Clock Tree Frequency Reduction and Local Restoration for IC Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
The clock tree in integrated circuits consumes a significant portion of the total power due to its high operation frequency and capacitive loads, leading to substantial power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A clock network that reduces the operation frequency of the clock signal by half using a reduction circuit and restores it to the desired frequency at destination components, comprising a reduction circuit and a combination circuit, which propagates the signal through a clock tree and adjusts it to maintain performance while reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the clock tree operates at high frequency to meet performance requirements, then the circuit performance is improved, but the power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The clock network is segmented into multiple frequency domains. A high-frequency reference clock is divided into multiple lower-frequency clock signals using frequency division circuits. Different functional blocks receive clock signals at frequencies appropriate to their performance requirements, rather than all blocks receiving the full high-frequency clock signal. This segmentation allows performance-critical blocks to operate at high frequency while less critical blocks operate at lower frequencies, reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency parameter of clock signals dynamically based on the requirements of different functional blocks. By using frequency division circuits, the same reference clock source can generate multiple clock signals with different frequencies. This parameter change allows the system to optimize between performance and power consumption by assigning appropriate frequencies to different blocks, thereby reducing the total power consumed by the clock distribution network while maintaining necessary performance levels.
2Reliability
If the clock tree switches at maximum rate to maintain signal integrity, then the signal quality is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different functional blocks receive clock signals with quality and frequency characteristics tailored to their specific requirements. Critical blocks receive high-frequency, high-quality clock signals, while non-critical blocks receive lower-frequency signals. This local quality differentiation ensures that signal integrity is maintained where necessary without unnecessarily switching clock signals at maximum rate across the entire chip, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining required reliability.
3Quantity of substance
If the clock tree uses larger capacitive loads to drive more blocks, then the coverage is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clock distribution network is segmented into multiple frequency domains, allowing different numbers of blocks to be clocked at different frequencies. By dividing the high-frequency reference clock into multiple lower-frequency clocks, the system can drive more blocks overall without requiring each block to be driven by the full high-frequency signal. This reduces the capacitive load requirements and associated power consumption while still providing clock coverage to all necessary blocks.
Data Source
AI summary
A first clock signal is generated from a reference clock signal. A first frequency associated with the first clock signal is less than a reference clock frequency associated with the reference clock signal. The first clock signal is propagated towards a first component of an integrated circuit through a clock tree. A second clock signal having a second frequency is generated from the first clock signal at a terminal point of the clock tree. The second clock signal is provided to the first component.