Power Gating Circuit Control for Process-Variant Logic Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power gating circuits in semiconductor apparatuses face inefficiencies due to process and temperature variations among transistor elements, leading to suboptimal power supply voltage delivery in both active and standby modes.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor apparatus with multiple logic circuits and power gating circuits, where a control logic circuit monitors characteristics to selectively couple power supply nodes, adjusting the driving force of power supply voltage based on process and temperature variations to optimize power delivery to each logic circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If transistors are uniformly designed and controlled in power gating circuits, then device complexity is reduced, but power gating efficiency degrades due to process skew and temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements separate voltage control mechanisms for different power supply nodes, allowing each node to be independently optimized based on its specific process and temperature conditions. The control logic circuit monitors characteristics of individual logic circuits and adjusts voltage levels accordingly, rather than applying a uniform voltage control approach across all circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic voltage adjustment capabilities where the control logic circuit continuously monitors logic circuit characteristics and selectively couples or decouples power supply nodes based on real-time conditions. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the power gating circuit to adapt to changing process and temperature variations, optimizing power gating efficiency under different operating conditions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If power gating circuits cut off power supply voltage to logic circuits in standby mode, then power consumption is reduced, but voltage stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the power supply network into multiple independently controllable power supply nodes, each with its own power gating control. This segmentation allows selective power cutoff to specific logic circuits or groups of circuits in standby mode while maintaining stable voltage supply to active circuits, thereby reducing overall power consumption without compromising voltage stability for circuits that require it.
3Power
If multiple power supply nodes are used to deliver power supply voltage, then power delivery capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control logic circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: monitoring logic circuit characteristics, determining optimal voltage levels, selectively coupling or decoupling power supply nodes, and controlling power gating circuits. This multi-functional approach enables the system to manage multiple power supply nodes effectively without proportionally increasing overall device complexity, as a single control unit handles diverse power management tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor apparatus may include logic circuits and a control logic. The control logic may be configured to monitor characteristics of the logic circuits to allow the semiconductor apparatus to perform at different operating speeds.