Supply Voltage Threshold Voltage Optimization for IC Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for adjusting supply voltage (Vdd) and threshold voltage (Vth) in integrated circuits (ICs) independently focus on either increasing performance or reducing power consumption, failing to optimize both simultaneously, leading to suboptimal power consumption and performance trade-offs.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines a set of supply voltage-threshold voltage combinations meeting timing requirements through lookup tables and power analysis, selecting an optimal combination for minimal power consumption while ensuring performance is met, involving the configuration of supply voltage and body bias voltages to regulate transistors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If supply voltage and threshold voltage are adjusted independently to increase performance, then performance characteristics are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the independent adjustment processes for supply voltage and threshold voltage into a unified optimization framework. By merging these previously separate control mechanisms, the system can simultaneously consider both performance requirements and power consumption constraints when determining voltage settings, thereby resolving the contradiction between improving performance and minimizing power usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies supply voltage and threshold voltage parameters across multiple combinations to identify optimal settings. By changing these electrical parameters in a coordinated manner rather than independently, the system discovers voltage configurations that achieve desired performance levels while minimizing power consumption, directly addressing the trade-off between speed and energy usage.
2Use of energy by moving object
If supply voltage and threshold voltage are adjusted to reduce power consumption, then power consumption decreases, but performance characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The unified optimization framework merges power reduction goals with performance maintenance requirements. By combining previously independent voltage adjustment processes, the system can identify supply voltage and threshold voltage combinations that achieve lower power consumption while still meeting minimum performance thresholds, thus resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and operational performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs systematic parameter changes by evaluating multiple supply voltage and threshold voltage combinations. This approach allows the system to discover voltage settings that optimize the trade-off between power consumption and performance, finding configurations that reduce energy usage without causing performance deterioration below acceptable levels.
3Ease of manufacture
If supply voltage and threshold voltage are fixed by design process, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but optimization capability for power and performance is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, fixed voltage approach into a dynamic optimization process. Instead of relying solely on fixed design-time voltage selections, the system implements a post-synthesis optimization framework that can dynamically determine optimal supply voltage and threshold voltage combinations based on specific performance and power constraints, thereby adding adaptability while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through lookup tables and systematic evaluation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary optimization analysis by pre-calculating and storing optimal voltage combinations in lookup tables during the design phase. This preliminary action allows the system to quickly select appropriate voltage settings for different operating conditions without requiring complex real-time adjustments, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while enabling optimization capability through pre-computed solutions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining or configuring supply voltage and threshold voltage for a design implementation of a given electronic design, includes: determining a first set of supply voltage-threshold voltage combinations that meet timing requirements for the design implementation; performing power analysis using a processor; and selecting a supply voltage-threshold voltage combination from the first set of supply voltage-threshold voltage combinations based at least in part on a result from the power analysis, wherein the selected supply voltage-threshold voltage combination provides an optimal amount of power consumption for the design implementation.