Power Gating Timeout Control Across Temperature and Process Corners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low threshold voltage transistors in power gated circuits experience high leakage currents during standby operation, which affects power consumption and performance, especially in mobile applications, due to their susceptibility to subthreshold leakage which varies with temperature and process corner variations.
Innovation Solution
A power gating circuit with a timeout control circuit that adjusts the timeout delay based on operating temperature and process corner characteristics, using high threshold voltage, low leakage switches and leakage monitors to model and manage subthreshold leakage, ensuring efficient power management by selectively activating and deactivating power supply to the power gated circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If low threshold voltage transistors are used in power gated circuits, then power consumption is reduced during active operation, but leakage currents increase during standby operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the timeout delay period based on temperature and process corner conditions. The timeout control circuit modifies the standby duration parameters according to environmental factors, thereby optimizing the balance between power consumption during active operation and leakage currents during standby operation. This resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptive to varying conditions rather than using fixed threshold voltages.
2Loss of energy
If timeout delay is extended to reduce leakage, then power consumption during standby is reduced, but response time when activating power gated circuits increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the timeout delay period variable rather than fixed. The timeout control circuit dynamically adjusts the delay duration based on real-time temperature and process corner conditions. Under cold conditions, longer timeouts reduce leakage, while under hot conditions, shorter timeouts minimize activation delay. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between reducing leakage and maintaining fast response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the timeout delay parameter adaptively based on environmental conditions. By monitoring temperature and process corner characteristics, the control circuit modifies the timeout parameter to optimize both power savings during standby and response time during activation, resolving the trade-off between these two opposing requirements.
3Measurement precision
If temperature and process corner variations are considered, then power management accuracy is improved, but control circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary timeout control circuit that mediates between the power gating switches and the load. This intermediary circuit handles the complexity of temperature and process corner compensation, providing accurate power management without requiring the main power gating circuitry to be complex. The intermediary absorbs the complexity burden while delivering precise control.
Solution Approach 2:
The timeout control circuit performs self-service by automatically monitoring temperature and process corner conditions and adjusting the timeout delay accordingly. This self-adjusting mechanism improves power management accuracy without requiring external complex control systems, as the circuit compensates for variations autonomously based on sensed environmental parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for temperature and process corner sensitive control of power gated domains are described. An example apparatus includes an internal circuit; a power supply line; and a power gating control circuit which responds, at least in part, to a first change from a first state to a second state of a control signal to initiate supplying a power supply voltage from the power supply line to the internal circuit, and continue supplying the power supply voltage from the power supply line to internal circuit for at least a timeout period from a second change from the second state to the first state of the control signal, in which the timeout period represent temperature dependency.