Master-Slave Flip-Flop Clock Sharing to Cut Power and Capacitance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor devices face challenges in achieving a balance between low-power consumption and high-speed operation, particularly in flip flop circuits, due to increased complexity and capacitance differences affecting their performance.
Innovation Solution
A master-slave flip flop design is implemented, featuring a master latch and a slave latch with shared clock signals and power rails, where the first clock signal is directly provided and the second clock signal is obtained by inversion, minimizing the number of inverters and capacitance differences to reduce power consumption and enhance high-speed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional flip flop circuits are designed with separate clock signal paths and multiple inverters, then high-speed operation is achieved, but power consumption increases and capacitance differences affect performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clock signal distribution by providing the first clock signal directly to the master latch and deriving the second clock signal through a single inverter that serves both latches. This consolidation reduces the number of separate clock paths and inverters, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining synchronized operation for high-speed performance
2Speed
If multiple inverters are used to generate clock signals for master and slave latches, then high-speed operation is enabled, but device complexity and capacitance differences increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces circuit complexity by merging the clock signal generation function into a single inverter that produces the second clock signal for both master and slave latches. This eliminates redundant inverters and simplifies the clock distribution network while maintaining the necessary timing relationships for high-speed operation
Solution Approach 2:
The single inverter serves a universal function by generating the second clock signal that is distributed to both the master latch and slave latch. This multi-functional approach reduces the total number of components and simplifies the overall circuit architecture while supporting high-speed operation across both latches
Data Source
AI summary
A master-slave flip flop includes a master latch and a slave latch which are sequentially disposed on a substrate in a first direction. The master latch includes a first NMOS transistor and a first PMOS transistor each gated by a first clock signal. The first NMOS transistor and the first PMOS transistor share a first gate line extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The slave latch includes a second NMOS transistor and a second PMOS transistor each gated by the first clock signal. The second NMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor share a second gate line extending in the second direction. The first gate line and the second gate line are electrically connected to each other.