Glossary

Clock gating: Switching off the clock to flip-flops if the transition during clocking results in the same value. Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling (DVFS): Change both the voltage and frequency of a logical block during operation based
July 6, 2006
2 min read
  • Clock gating: Switching off the clock to flip-flops if the transition during clocking results in the same value.
  • Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling (DVFS): Change both the voltage and frequency of a logical block during operation based on the task it performs to produce a cubic power reduction.
  • Isolation cells: Prevent physical damage to sections of the IC that interface to power switch-off modules.
  • Level shifters: Provide a proper interface for signals that cross from one voltage to the other.
  • Multiple power domains: Use multiple voltages to implement a design, and use lower voltage for noncritical blocks to save power.
  • Multiple VT optimization: Use two or more VT libraries to optimize noncritical paths in a design to reduce leakage.
  • Operand isolation: Switching off the operand before the execution starts if we know that the result will never get used in the next stage.
  • Pin swapping: Swapping a high-capacitance input with an equivalent low-capacitance input for a high-toggle net.
  • Power switch-off: Turn off power to sections of the IC by using on-chip switches formed using high-VT transistors.
  • Static Retention Power Gating (SRPG): Retain the state of flip flop to enable fast bring-up of a logic module from power shutdown.

About the Author

Sign up for our eNewsletters
Get the latest news and updates

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Electronic Design, create an account today!