Synchronous Power Gating for IC Modules Without Isolation Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power management techniques for integrated circuits with multiple functional modules face challenges in reducing power consumption and preventing transient signal propagation, which complicates the design and increases complexity due to the need for isolation cells.
Innovation Solution
A power management system that synchronously controls power gating elements between modules, ramping up power to one module while reducing it to another, eliminating the need for isolation cells and allowing independent module design, thereby reducing power consumption and preventing transient signal propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If power gating is used to completely shut off power to a module, then power consumption is reduced, but data loss occurs and spurious transient signals are generated that may affect other modules
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation cell is pre-configured with memory elements that capture and store the state of elements before power shut-off occurs. This preliminary action preserves data integrity even when the main module power is completely removed, allowing the module to be powered down for energy savings while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
An isolation cell is introduced as an intermediary component between the module being powered down and other modules. This isolation cell suppresses the propagation of spurious transient signals to adjacent modules while allowing the module to be completely powered off, thus reducing power consumption without compromising signal integrity in other parts of the circuit.
2Reliability
If isolation cells are added between modules to suppress transient signals, then signal integrity is improved, but device complexity and design restrictions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation cell is designed to perform multiple functions: it suppresses transient signal propagation, retains element state information through memory elements, and enables complete power shut-off of modules. By consolidating these functions into a single component, the design avoids the need for separate isolation and memory elements, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation cell automatically captures and stores element states using its integrated memory elements when power shut-off is initiated, without requiring external control logic or additional design complexity. The cell self-manages the isolation and state retention functions, simplifying the overall circuit design while maintaining signal integrity.
3Reliability
If isolation cells are positioned within the off module, then transient signal suppression is achieved, but additional power supply infrastructure is required
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation cell serves as an intermediary that can be positioned in the off module while requiring minimal power infrastructure. The cell's memory elements are designed to maintain operation during the transition period, allowing transient signal suppression without requiring a complex always-on power supply network within the off module.
4Ease of manufacture
If modules are designed independently, then design flexibility and modularity are improved, but transient signal propagation between modules becomes a concern
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation cell is introduced as a standardized intermediary component that can be easily integrated at module boundaries. This allows modules to remain independently designed and manufactured while the isolation cell suppresses transient signal propagation between them, maintaining both design flexibility and signal integrity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~3
AI summary
An integrated circuit (2) includes a plurality of power gating elements (14 - 16) for controlling power applied to a first module (4) which is in a powered off state, while a second module (6) is in a powered on state, the second module (6) being coupled to receive at least one signal from the first module (4) when the first module is powered on. Each power gating element (14 - 16) is coupled to a synchronization controller (10) for controlling the power gating elements (14 - 16) to ramp up the power gated to the first module (4) in order to power it up and, for a time while the power gated to the first module (4) is below a first level, reducing the power gated to the second module (6), and for a time when the power gated to the first module (4) is above the first level, increasing the power gated to the second module (6).