Power-Gating Switch Circuit for Transient Current Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power-gating techniques in integrated circuits face challenges such as excessive transient currents during wake-up, reliability issues with switch networks, and increased design complexity and area penalties due to the integration of switches within digital circuitry, making it difficult to manage power supply and control wake-up processes effectively.
Innovation Solution
A power-gating switch circuit is implemented externally to the digital circuitry, comprising high and low impedance switches that are turned on sequentially during the wake-up process to control inrush currents and provide a large current during regular operations, reducing the need for multiple switches within the digital circuit and minimizing area penalties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple small switches are used in the switch network to control transient current, then transient current is reduced, but device complexity and area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power-gating switch from the digital circuitry and places it in the analog domain. The switch network is implemented as a separate analog circuit that controls the virtual VDD power supply, rather than being embedded within digital logic gates. This extraction reduces digital design complexity while maintaining transient current control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the switch network into multiple small switches arranged in series and parallel configurations. Each switch handles a portion of the total current, allowing gradual charging of the virtual VDD capacitance during wake-up. This segmentation distributes the transient current stress across multiple devices, reducing peak current while maintaining control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If switches are placed within digital circuitry during digital implementation, then power-gating is integrated, but manufacturing precision and design difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the power-gating switch implementation from the digital domain and places it in the analog domain. The switch network operates as a separate analog circuit that provides power control to digital blocks, eliminating the need to modify digital logic during implementation. This approach maintains power-gating functionality while avoiding digital design and manufacturing complexity.
3Power
If a full-width VDD lead is used to carry current from outside to the switch, then current capacity is sufficient, but area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the current path through multiple small switches arranged in parallel and series configurations. Each switch handles a portion of the total current, allowing the use of narrower individual current paths. The distributed switch network provides sufficient total current capacity without requiring a single full-width VDD lead, thereby reducing area.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention may provide a power-gating switch circuit. The power-gating switch circuit may comprise a first switch to connect a power supply to a virtual power supply and a second switch to connect the power supply to the virtual power supply in parallel to the first switch. The first switch may have a higher impedance than the second switch. When a wake up signal is received, the first switch may be turned on first and the second switch may be turned on after the virtual power supply reaches a predetermined voltage level.