WO1994015394B1 - Low power electronic circuit comprising a resonant system and a function circuitry - Google Patents
Low power electronic circuit comprising a resonant system and a function circuitryInfo
- Publication number
- WO1994015394B1 WO1994015394B1 PCT/GB1993/002594 GB9302594W WO9415394B1 WO 1994015394 B1 WO1994015394 B1 WO 1994015394B1 GB 9302594 W GB9302594 W GB 9302594W WO 9415394 B1 WO9415394 B1 WO 9415394B1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- circuit
- electronic circuit
- frequency
- resonant system
- clock signal
- Prior art date
Links
- 230000003071 parasitic Effects 0.000 claims abstract 4
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 claims 10
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 claims 6
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000000295 complement Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000005669 field effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000003252 repetitive Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims 1
Abstract
An electronic circuit uses a resonance technique to reduce power consumption. The circuit contains function circuitry (14) that performs electronic functions. Certain elements (14F) of the function circuitry change state at a circuit frequency in response to one or more input signals, typically clock signals (CKR and C^¨B7K^¨B7R^¨B7), that change state at the circuit frequency. A resonant system (50 or 140), which oscillates at the circuit frequency, is operated close to a resonant frequency so that the resonant system is largely in resonance. The resonant system is coupled to the function circuitry in order to help the indicated elements in changing state by overcoming parasitic capacitances and/or inductances associated with the function circuitry.
Claims
1. An electronic circuit comprising:
a resonant system which, in response to an input clock signal at an input clock frequency, oscillates at a circuit frequency substantially proportional to the input clock frequency to generate a first circuit clock signal at the circuit frequency; and
function circuitry which performs electronic functions in synchronism with the circuit clock signal, clock inputs of the function circuitry receiving the circuit clock signal from a first circuit clock line, the resonant system being operated close to a
fundamental resonance frequency such that a resonator in the resonant system is largely in resonance at least with capacitance and/or inductance associated with the circuit clock line and the clock inputs.
2. An electronic circuit as in Claim 1 wherein the resonant system includes a non-parasitic capacitor coupled between the resonator and a source of a
substantially fixed reference voltage or other voltage at a much lower frequency than the circuit frequency, the resonator being coupled to the circuit clock line.
3. An electronic circuit as in Claim 1 wherein the resonator is coupled between the circuit clock line and a source of a reference voltage approximately equal to the time-averaged voltage of the circuit clock signal.
4. An electronic circuit as in Claim 3 wherein the resonant system includes a non-parasitic capacitor coupled between (a) the source of the reference voltage and (b) a source of a substantially fixed further reference voltage or other voltage at a much lower frequency than the circuit frequency.
5. An electronic circuit as in Claim 1 wherein the resonant system generates a second circuit clock signal substantially inverse to the first circuit clock signal, at least part of the electronic functions of the function circuitry also being performed in
synchronism with the second circuit clock signal.
6. An electronic circuit as in Claim 5 wherein the resonator is coupled between the first circuit clock line and a second circuit clock line from which second clock inputs of the function circuitry receive the second circuit clock signal, the resonator also being largely in resonance with capacitance and/or inductance associated with the second circuit clock line and the second clock inputs.
7. An electronic circuit as in claim 6 wherein the resonant system includes at least one switch or capacitor coupled between the circuit clock lines in series with the resonator.
8. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein the resonator comprises a non-parasitic main inductive device comprising an inductor or a group of inductors coupled to one another in series.
9. An electronic circuit as in Claim 8 wherein the main inductive device has a controllably variable inductance.
10. An electronic circuit as in Claim 8 or 9 wherein the resonator includes at least one inductive- capacitive arrangement coupled in parallel with at least part of the main inductive device, each
inductive-capacitive arrangement comprising an inductor and a capacitor coupled to each other in series.
11. An electronic circuit as in Claim 8, 9, or 10 wherein the resonator includes at least one capacitor coupled in parallel with part of the main inductive device.
12. An electronic circuit as in Claim 8 - 10 or
11 wherein the resonator includes at least one
capacitor coupled between an internal point of the main inductive device and a source of a substantially fixed reference voltage or other voltage at a much lower frequency than the circuit frequency.
13. An electronic circuit as in Claim 8 - 11 or
12 wherein the resonator includes a distributed
capacitor coupled to multiple points of the main inductive device.
14. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein the resonant system includes control circuitry that adjusts the fundamental resonance frequency.
15. An electronic circuit as in Claim 14 wherein the control circuitry adjusts the fundamental resonance frequency by changing inductance and/or capacitance values.
16. An electronic circuit as in Claim 14 or 15 wherein the control circuitry includes at least one variable capacitor whose capacitance is adjustable in response to at least one control signal.
17. An electronic circuit as in Claim 14, 15, or 16 wherein the control circuitry is arranged in a phase-locked loop.
18. An electronic circuit as in Claim 14 or 15 wherein the control circuitry includes a plurality of capacitive-gate arrangements coupled to one another in parallel for controllably changing capacitance values in response to at least one control signal, each capacitive-gate arrangement comprising a capacitor and a transmission gate coupled to each other in series.
19. An electronic circuit as in Claim 14 - 17 or 18 wherein the control circuitry includes a phase comparator that compares the phases of the input clock signal and the first circuit clock signal.
20. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein oscillations of the resonant system locally reach maximum amplitude when they occur at the fundamental resonance frequency.
21. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein the circuit frequency is substantially an integer multiple of the input frequency, whereby the fundamental resonance frequency approximately equals the same integer multiple of the input frequency, the integer multiple including one as the lowest integer multiplier.
22. An electronic circuit as in Claim 21 wherein the resonant system controllably adjusts the
fundamental resonance frequency towards the integer multiple of the input frequency.
23. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein the resonant system includes a driver via which each circuit clock signal is supplied in response to the input clock signal.
24. An electronic circuit as in Claim 2 wherein the resonant system includes a driver responsive to the input clock signal for providing a driver signal to a node between the resonator and the capacitor.
25. An electronic circuit as in Claim 23 or 24 wherein the driver comprises:
a pre-driver that generates a pair of switching signals substantially in synchronism with the input clock signal, each switching signal having an active level and an inactive level, each switching signal being at its inactive level only when the other
switching signal is at its active level, whereby only one of the switching signals is active at any time; and a pair of switches coupled together to a driver line and coupled in series between a pair of different voltage supplies, the switches being respectively responsive to the switching signals for enabling current to flow through the driver line when either switching signal is at its active level.
26. An electronic circuit as in Claim 25 wherein the switches comprise a pair of complementary field- effect transistors having respective drains coupled together to the driver line, respective sources
respectively coupled to the voltage supplies, and respective gate electrodes that respectively receive the switching signals.
27. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein oscillations of the resonant system include frequency components attributable to at least one resonance frequency other than the fundamental resonance frequency.
28. An electronic circuit as in Claim 27 wherein oscillations of the resonant system include harmonics of approximately the fundamental resonance frequency.
29. An electronic circuit as in Claim 28 wherein the harmonics are odd-numbered harmonics.
30. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein each circuit clock signal has a substantially different voltage swing than the input clock signal.
31. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein each circuit clock signal has a
substantially greater voltage swing than the input clock signal.
32. An electronic circuit as in Claim 31 wherein the function circuitry includes at least one circuit element containing state circuitry configured
substantially as illustrated for the master portion of the flip-flop in Fig. 34.
33. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein the electronic circuit is part of a single integrated circuit.
34. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein the electronic circuit is distributed across at least two integrated circuits mounted on a common substrate.
35. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein the function circuitry comprises CMOS, bipolar, or BiCMOS components.
36. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein the function circuitry includes level- sensitive state elements.
37. An electronic circuit comprising:
function circuitry which performs electronic functions, specified elements of the function circuitry changing state in synchronism with a first circuit clock signal provided from a first circuit clock line to clock inputs of the specified elements at a circuit frequency; and a resonant system which oscillates at the circuit frequency, the resonant system being operated close to a fundamental resonance frequency such that a resonator in the resonant system is largely in resonance with capacitance and/or inductance associated with the circuit clock line and the clock inputs, the resonant system being coupled to the function circuitry to assist the specified elements in changing state by helping to overcome capacitances and/or inductances associated with the function circuitry.
38. An electronic circuit as in Claim 37 wherein oscillations of the resonant system include components attributable to at least one resonance frequency other than the fundamental resonance frequency.
39. An electronic circuit as in Claim 37 or 38 wherein oscillations of the resonant system include harmonics of approximately the fundamental resonance frequency.
40. An electronic circuit as in Claim 39 wherein the harmonics are odd-numbered harmonics
41. An electronic circuit as in any of Claims 37 - 40 wherein the resonator comprises a self-driven oscillator.
42. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein each circuit clock line is passively connected between the resonator and the function circuitry.
43. An electronic circuit as in any preceding claim wherein the resonator comprises:
a main section that provides oscillations of the resonant system with a frequency component
substantially at the fundamental resonance frequency; and
a further section that provides oscillations of the resonant system with a frequency component
substantially at a harmonic resonance frequency above the fundamental resonance frequency.
44. An electronic circuit as in Claim 43 wherein the harmonic resonance frequency is an odd-numbered harmonic.
45. An electronic circuit as in any previous claim wherein energy is transferred in a resonant manner among the resonator, a temporary storage site, and capacitance and/or inductance associated with the first circuit clock line and the clock inputs that receive the first circuit clock signal.
46. A digital electronic circuit wherein
repetitive pulses for control or synchronisation are supplied by resonant charge storage means in preference to resistive switching means.
47. A clock drive circuit having resonant output means adapted to resonate in accordance with a desired clock frequency.
48. A circuit according to claim 46 or 47, further comprising the feature(s) of any of claims 1 to 45.
Priority Applications (6)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP6514926A JPH08505018A (en) | 1992-12-19 | 1993-12-17 | Low power consumption power supply circuit including functional circuit and resonant system |
| DE69323770T DE69323770T2 (en) | 1992-12-19 | 1993-12-17 | ELECTRONIC SMALL POWER CIRCUIT WITH A RESONANCE SYSTEM AND A FUNCTIONAL CIRCUIT |
| EP94902904A EP0674817B1 (en) | 1992-12-19 | 1993-12-17 | Low power electronic circuit comprising a resonant system and a function circuitry |
| US08/698,464 US5734285A (en) | 1992-12-19 | 1993-12-17 | Electronic circuit utilizing resonance technique to drive clock inputs of function circuitry for saving power |
| KR1019950702516A KR100335602B1 (en) | 1992-12-19 | 1993-12-17 | Low power electronic circuitry including resonant systems and functional circuits |
| HK98115753A HK1014618A1 (en) | 1992-12-19 | 1998-12-28 | Low power electronic circuit comprising a resonant system and a function circuitry |
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB929226522A GB9226522D0 (en) | 1992-12-19 | 1992-12-19 | Power saving electronic logic circuit |
| GB9226522.2 | 1992-12-19 | ||
| GB9304248.9 | 1993-03-03 | ||
| GB939304248A GB9304248D0 (en) | 1992-12-19 | 1993-03-03 | Power saving electronic logic circuit |
| GB939314166A GB9314166D0 (en) | 1992-12-19 | 1993-07-08 | Low power electronic logic circuit |
| GB9314166.1 | 1993-07-08 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO1994015394A1 WO1994015394A1 (en) | 1994-07-07 |
| WO1994015394B1 true WO1994015394B1 (en) | 1994-08-04 |
Family
ID=27266515
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB1993/002594 WO1994015394A1 (en) | 1992-12-19 | 1993-12-17 | Low power electronic circuit comprising a resonant system and a function circuitry |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0674817B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH08505018A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69323770T2 (en) |
| HK (1) | HK1014618A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994015394A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5528199A (en) * | 1994-12-30 | 1996-06-18 | At&T Corp. | Closed-loop frequency control of an oscillator circuit |
| DE19548629C1 (en) * | 1995-12-23 | 1997-07-24 | Itt Ind Gmbh Deutsche | Complementary clock system |
| US6140883A (en) * | 1997-10-17 | 2000-10-31 | Intel Corporation | Tunable, energy efficient clocking scheme |
| WO2002015400A1 (en) | 2000-08-10 | 2002-02-21 | University Of Southern California | Multiphase resonant pulse generators |
| DE10312497A1 (en) * | 2003-03-17 | 2004-10-07 | Infineon Technologies Ag | Synchronization signal generation device for electronic system e.g. memory module of computer or telephone, using resonator device for determining frequency of synchronization signal |
| DE112019004164T5 (en) * | 2018-08-21 | 2021-06-02 | Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation | SEMI-CONDUCTOR SWITCHING DEVICE AND SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH A SEMICONDUCTOR SWITCHING DEVICE |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3593167A (en) * | 1969-01-28 | 1971-07-13 | Honeywell Inc | Synchronous read clock apparatus |
| DE3824970C2 (en) * | 1988-07-22 | 1999-04-01 | Lindenmeier Heinz | Feedback high frequency power oscillator |
| US5041802A (en) * | 1989-10-11 | 1991-08-20 | Zilog, Inc. | Low power oscillator with high start-up ability |
| US5184094A (en) * | 1991-08-16 | 1993-02-02 | Moore Products Co. | Low power oscillator circuits |
-
1993
- 1993-12-17 JP JP6514926A patent/JPH08505018A/en active Pending
- 1993-12-17 EP EP94902904A patent/EP0674817B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-12-17 DE DE69323770T patent/DE69323770T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-12-17 WO PCT/GB1993/002594 patent/WO1994015394A1/en active IP Right Grant
-
1998
- 1998-12-28 HK HK98115753A patent/HK1014618A1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
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