Flip-Flop Placement for Clock Network Power Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current integrated circuit design methods face challenges in optimizing clock network power consumption due to manual effort requirements and loss of regularity in structured placement during standard cell random placement, leading to increased power and area inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The method involves replacing groups of single-bit flip-flops with multi-bit flip-flops or grouping single-bit flip-flops together as relative placement groups, reducing clock net length and power consumption by sharing clock logic, and using a computer system to generate placed, routed, and optimized circuit designs based on specific placement rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If standard cell random placement is used, then automation is improved, but regularity is lost leading to increased power and area
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary identification and grouping of flip-flops into structured placement groups before the standard cell random placement process. By pre-establishing these groups with shared clock logic, the methodology preserves regularity and reduces clock network power even as automation takes over the detailed placement optimization.
2Stability of the object's composition
If manual structured placement is used, then regularity is improved, but manual effort and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the design tool to automatically identify flip-flops that benefit from structured placement and group them accordingly, without requiring manual designer intervention. The system self-determines which groups to form based on shared clock logic analysis, automatically preserving regularity while eliminating manual effort.
3Adaptability or versatility
If single-bit flip-flops are used, then design flexibility is improved, but clock net length and power increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple single-bit flip-flops into multi-bit flip-flop groups that share common clock logic. This combining reduces the total number of clock inputs required, thereby reducing clock net length and power consumption while maintaining the functional flexibility needed for design requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Technology is disclosed for placement of single-bit flip-flops and multi-bit flip-flops. Single-bit flip-flops with replaced with multi-bit flip-flops and/or relative placement groups of single-bit flip-flops.