Slack Guard Circuit for Compact Timing Violation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slack monitor circuit designs in integrated circuits have a large surface area and suffer from performance reduction due to additional loading on data and clock inputs, leading to inefficiencies in detecting timing violations.
Innovation Solution
A synchronous device with a slack guard circuit comprising a delay element, gated-input cell, and comparator, which generates a delayed data signal and propagates it during specific clock states, allowing for compact implementation and efficient detection of timing violations without duplicating circuit elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing slack monitor circuit designs are used to detect timing violations, then timing violation detection capability is provided, but circuit surface area increases and performance degrades due to additional loading
Solution Approach 1:
The slack guard circuit merges the timing violation detection functionality with the existing synchronous device structure by integrating a delay element, gated-input cell, and comparator within the device. This consolidation allows the circuit to monitor timing violations without requiring separate dedicated monitor circuits, thereby reducing overall circuit surface area while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gated-input cell serves multiple functions: it acts as a clock-gated buffer for normal data propagation and simultaneously serves as part of the timing violation detection mechanism when configured with the delay element and comparator. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, minimizing circuit area overhead.
2Reliability
If existing slack monitor circuit designs are used to detect timing violations, then timing violation detection capability is provided, but circuit performance degrades due to additional loading on data and clock inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The delay element introduces a predetermined time delay to the data input signal before comparison, allowing the circuit to proactively detect potential timing violations before they affect normal operation. This preliminary action enables early detection and response to timing issues without disrupting the primary data path performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The gated-input cell acts as an intermediary between the delay element and the comparator, controlling when the delayed signal is propagated based on clock signal states. This mediation allows timing monitoring to occur without continuously loading the data input, preserving circuit performance during normal operation while enabling detection when needed.
3Area of stationary object
If a compact slack guard circuit is implemented with fewer transistors, then circuit area is reduced, but detection precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit uses configurable delay elements with adjustable time constants to maintain detection precision across different operating conditions. By optimizing the delay parameter, the circuit achieves accurate timing violation detection with minimal transistor count, balancing area efficiency with measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The design replaces complex mechanical or multi-component timing monitoring mechanisms with a streamlined electronic implementation using transistors configured as delay elements and comparators. This substitution achieves precise timing detection through electronic parameter control rather than bulky physical structures.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present technology provide a synchronous device. The synchronous device provides a first latch configured to store a data input signal during a first state of a first clock signal and a slack guard circuit. The slack guard circuit provides a delay element coupled to the first latch and configured to generate a delayed data signal, a gated-input cell coupled to the delay element and configured to propagate the delayed data signal during the first state of the first clock signal, and a comparator coupled to the first latch and the gated-input cell.