Integrated Circuit Power Gating Using a Reused Global Control Signal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power sleep control solutions for integrated circuits are costly due to the need for dedicated staggered power gating signals and buffers, which are inefficient in controlling supply bounce and in-rush currents during sleep and wake-up sequencing in power domains.
Innovation Solution
A power sleep control architecture that reuses an existing global control signal for power gating, leveraging its inherent staggering mechanism to manage in-rush currents and supply bounce, enabling a low-cost solution with well-defined power up/down sequences and flexible control modes, including user-controlled power gating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional power sleep control solutions use dedicated staggered power gating signals and buffers, then power gating control is achieved, but circuit cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The global control signal is reused for multiple purposes: it serves both as the control signal for power gating and provides inherent staggering through its distributed routing to different circuit blocks. This eliminates the need for dedicated staggered control signals and buffers, reducing circuit complexity while maintaining power gating functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution merges the control signal distribution function with the power gating control function. The existing global control signal routing infrastructure is combined with power control blocks to achieve both signal distribution and power management in a unified architecture.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional solutions route dedicated staggered power gating signals, then in-rush current control is achieved, but routing complexity and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The global control signal performs dual functions: distributing control commands to circuit blocks and providing inherent time-staggered activation sequences. The routing infrastructure already designed for global control signals is reused for power gating control, eliminating dedicated routing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing global control signal routing network automatically provides the staggering effect needed for in-rush current control through its inherent distribution characteristics. The system leverages the natural timing differences in signal propagation across the circuit without requiring additional control mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A circuit for controlling power within an integrated circuit comprises a plurality of circuit blocks (109); a global control signal (global) routed within the integrated circuit; and a plurality of power control blocks (202). Each power control block is coupled to a corresponding circuit block of the plurality of circuit bocks and has a first input (203) coupled to receive a reference voltage (VDD) and a second input (204) coupled to receive the global control signal. The global control signal enables, for each circuit block, the coupling of the reference voltage to the corresponding circuit block. A method of controlling power within an integrated circuit is also disclosed.