Counting Circuit Latch Gating for Low-Power High-Speed Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The operating speed and power consumption of counting circuits in electronic devices, such as CMOS image sensors, become significant factors as the number of counting circuits increases, affecting overall performance, particularly in high-resolution applications.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device is designed with a control logic portion that generates hold control and counting clock signals to manage latch operations during counting and holding sections, utilizing division blocks with gating and inversion units to optimize clock signals and reduce power consumption by stopping latch operations during counting sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If latch operations are continuously performed during counting sections, then counting accuracy is maintained, but power consumption increases and operating speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic latch operations that are enabled during holding sections and disabled during counting sections. The control logic portion generates control signals to periodically activate latch circuits only when needed (during holding sections), rather than continuously operating them during both counting and holding sections. This periodic operation reduces power consumption while maintaining counting accuracy by ensuring latches are ready to capture data at the appropriate moments.
2Stability of the object's composition
If latch operations are continuously performed during counting sections, then data stability is ensured, but loading time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic latch operations that are enabled during holding sections and disabled during counting sections. The control logic portion generates control signals to periodically activate latch circuits only when needed (during holding sections), rather than continuously operating them during both counting and holding sections. This periodic operation reduces power consumption while maintaining counting accuracy by ensuring latches are ready to capture data at the appropriate moments.
3Measurement precision
If the number of counting circuits is increased for high-resolution applications, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption and operating speed are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic latch operations that are enabled during holding sections and disabled during counting sections. The control logic portion generates control signals to periodically activate latch circuits only when needed (during holding sections), rather than continuously operating them during both counting and holding sections. This periodic operation reduces power consumption while maintaining counting accuracy by ensuring latches are ready to capture data at the appropriate moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically controls the operation of latch circuits based on the operational phase (counting or holding section). The control logic portion adjusts the state of latch circuits in real-time, enabling them during holding sections and disabling them during counting sections. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt its power consumption and operational characteristics to the current task requirements, maintaining precision while optimizing performance.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a control logic portion suitable for generating a hold control signal based on a count enable signal, and a counting portion suitable for performing a counting operation while a latch operation stops during a counting section and performing the latch operation while the counting operation stops during a holding section based on the hold control signal and a counting clock signal.