Flip-Flop Clock Amplitude Control for Low-Power Data Latching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flip-flop circuits face challenges in reducing power consumption, particularly in battery-driven mobile devices, as the power consumed by charging and discharging gate capacitances is proportional to the square of the power supply voltage, making it difficult to reduce power consumption while maintaining operating speed with low-amplitude clock signals.
Innovation Solution
A flip-flop circuit design that operates using a first clock signal with reduced amplitude, employing a pair of transistors to latch input data, an activation circuit to control transistor conduction, and a control circuit that increases the amplitude of the clock signal using a second clock signal, allowing for efficient data storage and reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If low-amplitude clock signals are used to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but transistor operating speed deteriorates and transistor size must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The clock signal function is segmented into two distinct signals: a low-amplitude clock signal for controlling the activation circuit (power consumption reduction) and a high-amplitude clock signal for controlling the transistor pair (operating speed maintenance). This segmentation allows each signal to optimize for its specific function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
Different amplitude qualities are applied to different parts of the circuit: the activation circuit receives low-amplitude clock signals for power efficiency, while the transistor pair receives high-amplitude clock signals for speed performance. Each part receives the quality of signal amplitude appropriate to its function.
2Speed
If transistor size is increased to maintain operating speed with low-amplitude signals, then operating speed is maintained, but power consumption for charging and discharging gate capacitance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control signals are segmented by amplitude: high-amplitude clock signals control the transistor pair to maintain operating speed without size increase, while low-amplitude clock signals control the activation circuit to minimize power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The amplitude parameter of clock signals is changed based on the specific circuit function: high amplitude for transistor control (speed-critical) and low amplitude for activation circuit control (power-critical).
3Speed
If full-amplitude clock signals are used to maintain transistor speed, then operating speed is maintained, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The clock signal system is segmented into two amplitude levels: full-amplitude clock signals are applied only where necessary for speed-critical transistor operation, while reduced-amplitude clock signals are used for the activation circuit where power consumption is the primary concern.
Solution Approach 2:
Full-amplitude clock signals are applied partially only to the transistor pair where speed is critical, while the activation circuit receives reduced-amplitude signals. This partial application of full amplitude avoids unnecessary energy loss in non-critical circuit portions.
Data Source
AI summary
A flip-flop circuit operates by a first clock signal whose amplitude is smaller than that of input data D. A pair of transistors receive the input data D and the reversed input data *D, respectively, to latch the input data D. An activation circuit activates the pair of transistors in a conduction state. A control circuit receives the first clock signal and sets the activation circuit to a conduction state for a predetermined time period starting from an edge timing of the received first clock signal. The control circuit increases the amplitude of the first clock signal and sets the activation circuit in a conduction state by using a second clock signal which is the first clock signal with the increased amplitude.