Flip-Flop Layout Using Gate Conductors to Reduce Clock Interference
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Flip-flop devices in semiconductor devices experience high power consumption due to interference between adjacent clock paths, especially as semiconductor sizes reduce and clock path distances decrease, leading to increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a layout with reduced horizontal and vertical clock paths by utilizing gate conductors to transmit periodic signals, creating feasible space between clock paths, thereby reducing Miller capacitances and interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If semiconductor sizes are reduced to increase integration density, then device miniaturization is achieved, but distance between adjacent clock paths decreases leading to increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the clock signal transmission by introducing buffer circuits at strategic locations between adjacent clock paths. This segmentation isolates the clock paths, preventing direct interference while maintaining signal integrity, thereby reducing power consumption in miniaturized devices
Solution Approach 2:
Buffer circuits are introduced as intermediary elements between adjacent clock paths. These buffers act as mediators that isolate the clock signals from each other, preventing capacitive coupling and interference, thus reducing power consumption without requiring larger device dimensions
2Area of stationary object
If clock paths are placed closer together to reduce device area, then integration density increases, but interference between adjacent clock paths increases leading to higher power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
Buffer circuits are positioned as intermediary elements between adjacent clock paths, serving as isolation barriers that prevent capacitive coupling and signal interference. This allows clock paths to be placed closer together without increasing harmful interference or power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous clock network is segmented into isolated sections by inserting buffer circuits between adjacent paths. This segmentation breaks the direct capacitive coupling between clock paths, enabling closer placement while maintaining signal integrity and reducing interference
3Reliability
If traditional layout with multiple horizontal and vertical clock paths is used, then clock signal distribution is achieved, but Miller capacitances increase leading to high power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates redundant clock paths from the traditional grid layout. By removing unnecessary horizontal and vertical clock paths and retaining only essential ones with strategic buffer placement, Miller capacitances are reduced while clock signal distribution reliability is maintained
Solution Approach 2:
The clock path configuration parameters are changed from a dense grid pattern to a optimized sparse pattern with buffers. This parameter change reduces the total length of clock paths and minimizes capacitive coupling, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining distribution effectiveness
Data Source
AI summary
A flip-flop device includes first through third power rails, a first plurality of conductive patterns positioned at a total of three locations evenly spaced between the first and second power rails, a second plurality of conductive patterns positioned at a total of three locations evenly spaced between the second and third power rails, a master latching circuit including a first subset of each of the first and second pluralities of conductive patterns, a slave latching circuit including a second subset of each of the first and second pluralities of conductive patterns, and a gate conductor extending across at least one of the three locations of the first plurality of conductive patterns and at least one of the three locations of the second plurality of conductive patterns. The gate conductor is configured to transmit one of a first clock signal or a feedback signal of the flip-flop device.