Clock Gating Circuit Using Critical Path Monitoring for Voltage Drops
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Solution Overview
Problem
As semiconductor devices increase in integration and complexity, voltage drops can lead to increased power consumption, temperature rises, and potential chip malfunction or damage, necessitating effective power management to maintain operational speed and longevity.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device incorporating a critical path monitor (CPM) and clock gating circuit that generates an enable signal based on a digital code varying with voltage drops, allowing for rapid clock gating to suspend clock signals and reduce power consumption, thereby compensating for voltage drops and preventing malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If clock gating is performed to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but response time to voltage drops increases
Solution Approach 1:
The CPM continuously monitors the critical path operation speed in advance and generates an enable signal before significant voltage drop effects occur. This preliminary monitoring and signal generation allows the clock gating circuit to respond immediately when voltage drops affect circuit operation, rather than waiting for performance degradation to manifest
Solution Approach 2:
The CPM creates a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring the critical path operation speed and adjusting the enable signal accordingly. When the operation speed falls below a threshold due to voltage drop, the CPM activates the enable signal to restore proper clock timing, forming a closed-loop control system that dynamically responds to power supply conditions
2Productivity
If integration degree and complexity increase, then device performance improves, but voltage drop and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The clock gating circuit applies clock signal suppression selectively to specific circuits or blocks that are not currently active or do not require high-speed operation. This local control allows different parts of the integrated device to operate at different clock states, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining high performance where needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts clock signal distribution based on real-time monitoring of critical path operation speed. The enable signal generated by the CPM allows the clock gating circuit to adaptively control clock signals, transitioning between active and gated states based on actual circuit performance and power supply conditions
3Speed
If clock gating is applied to compensate for voltage drop, then operation speed is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The CPM serves as an intermediary component that monitors critical path operation speed and generates control signals for the clock gating circuit. This intermediary structure separates the monitoring function from the clock control function, allowing the system to maintain operation speed through a modular architecture that adds functionality without significantly increasing overall device complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A semiconductor device (1) includes an intellectual property (IP) block (140) configured to operate based on a first clock signal (CLK_OUT) and a power voltage (VDDin), a clock gating circuit (130) configured to operate based on the power voltage, and generate the first clock signal (CLK_OUT) by selectively performing clock gating on a second clock signal (CLK_IN) based on an enable signal (En), and a critical path monitor (CPM, 120) configured to generate a digital code (CPM code) having a value, which varies according to a voltage drop of the power voltage (VDDin), and activate the enable signal (En) based on a comparison of the value of the digital code with a reference value.