Threshold-Gate Asynchronous Circuits for Low-Voltage Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional asynchronous circuits require high power supply levels due to the stack of serially coupled transistors, making them unsuitable for low power operation and resulting in larger area and lower throughput compared to synchronous circuits.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of threshold gates and majority/minority gates reduces the stack size of pull-up and pull-down networks, allowing asynchronous circuits to operate at lower power supply levels, achieve area reduction, and enhance throughput by using capacitive input circuits with linear or non-linear dielectric materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional asynchronous circuits use stack of serially coupled transistors, then logic function is achieved, but power supply level must be high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex multi-transistor stack into simpler functional units using threshold gates and majority/minority gates. Each gate processes a subset of inputs independently, segmenting the overall logic function into manageable parts that require fewer series-connected transistors, thereby reducing the required power supply level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the logic gates by using threshold gates with specific threshold values and majority/minority gates with defined input counts. This parameter-based approach allows the circuit to achieve the same logic function with reduced transistor stack depth, enabling operation at lower power supply levels.
2Productivity
If traditional asynchronous circuits are implemented, then asynchronous operation is achieved, but area is larger compared to synchronous circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple input signals into a single output using majority and minority gates, which combine multiple functions into unified gate structures. This merging reduces the overall circuit area by eliminating redundant transistor stacks while maintaining asynchronous operation and throughput performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The threshold gates and majority/minority gates serve multiple logical functions simultaneously. A single gate configuration can implement different logic operations by adjusting threshold values or input combinations, making the circuit more area-efficient compared to dedicated transistor stacks for each logic function.
3Use of energy by moving object
If threshold gates and majority/minority gates are used, then power supply level is reduced, but circuit structure becomes different from traditional design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the traditional mechanical transistor-switching mechanism with field-based threshold gates and majority/minority gates. This substitution replaces the physical series-connected transistor structure with gates that use voltage thresholds and capacitive coupling to achieve the same logic functions, reducing power requirements while changing the structural paradigm.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables asynchronous circuits to operate at lower power supply levels, reducing area and increasing throughput by up to 2 times compared to traditional asynchronous circuits, while also allowing them to be integrated into synchronous circuits.
Implementation Method 1
The implementation of threshold gates and majority/minority gates reduces the stack size of pull-up and pull-down networks, allowing asynchronous circuits to operate at lower power supply levels, achieve area reduction, and enhance throughput by using capacitive input circuits with linear or non-linear dielectric materials.
Implementation Method 2
The implementation of threshold gates and majority/minority gates reduces the stack size of pull-up and pull-down networks, allowing asynchronous circuits to operate at lower power supply levels, achieve area reduction, and enhance throughput by using capacitive input circuits with linear or non-linear dielectric materials.
Data Source
AI summary
Asynchronous circuits implemented using threshold gate(s) and/or majority gate(s) (or minority gate(s)) are described. The new class of asynchronous circuits can operate at lower power supply levels (e.g., less than 1 V on advanced technology nodes) because stack of devices between a supply node and ground are significantly reduced compared to traditional asynchronous circuits. The asynchronous circuits here result in area reduction (e.g., 3× reduction compared to traditional asynchronous circuits) and provide higher throughput/mm2 (e.g., 2× higher throughput compared to traditional asynchronous circuits). The threshold gate(s), majority/minority gate(s) can be implemented using capacitive input circuits. The capacitors can have linear dielectric or non-linear polar material as dielectric.