Multi-Bit Flip-Flop Clock Gating for Lower Toggle Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-bit flip-flops consume significant power due to shared clock buffers and inefficient clock toggling, leading to increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-bit flip-flop design that incorporates integrated clock gating and self-timed clocking, utilizing a plurality of low clock pulse toggling single-bit flip-flops and XOR logic circuits to optimize power consumption by reducing unnecessary clock signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional multi-bit flip-flops use shared clock buffers, then device complexity is reduced, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the clock distribution system into multiple independent clock buffers, each serving specific flip-flops. This segmentation allows individual clock buffers to be enabled or disabled based on operational needs, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining the ability to clock multiple flip-flops simultaneously when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic clock gating control where clock buffers are selectively enabled or disabled based on the operational state of the flip-flops. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt power consumption to actual usage patterns, preventing unnecessary clock signal generation and reducing power waste.
2Ease of operation
If conventional multi-bit flip-flops use traditional clock toggling, then all flip-flops are clocked uniformly, but unnecessary clock signals increase power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial clocking by enabling clock signals only to the subset of flip-flops that require updating in each clock cycle. Instead of uniformly clocking all flip-flops, the system activates only the necessary portion, reducing energy consumption while maintaining operational simplicity through centralized control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-timed clock gating where the flip-flops and control logic automatically determine which clocks are needed based on their state and operational requirements. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external micromanagement of each clock signal while optimizing power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit includes a multi-bit flip flop, an integrated clock gating circuit connected to the multi-bit flip flop, and a control circuit connected to the integrated clock gating circuit and the multi-bit flip flop. The control circuit compares output data of the multi-bit flip flop corresponding to input data with the input data. The control circuit generates an enable signal based on comparing the output data of the multi-bit flip flop corresponding to the input data with the input data of the multi-bit flip flop. The control circuit provides the enable signal to the integrated clock gating circuit, wherein the integrated clock gating circuit provides, based on the enable signal, a clock signal to the multi-bit flip flop causing the multi-bit flip flop to toggle.