Input Transistor Delay Element for Hold Time Violation Immunity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circuit designs face challenges in meeting hold time constraints without incurring significant leakage and power penalties, as traditional methods like inserting hold time fixing buffers or delay cells consume excessive power and leakage.
Innovation Solution
A processing circuit design that incorporates a delay element, such as a capacitive element, coupled between the control and connection terminals of input transistors to provide hold time violation immunity, allowing for efficient delay induction without the need for additional active devices or large power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hold time fixing buffers or delay cells are inserted to meet hold time constraints, then hold time compliance is improved, but leakage and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary capacitive element coupled to the gate of the input transistor. This capacitor acts as a mediator that stores charge to extend the hold time of the data signal at the transistor gate, thereby meeting hold time constraints without requiring additional active buffering devices that would consume excessive power and generate leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the electrical parameters at the transistor gate by introducing a capacitive element that changes the time constant and charge storage characteristics. This parameter change extends the hold time of the signal without requiring additional active devices, thus improving hold time compliance while avoiding the power and leakage penalties associated with traditional buffer-based approaches.
2Reliability
If traditional hold time fixing methods are used, then hold time constraints are met, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive element serves as a simple intermediary component that provides hold time extension through charge storage. This passive intermediary approach avoids the complexity of additional active delay cells or buffering stages, meeting hold time constraints with minimal increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simple capacitive element—a passive, low-complexity component—to achieve hold time fixing. This approach replaces complex active delay circuits with a simple capacitive storage element that fulfills the hold time requirement without adding significant device complexity or requiring multiple additional active devices.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively meets hold time constraints with reduced leakage and power consumption by using capacitive elements to introduce precise delays, enhancing hold time compliance without the drawbacks of traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a delay element, such as a capacitive element, coupled between the control and connection terminals of input transistors
Data Source
AI summary
A processing circuit includes an input circuit and a follow-up circuit. The input circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a delay element. The first transistor has a control terminal, a first connection terminal, and a second connection terminal. The control terminal of the first transistor is arranged to receive a data signal. A first connection terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the second connection terminal of the first transistor, and a control terminal of the second transistor is arranged to receive a first non-data signal. The delay element is coupled between the control terminal and the second connection terminal of the first transistor. A data input is received at an input node of the follow-up circuit, and the input node of the follow-up circuit is coupled to the second connection terminal of the second transistor.