Patent · US Expired

Device and method to reduce power consumption in integrated semiconductor devices using a low power groggy mode

US6097243A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
23References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 24, 1998
Grant dateAug 1, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 24, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

According to the preferred embodiment, a device and method for reducing power consumption by reducing unneeded node toggling is provided. The preferred embodiment reduces unneeded node toggling in a circuit by utilizing either a pull-up or pull-down transistor to pull the input of the circuit to a state that minimizes power consumption during periods in which the circuit is inactive. By tying the circuit input high or low during inactivity, node toggling is reduced or eliminated in that circuit. In the preferred embodiment, the inputs to the circuit all pulled after a time of inactivity which is proportional to the leakage current of the leakiest transistor in the circuit. By timing the input pulling proportional to the leakage current, the power consumption is minimized without excessive power loss caused by the pulling itself.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.