Methods and apparatuses for multiple concurrent sub-threshold voltage domains for optimal power per given performance
AssigneePLSense Ltd.
InventorsUzi Zangi, Neil Feldman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and flow for implementing an ASIC using sub-threshold technology with optimized selection of voltage and process for a given application performance. An embodiment may also implement concurrently used multiple voltage domains inside a single place and route block. The voltage domain is dynamically changed between the cells at the placement time based on the timing path requirements.
Claims21
1-8. (canceled)
A method for designing an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), comprising:
- placing cells in a place and route block of said ASIC;
- selecting a first plurality of said cells for operation in a sub-threshold voltage domain and a second plurality of said cells for operation in a second voltage domain;
- routing voltage connections of said first plurality of cells to sub-threshold voltage inputs configured to input a supply voltage in a sub-threshold voltage domain;
- and
- routing voltage connections for said second plurality of cells second voltage domain inputs configured to input a supply voltage in a second voltage domain.
An application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), said ASIC comprising a plurality of cells, comprising:
- sub-threshold voltage inputs, configured to input a supply voltage in a sub-threshold voltage domain;
- second voltage domain inputs, configured to input a supply voltage in a second voltage domain;
- and
- a place and route block comprising:
- a first plurality of cells with voltage connections to said sub-threshold voltage inputs and further connected to form at least one path for operation in said sub-threshold voltage domain;
- and
- a second plurality of cells with voltage connections to said second voltage domain inputs and further connected to form at least one path for operation in said second voltage domain.
A method for sub-threshold operation of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), said method comprising:
- providing an ASIC comprising:
- a place and route block comprising a first plurality of cells connected to a first supply voltage in a sub-threshold voltage domain, and further connected to form at least one path for operation in said sub-threshold voltage domain, and a second plurality of cells connected to a second supply voltage in a second voltage domain, and further connected to form at least one path for operation in said second voltage domain;
- concurrently operating said first plurality of cells in said sub-threshold voltage domain and said second plurality of cells in said second voltage domain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.