Implantable IC Clock Tree Layout for Lower Power Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current implantable medical devices (IMDs) face challenges with high power consumption due to the complexity and size of clock trees in their digital logic ICs, which reduces battery life and increases design complexity.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a reduced complexity global clock tree network with fewer clock tree delay elements, optimizing clock signal distribution to clocked components like flip-flops and latches, ensuring timely data propagation and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional clock tree network is used to distribute clock signals to all clocked components, then timing synchronization is achieved, but power consumption increases and IC real estate is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the traditional clock tree network from the IC architecture. Instead of routing clock signals through a distributed clock tree to all clocked components, the invention removes this intermediary structure entirely, allowing clocked components to operate independently without centralized clock distribution, thereby eliminating the power consumption and real estate overhead of the clock tree
Solution Approach 2:
Each clocked component independently generates and uses its own clock signal without relying on a centralized clock tree. The components self-service their timing needs by incorporating local clocking mechanisms or using alternative synchronization methods that do not require traditional clock distribution infrastructure
2Reliability
If a traditional clock tree network is used to distribute clock signals, then clocked components are synchronized, but IC chip real estate is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the clock tree network structure from the IC layout, eliminating the physical conductors and delay elements that would otherwise occupy valuable chip real estate. This extraction frees up area for other functional components while maintaining synchronization through alternative means
3Manufacturing precision
If a comprehensive clock tree with delay elements is implemented, then timing errors are corrected, but design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex clock tree synthesis and timing analysis infrastructure from the design process. By eliminating the need for centralized clock distribution with delay elements, the invention simplifies design analysis and simulation while maintaining timing integrity through decentralized approaches
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of clock distribution from centralized to decentralized. This parameter change transforms the design approach from requiring complex timing analysis of clock skew to using simpler, independent timing mechanisms at each component level
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit includes a clock tree network that distributes a clock signal to a plurality of clocked components of the integrated circuit. The clock tree network includes clock lines, each of which includes a clock tree delay element that provides a modified clock signal that is provided to an individual one the clocked components. Among the plurality of clocked components, one or more of the clocked components provides a data signal to another one or more of the clocked components. The one or more clocked components are configured having a transmission duration for the data signal that is longer relative to a transmission duration of the modified clock signal of the receiving clocked component.