Dynamic Overdrive Voltage Generation for Power Switch Leakage Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power switches in integrated circuits experience leakage current issues due to resistive voltage drop, which can be exacerbated by overdrive voltage settings that are not optimized for varying technology, aging, and temperature conditions, leading to increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Dynamic adjustment of overdrive voltage using digital control circuitry and multiple replicas of power switch circuit elements, each receiving different reference voltages, to select the optimal voltage level that minimizes leakage current across different devices and operating conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If fixed overdrive voltage is used to simplify control, then control circuit complexity is reduced, but leakage current optimization is insufficient under varying conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where leakage current characteristics are monitored and used to dynamically adjust the overdrive voltage. The control circuit receives feedback about actual leakage conditions and modifies the gate voltage accordingly, enabling adaptive optimization without requiring overly complex predetermined control schemes. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by providing intelligent adaptation while maintaining reasonable circuit complexity.
2Power
If transistor size is increased to reduce resistive voltage drop, then power switch performance is improved, but leakage current increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the voltage parameter applied to the transistor gate rather than altering the transistor physical dimensions. By dynamically adjusting the overdrive voltage level, the system achieves optimal power switch performance with reduced leakage current without requiring larger transistor sizes, thus avoiding the trade-off between performance and leakage that would result from size increases.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed relating to generating an overdrive voltage for power switch circuitry. In some embodiments, the value of the overdrive voltage is adjusted dynamically in order to reduce leakage current during power gating. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a power switch circuit element configured to gate power to circuitry in the apparatus based on a control signal. In some embodiments, the power switch circuit element is powered by a supply voltage. In some embodiments, the apparatus also includes control circuitry configured to generate the control voltage at a different voltage level than the supply voltage, based on comparison of leakage current of ones of a plurality of replicas of the power switch circuit element. In some embodiments, the replicas are configured to receive different reference voltages as respective replica control signals. In various embodiments, the disclosed techniques may generate overdrive voltages that reduce leakage current during power gating.