Hierarchical Power Gating Circuit for Leakage Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power gating techniques in semiconductor devices face challenges in efficiently managing power domains, leading to unintended leakage currents and design complexities, especially when applied to multiple power domains and custom ASIC/COT applications, due to varying power control specifications and start sequences.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a power management unit that includes multiple power gating circuits connected according to the inclusion relation of power domains, allowing for hierarchical power control and sequential power supply management, preventing indefinite value signals and reducing leakage currents through clamp circuits and controlled power switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If power gating technique is applied to multiple power domains, then power consumption is reduced, but design complexity increases due to varying power control specifications and start sequences
Solution Approach 1:
The power management unit is segmented into multiple independent power gating circuits, each corresponding to a specific power domain. Each circuit can be independently configured and connected according to the inclusion relations of power domains, allowing flexible adaptation to different power control specifications without increasing overall design complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The power gating circuits are designed with universal functionality to handle various power control specifications and start sequences. By connecting these universal circuits according to inclusion relations, the system can manage multiple power domains with different requirements using a standardized approach, reducing design complexity
2Device complexity
If power is supplied to parent power domain before child power domain, then power management is simplified, but indefinite value signals may propagate causing erroneous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The power gating circuit for the parent power domain is configured to turn off power before the child power domain. This preliminary action ensures that when the child domain is powered on, no indefinite value signals can propagate from the parent domain, preventing erroneous operation while maintaining simple power management
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit design incorporates preliminary anti-action by ensuring the parent power domain is completely powered down before the child power domain is activated. This prevents the harmful effect of indefinite value signal propagation in advance, maintaining both simple power management and signal integrity
3Productivity
If custom ASIC/COT applications use standard power gating, then development efficiency improves, but adaptation to specific power control specifications becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The power management unit is divided into independent, modular power gating circuits that can be selectively connected according to specific power control specifications. This segmentation allows custom ASIC/COT applications to use standard building blocks while adapting to their specific requirements, improving both development efficiency and specification adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The power gating circuits are designed to be dynamically configurable through their connection arrangements, which can be adjusted to match different power domain inclusion relations and control specifications. This dynamic adaptability enables standard circuits to serve custom applications efficiently
Data Source
AI summary
A power controlling circuit is assigned to each of a plurality of power domains of which power may be on/off-controlled, and which have a first hierarchical structure included in a semiconductor device, and these power controlling circuits are connected in accordance with a second hierarchical structure corresponding to the first hierarchical structure, and thereby, a power management unit controlling power supply to the plurality of power domains is configured, as a result that the power management unit performing power supply control depending on power control specification may be designed easily.