Low-Power Flip-Flop Latch Control for Speed Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a demand for a flip-flop with low power consumption that minimizes the reduction in operating speed, as existing designs often compromise on speed to achieve lower power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a flip-flop design that includes a master latch and a slave latch, where the master latch generates complementary data signals based on a clock signal, a data input signal, and an inverted data input signal, and a latch signal is generated to control the latching of the slave latch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a flip-flop is designed to have low power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but operating speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic clock gating where clock signals are conditionally enabled or disabled based on the state of data signals. The master latch receives clock signals only when data signals are stable, and the slave latch receives clock signals only when master latch outputs are stable. This dynamic approach reduces unnecessary clock switching and associated power consumption while maintaining adequate operating speed for valid data transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic clock signal distribution to master and slave latches, where clock signals are periodically enabled based on data signal stability. This periodic action allows the circuit to operate at full speed when data is valid while entering low-power states during idle periods, thereby reducing average power consumption without significantly impacting peak operating speed.
2Speed
If clock signals are continuously provided to master and slave latches, then operating speed is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary detection of data signal stability through detection circuits before enabling clock signals to the master latch. Similarly, it detects the stability of master latch outputs before enabling clock signals to the slave latch. This preliminary action ensures that clock signals are provided only when necessary for valid data latching, reducing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining operating speed for valid data transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the stability of data signals and intermediate latch outputs is continuously monitored. Based on this feedback, the circuit dynamically controls the enabling of clock signals to master and slave latches. This feedback-driven approach ensures clock signals are provided only when data is stable and latching is necessary, optimizing the balance between power consumption and operating speed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A flip-flop (10) is provided. The flip-flop (10) includes: a master latch (11); and a slave latch (12). The master latch (11) includes: a first circuit configured to, based on a clock signal (CK), a data input signal (D), and a first data signal (DT), generate a second data signal (DN) complementary to the data input signal (D); a second circuit configured to, based on the clock signal (CK), an inverted data input signal (D), and the second data signal (DN), generate the first data signal (DT) complementary to the inverted data input signal (D); and a third circuit configured to generate a latch signal (LAT) based on the clock signal (CK), an input (QN) of the slave latch (12), and the second data signal (DN). The slave latch (12) is configured to latch the input of (QN) the slave latch (12)based on the clock signal (CK) and the latch signal (LAT).