Conditional-Delay Flip-Flop Circuit for Faster Sequential Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional master-slave flip-flop structures are not suitable for designing high-speed semiconductor chips due to their limitations in reducing the input-to-output time, which affects the speed and power consumption of sequential circuits.
Innovation Solution
A flip-flop circuit design that includes an evaluation part, a conditional delay part, and a keeper logic part, utilizing transistors with varying channel widths and lengths to control voltage levels and discharge paths, allowing for faster data processing and reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional master-slave flip-flop structure is used, then the circuit structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the input-to-output time is long which limits the operating speed
Solution Approach 1:
The flip-flop circuit is divided into three distinct functional modules: evaluation part (discharge first node), conditional delay part (discharge second node with delay), and keeper logic part (maintain voltage levels). This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently for speed while managing overall circuit complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaluation part performs preliminary evaluation of the input signal and discharges the first node in advance based on the input logic level. This preliminary action prepares the circuit state before the clock signal triggers the final output, reducing the overall input-to-output time.
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional master-slave flip-flop structure is used, then the circuit is easy to manufacture, but the sampling window is wide which increases power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit uses dynamic control of discharge paths through clock signals and conditional logic. The conditional delay part dynamically controls when the second node is discharged based on the first node's voltage level, creating a narrower sampling window that reduces the duration during which power is consumed during switching transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The keeper logic part maintains voltage levels at logic high or logic low states, changing the electrical parameters of the nodes to stable states. This reduces unnecessary switching activity and associated power consumption during the sampling period.
3Loss of time
If the evaluation part discharges the first node quickly, then the input-to-output time is reduced, but the voltage level of the first node may be lost before the discharge operation is completed
Solution Approach 1:
The conditional delay part monitors the voltage level of the first node and uses this feedback to control the discharge of the second node. The keeper logic part further reinforces the voltage levels by maintaining them at stable logic states, ensuring that the evaluation result is reliably captured even during fast transitions.
Data Source
AI summary
A flip-flop circuit includes an evaluation part connected to a first node and a second node to discharge the second node according to a voltage level of the first node, a conditional delay part connected to the second node to discharge a third node to have a voltage level different from a voltage level of the second node, and a keeper logic part connected to the second node and third node to maintain a voltage level of one of the second and third nodes being not discharged.