Optimal logic architecture and supply voltage selection method to reduce the impact of the threshold voltage variation on the timing

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • B. Kheradmand-Boroujeni - , Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) (Author)
  • C. Piguet - , Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) (Author)
  • Y. Leblebici - , Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) (Author)

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a process-variation-resistant logic design method. We show that in the logic circuits working at sub-nominal supply voltage (VDD), proper selection of the logic architecture and VDD together, can reduce the impact of the intra-die and inter-die variability on the timing significantly. First we show that / ratio of the transistor current and delay strongly depends on the VDD. Then, we compare the Process Variation (PV) sensitivity of Low-Power Slow (LP-S) architectures with High-Power Fast (HP-F) ones. The results show that for a given technology, equal power budget, and equal delay, LP-S circuits working at a higher VDD are less PV sensitive compared with HP-F circuits working at a lower VDD. Our method is particularly useful for combating intra-die random variability.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)285-293
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Low Power Electronics
Volume7
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2011
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 84856976865

Keywords