Low-Voltage Swing Driver Circuit With Tri-State Power Gating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing low voltage swing circuits in modern circuit design face challenges such as area and power penalties due to multiple voltage sources, performance degradation, and inefficient power management, particularly in portable electronic devices like smartphones and tablets, where power consumption is a critical concern.

Innovation Solution

A circuit design incorporating a differential push-pull tri-state driver unit with NAND and NOR gates, PMOS and NMOS transistors, and an equalizer, which operates between power grids VDD and VSS, and includes a controller for power management by deactivating the enable signal when data remains unchanged, reducing power consumption and voltage swing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If multiple voltage sources are used to achieve low voltage swing operation, then power consumption is reduced, but area requirements increase and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple voltage sources (first voltage source for first driver unit, second voltage source for second driver unit) into a unified differential push-pull configuration. This combining approach maintains the power-saving benefits of multiple voltage sources while reducing overall device complexity through integrated circuit design and shared control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The driver units are designed with multi-functionality to operate in different modes (full swing and low voltage swing) by selectively activating different voltage sources. This universal design allows the same circuit structure to adapt to different power consumption requirements without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Use of energy by moving object

If multiple voltage sources are used to achieve low voltage swing operation, then power consumption is reduced, but area requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidarea requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If enable signal is continuously active to maintain data transmission capability, then data transmission readiness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission readinessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The enable signal operates periodically rather than continuously, activating the driver units only when data transmission is required. This periodic activation maintains data transmission readiness when needed while significantly reducing power consumption during idle periods when no data transmission is occurring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit automatically transitions between active and idle states based on the enable signal condition, with the controller autonomously managing power consumption by deactivating driver units during idle periods without requiring external intervention or complex control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10236883B1All-digital low voltage swing circuit for intra-chip interconnection

Publication Date: 2019.03.19 TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO LTD

AI summary

A circuit includes a first driver unit and a second driver unit. The first driver unit is configured to generate a first output signal in response to a data signal and an enable signal, and drive the first output signal towards a power supply voltage, or towards a reference voltage, or hold the first output signal at a previous voltage level. The second driver unit is configured to generate a second output signal in response to the data signal and the enable signal, and drive the second output signal towards the power supply voltage, or towards the reference voltage, or hold the second output signal at a previous voltage level. The first output signal and the second output signal are complementary to each other.