Latch Circuit Power Gating for Stable Low-Current Initialization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The initialization operation of latch circuits is hindered by conflicts between inverters and initialization units, leading to excessive current consumption due to conflicting signal levels and power supply management.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a power breaker to control the power supply to the second inverting unit during initialization, ensuring that the second inverting unit does not drive the input node at a high level when the initialization signal is activated, thereby preventing conflicts and reducing current consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the initialization unit drives the input node at a low level during initialization, then the initialization operation is achieved, but a conflict occurs with the second inverter driving the input node at a high level, causing excessive current consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the power supply to the second inverter during initialization operations. When the initialization signal is activated, the power breaker cuts off the power supply (VDD) to the second inverter, effectively removing it from the circuit during this specific operation. This prevents the second inverter from driving the input node at a high level and eliminates the conflicting current path, thereby solving the contradiction between achieving reliable initialization and reducing current consumption.
2Reliability
If the second inverter continuously drives the input node, then the latch maintains its data storage function, but the initialization operation becomes difficult when conflicting signal levels are applied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control of the second inverter's operation through the power breaker. The second inverter operates normally (with power supply) during data storage mode to maintain latch functionality, but is dynamically disabled (power supply cut off) during initialization mode. This dynamic switching of the second inverter's operational state, controlled by the initialization signal, allows the system to easily perform initialization operations without the conflicting drive, while maintaining data storage stability during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A latch circuit may include a first inverting unit configured to drive a second node in response to a level of a first node, a second inverting unit configured to drive the first node in response to a level of the second node, an initialization unit configured to drive the first node at a first level in response to activation of an initialization signal, and a power breaker configured to break a supply of power of a second level to the second inverting unit when the initialization signal is activated.