Programmable IC Power Grid With Global Handshaking Voltage Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for voltage scaling in integrated circuits are not applicable to programmable integrated circuits, such as FPGAs, due to their complex signal boundaries and interconnect modules, which complicate the implementation of power domains.
Innovation Solution
A power grid architecture for programmable integrated circuits that employs a global handshaking voltage at least as high as the local voltage in each power domain, allowing level-shifters to convert signals between logic tiles operating at different voltages, thereby enabling efficient voltage scaling across multiple power domains without requiring access to destination voltages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If ASIC techniques with structured floorplanning and level-shifters are used for voltage scaling, then power consumption can be controlled, but these techniques cannot be applied to programmable ICs due to complex signal boundaries
Solution Approach 1:
A global handshaking voltage domain is introduced as an intermediary between different local voltage domains. Level-shifters convert local voltages to the global handshaking voltage, which serves as a universal interface for signals crossing power domain boundaries. This mediator enables voltage scaling in programmable ICs without requiring direct access to destination voltages.
Solution Approach 2:
The power grid is segmented into multiple independent voltage domains, each with its own local voltage supplied by voltage regulators. Logic tiles can be independently configured to operate in different power domains, allowing granular control of power consumption while maintaining signal integrity through the global handshaking voltage infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple power domains with different voltages are implemented in programmable ICs, then power management flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases due to far-reaching signal boundaries
Solution Approach 1:
The global handshaking voltage serves multiple functions: it acts as a universal reference voltage for level-shifters, provides a common interface for inter-domain signal transmission, and enables both static and dynamic voltage scaling. This multi-functional approach simplifies the overall architecture despite the presence of multiple power domains.
Solution Approach 2:
The global handshaking voltage domain mediates all signal transmissions between different local voltage domains. Level-shifters use this global voltage as an intermediate step, converting local voltages to the global handshaking voltage for transmission. This intermediary approach standardizes the interface and reduces the complexity of managing direct connections between all possible voltage domain pairs.
3Reliability
If level-shifters access source and destination voltages at planned interfaces, then voltage scaling is achieved, but this requires knowledge of destination voltages which is not available in programmable ICs
Solution Approach 1:
The global handshaking voltage acts as an intermediary that eliminates the need for level-shifters to access destination voltages. Instead of directly accessing both source and destination voltages, level-shifters only need to access their local voltage and the global handshaking voltage, which is universally available across all power domains.
Solution Approach 2:
Each logic tile operates with its own local voltage quality characteristics, while the global handshaking voltage provides a universal interface quality. Level-shifters are designed with local quality adaptation, converting signals from local voltage domains to the global handshaking voltage domain without requiring knowledge of destination voltage characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a programmable integrated circuit (IC) includes a first logic tile in a first power domain having a first local voltage. The first logic tile includes a driver operable to use the first local voltage to output a signal having a logic-level referenced to the first local voltage. The first logic tile further includes a level-shifter coupled to receive the signal from the driver and operable to output a level-shifted signal having a logic-level referenced to a global handshaking voltage. The programmable IC further includes a second logic tile in a second power domain having a second local voltage, the second logic tile including a receiver operable to use the second local voltage to receive the level-shifted signal. The global handshaking voltage is at least as high as the first local voltage and at least as high as the second local voltage.