Switch-Based Grid for IC Power Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuits, such as CMOS integrated circuits, face issues with shorts between power supplies due to defects during manufacturing or runtime damage, leading to non-operable circuit elements, and existing techniques like high-impedance column-based power routing or turning off power supplies are unsuitable for circuits requiring low-resistance power delivery.
Innovation Solution
A switch-based grid with row and column power lines, unit cells, and pairs of row and column power switches that can selectively connect or isolate rows and columns, allowing for low-impedance power delivery while bypassing defective areas and preventing chip-damaging short circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple power supplies are used to provide power to circuit elements, then power delivery capability is improved, but vulnerability to shorts between power supplies increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power delivery network is segmented into multiple independently controllable power supplies, each serving specific rows or columns of circuit elements. Switches isolate defective power supply segments from others, preventing shorts from propagating across the entire circuit while maintaining power delivery to healthy segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically controls the connectivity between power supplies and circuit elements through switches. These switches can selectively connect or disconnect power supplies based on detected defects, allowing the system to adapt its power distribution topology in real-time to maintain reliability while preserving power delivery capability.
2Reliability
If high-impedance column-based power routing is used to prevent shorts, then reliability is improved, but power delivery performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between low-impedance connected states for healthy power routes and high-impedance isolated states for defective routes. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain optimal power delivery performance through low-impedance paths while preventing short propagation by switching to high-impedance isolation when defects are detected.
3Reliability
If power supplies are turned off to resolve shorts, then reliability is improved, but circuit element operability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of turning off entire power supplies, the system segments the power network and selectively isolates only the defective segments using switches. This allows healthy power supplies and their associated circuit elements to remain operational, maintaining productivity while resolving shorts in isolated segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial isolation action by switching off only the minimum necessary power segments containing defects, rather than turning off entire power supplies. This partial action resolves the short circuit problem while preserving operability of circuit elements served by healthy power segments.
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes multiple row power lines and multiple row control lines arranged in rows, where each row control line corresponds to one of the row power lines. The device also includes multiple column power lines arranged in columns. The device further includes multiple unit cells, where each unit cell is coupled to one of the row power lines and one of the row control lines and selectively coupled to one of the column power lines. In addition, the device includes multiple row power switches and multiple column power switches arranged in pairs, where each pair includes one of the row power switches and one of the column power switches. Each pair is configured to selectively (i) connect a corresponding one of the rows and a corresponding one of the columns or (ii) isolate the corresponding one row and the corresponding one column from each other.