Power Gating System with Segmented Logic Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices face challenges in reducing unnecessary power consumption during power-down modes due to the increasing number of functional blocks, which can lead to inefficient battery usage.

Innovation Solution

A power gating system that divides logic circuit areas into multiple zones and uses a power gating control circuit to generate timed power-down control signals, allowing for a stable power-down operation while preventing floating and reducing current consumption by selectively turning off power to specific blocks and using isolators to prevent leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If power gating is applied to reduce current consumption during power-down mode, then power consumption is reduced, but floating prevention and stable operation become difficult to ensure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent consumptionVSAvoidstable power gating operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The logic circuit area is divided into multiple areas, and power gating control is applied selectively to each area based on its activity state. This segmentation allows the patent to gate power to inactive areas while maintaining stable operation in active areas, resolving the contradiction between power reduction and operational stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent generates power-down control signals in advance based on predicted idle periods, and generates floating prevention signals to prepare for potential floating issues before they occur. This preliminary action ensures both power reduction and stable operation without compromising reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If power-down control signals are generated to reduce power consumption, then current consumption is reduced, but floating of logic circuit blocks may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent consumptionVSAvoidfloating

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an isolator as an intermediary component between the logic circuit blocks and the power gating control circuit. This isolator prevents floating by providing a controlled path for signals while still allowing power reduction, thus eliminating the harmful floating effect without sacrificing power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If the logic circuit area is divided into multiple areas for selective power gating, then power consumption is reduced more effectively, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent consumptionVSAvoidpower gating control structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The logic circuit area is divided into multiple areas with each area independently controllable through power-down control signals. This segmentation enables selective power gating to reduce current consumption effectively while the modular structure keeps the complexity manageable through systematic control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11237619B2Power gating system and electronic system including the same

Publication Date: 2022.02.01 SK HYNIX INC

AI summary

A power gating system may include a logic circuit area configured to perform a power-down operation according to at least one power-down control signal. The power gating system may also include a power gating control circuit configured to generate the at least one power-down control signal when a power-down request period is equal to or greater than a preset time according to a power-down mode signal.