IO Charge Sharing Circuit for High-Frequency Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern integrated circuits operating at high frequencies face significant power consumption due to fast state changes in IO circuits, necessitating a reduction in power penalty during IO operations.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for sharing charge among multiple IO circuits, where a shared circuit with a capacitor connects selected IO circuits via a shared bus or ESD bus, allowing them to statistically converge to a midway state, reducing temporal imbalances and enabling efficient power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If IO circuits operate at high frequencies with fast state changes, then operational speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple IO circuits are merged into a single group that shares a common capacitor through a shared bus. This allows the circuits to collectively manage their charge states, statistically converging to a midway state that reduces the frequency of full state changes and thereby reduces power consumption while maintaining high operational speed.
Solution Approach 2:
A shared capacitor is introduced as an intermediary element between multiple IO circuits. This capacitor acts as a charge reservoir that buffers state changes, allowing IO circuits to transition states more efficiently by drawing from or charging the shared capacitor, thus reducing the direct power penalty of frequent state changes.
2Use of energy by moving object
If IO circuits share charge through a shared circuit, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shared capacitor and shared bus structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it enables charge sharing among IO circuits, provides ESD protection through the ESD bus interface, and statistically balances charge states across circuits. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity compared to implementing separate charge management circuits for each IO pad.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing ESD bus infrastructure to provide both ESD protection and charge sharing functionality. By repurposing the ESD bus for dual purposes, the design avoids adding dedicated charge sharing pathways, thereby minimizing increases in device complexity while achieving power reduction goals.
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 reduces power consumption by selectively connecting IO circuits to a shared circuit for charge sharing, averaging their states, and providing ESD protection, thereby minimizing power usage and enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a shared circuit with a capacitor connects selected IO circuits via a shared bus or ESD bus
Implementation Method 2
connecting the multiple IO circuits to a shared circuit via a shared bus or an electrostatic discharge (ESD) bus
Data Source
AI summary
A method for sharing charge between IO circuits, the method includes providing an integrated circuit that comprises multiple IO circuits, each comprising an IO pad. The method is characterized by including: determining to share a charge between multiple IO circuits; and sharing charge between the multiple IO circuits by coupling the multiple IO circuits to a shared circuit that is characterized by a state that reflects multiple iterations of sharing charge operations.