Pulse Generator for Storage Circuit Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pulsed flip flops require additional logic in the clock circuit to generate pulses, leading to increased power consumption and delay due to additional transistors in the data path, impacting timing performance.
Innovation Solution
A pulse generator with two outputs is used to control switches on the operational and diagnostic paths, removing the need for circuitry on the forward data path controlled by the diagnostic enable signal, allowing for faster switching between modes and reducing circuitry requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional logic is added in the clock circuit to generate pulses, then the storage circuit can operate in diagnostic mode, but power consumption increases and delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pulse generation functionality from the clock circuit and places it in a dedicated pulse generator module. This separates the diagnostic mode control logic from the main clocking circuitry, allowing the clock circuit to remain simple while still enabling diagnostic operation through the pulse generator's selective pulse output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pulse generator as an intermediary component between the clock signal and the storage circuit. This pulse generator acts as a mediator that converts clock signals into mode-selective pulses, enabling diagnostic mode operation without directly modifying the clock circuit's core functionality or adding complex logic to it.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional transistors are added in the data path to control mode switching, then the storage circuit can switch between operational and diagnostic modes, but timing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the mode switching control logic from the data path and relocates it to the pulse generator. By removing the need for transistors in the data path to control mode switching, the critical data path remains clean and fast, while mode switching is handled separately by the pulse generator's selective pulse generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs mode switching preparation in advance by having the pulse generator pre-generate the appropriate pulses before data transmission begins. This preliminary pulse generation eliminates the need for real-time transistor switching in the data path during data transmission, thereby maintaining fast timing performance.
3Speed
If a pulse generator with two outputs is used to control switches on operational and diagnostic paths, then switching speed between modes improves, but clock output delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pulse generation function into two separate outputs within the pulse generator: one for operational mode and one for diagnostic mode. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each path's timing characteristics while maintaining fast switching between modes through selective activation of the appropriate pulse output.
Data Source
AI summary
The application discloses storage circuitry with a pulse generator used to control switches on two inputs to the storage circuitry thereby connecting either operational data or diagnostic data to the storage circuitry. Thus, the pulse generator selects the data paths by outputting pulses to a diagnostic output or to a functional output, and these pulses controlling the switches on the two inputs to the storage circuitry.