 1
resonant clocking is one approach to reduce power consumption associated with clock distribution networks
Implementation Method 2
turning on a first plurality of switches to couple an inductor to a clock network
Data Source
AI summary
A resonant clock network includes an inductor coupled to the clock network through a plurality of switches. When the clock network enters resonant mode, the turn-on of the switches to couple the inductor to the clock network is staggered. The clock network may be formed of multiple regions, each with its own inductor and switches. The turn-on of switches of each region may be staggered with respect to the turn-on off the switches of the other regions as well as to the turn-on of switches within a region. In addition to staggering the turn-on of the switches when entering the resonant mode, the switches may be turned off in a staggered manner when exiting the resonant mode of operation.