Microcontroller Power Gating with Oxide Semiconductors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing degree of integration in semiconductor devices leads to higher leakage currents and increased power consumption in microcontrollers, necessitating a method to reduce power consumption while maintaining reliability.
Innovation Solution
A microcontroller design incorporating a power gate that selectively powers circuits, including a CPU, peripheral circuits, and memory, with operation modes to minimize power usage, and the use of transistors with oxide semiconductor layers for improved reliability and low off-state current.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the degree of integration of the microcontroller is increased, then the functionality and processing capability are improved, but the leakage current increases and power consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller is divided into multiple independent circuit blocks (CPU block, peripheral circuit blocks, memory blocks), each capable of being powered on or off independently through separate power supply lines. This segmentation allows only the necessary blocks to consume power at any given time, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining full processing capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply to each circuit block is made dynamic rather than static. The power supply control unit dynamically adjusts which blocks receive power based on operational requirements, enabling the system to adapt its power consumption profile to match actual processing needs, thus resolving the contradiction between high capability and low power usage.
2Use of energy by moving object
If power supply is stopped to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but logic states are lost and timing is limited
Solution Approach 1:
A power supply control unit acts as an intermediary between the power supply and circuit blocks. This controller manages the timing and sequence of power supply interruption, ensuring that power is stopped only after necessary data is saved and at appropriate moments that prevent logic state loss. The controller coordinates power management with operational requirements to maintain reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Before stopping power supply to any circuit block, the system performs preliminary actions including saving necessary data states and completing critical processing. This preliminary preparation ensures that when power is interrupted, no important logic states are lost, and the system can reliably resume operation without data corruption or timing issues.
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
The solution effectively reduces power consumption by selectively powering necessary circuits and employs oxide semiconductor transistors for enhanced reliability and low off-state current, allowing for efficient operation and rapid mode transitions.
Implementation Method 1
transistors with oxide semiconductor layers for improved reliability and low off-state current
Data Source
AI summary
A microcontroller which operates in a low power consumption mode is provided. A microcontroller includes a CPU, a memory, and a peripheral circuit such as a timer circuit. A register in the peripheral circuit is provided in an interface with a bus line. A power gate for controlling supply control is provided. The microcontroller can operate not only in a normal operation mode where all circuits are active, but also in a low power consumption mode where some of the circuits are active. A volatile memory and nonvolatile memory are provided in a register, such as a register of the CPU. Data in the volatile memory is backed up in the nonvolatile memory before the power supply is stopped. In the case where the operation mode returns to the normal mode, when power supply is started again, data in the nonvolatile memory is written back into the volatile memory.