Programmable Clock Driver for Runtime Drive-Strength Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Clock distribution networks in high-performance digital circuits consume excessive power due to parasitic capacitance and the need for robustness against process and temperature variations, leading to overdesign and overdriving, which is not energy-efficient, especially in low-performance modes.
Innovation Solution
A programmable clock driver circuit that adjusts its drive strength based on control signals during runtime, operating in either a non-resonant or resonant mode, with different drive strengths for subsets of tiles in the clock network, allowing for dynamic configuration to optimize between performance margin and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the clock network is overdriven to ensure robustness against process and temperature variation, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clock driver's drive strength is made dynamically adjustable through a programmable configuration mechanism. The driver can be reconfigured at runtime to operate at different drive strength levels, allowing the system to adapt to varying performance requirements and reduce power consumption when full drive strength is not needed, while maintaining reliability when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the drive strength parameter of the clock driver based on operating conditions. By programmably adjusting the drive strength parameter, the system can optimize the balance between reliability (robustness) and power consumption, avoiding the need for permanent overdesign.
2Productivity
If the clock driver is overdesigned to provide performance margin in high-performance modes, then productivity is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clock driver incorporates programmable control that allows the drive strength to be adjusted dynamically. In high-performance modes, the driver can be configured to provide full performance margin, while in energy-efficient modes, the drive strength is reduced to minimize power dissipation, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy use.
Solution Approach 2:
The clock driver is designed to serve multiple functions across different operating modes. A single programmable driver structure can adapt to provide either maximum performance margin or energy efficiency, eliminating the need for separate hardware configurations for different operational requirements.
3Reliability
If the clock network is operated in non-resonant mode with high drive strength, then reliability is improved, but loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between resonant and non-resonant operating modes based on requirements. When high reliability is needed, the non-resonant mode with higher drive strength is activated. When energy efficiency is prioritized and conditions allow, the resonant mode with lower drive strength is used, minimizing energy loss while maintaining adequate clock signal quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive strength parameter is programmably adjusted based on the operating mode. In non-resonant mode, higher drive strength parameters are applied to ensure reliability. In resonant mode, lower drive strength parameters suffice, reducing energy dissipation. The programmable nature allows seamless transition between these parameter settings.
Data Source
AI summary
A clock driver circuit supplies a clock signal with a drive strength determined according to one or more control signals supplied to the clock driver that vary during run-time. The clock driver is operated with a first drive strength in a non-resonant mode of operation of an associated clock network and with a second drive strength in a resonant mode of operation of the associated clock network, the first drive strength being higher than the second drive strength.