Multiple Supply Voltage Tracks for Standard Cell Timing Convergence
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As integrated circuits evolve to include low and ultra-low voltage circuits, lowering supply voltages increases circuit variations such as timing variations, making it challenging to achieve timing convergence while satisfying power consumption and area constraints.
Innovation Solution
The semiconductor device includes multiple supply voltage tracks providing different supply voltages, and standard cells are electrically connected to these tracks to optimize the trade-off between timing delays/variations and power consumption/area constraints. Multiple standard cell libraries are generated for different supply voltages, and standard cells are placed on tiles with varying supply voltage tracks to optimize performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If supply voltage is lowered to reduce power consumption, then power consumption decreases, but timing variations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power delivery network is segmented into multiple supply voltage tracks, each providing different voltage levels (e.g., VDD1, VDD2, VDD3). This segmentation allows different regions of the circuit to receive appropriate voltage levels, enabling low-voltage operation for power efficiency while maintaining higher voltages in critical paths to minimize timing variations.
Solution Approach 2:
Different supply voltage levels are provided to different locations within the integrated circuit based on local requirements. Standard cells are selectively connected to different voltage tracks according to their performance and power needs, creating local quality variations that optimize both power consumption and timing characteristics in different circuit regions.
2Reliability
If multiple supply voltage tracks are introduced to reduce timing variations, then timing performance improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple supply voltage tracks serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide power delivery, enable timing optimization, and support different operating modes. The same infrastructure of multiple tracks is used throughout the circuit to achieve both power management and performance optimization, reducing the need for separate dedicated structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic selection of supply voltage levels for different standard cells based on operational requirements. Standard cells can be configured to operate from different voltage tracks, enabling adaptive optimization of timing and power characteristics without requiring static, hardwired configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A device including a first supply voltage track, a second supply voltage track, a first reference track, a first standard cell, and a second standard cell. The first supply voltage track is configured to provide a first voltage and the second supply voltage track is configured to provide a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage. The first standard cell is configured to be electrically connected to the first supply voltage track to receive the first voltage and electrically connected to the first reference track. The second standard cell is configured to be electrically connected to the second supply voltage track to receive the second voltage and electrically connected to the first reference track.