Patent · US Active

Clock gating circuit for reducing dynamic power

US9270270B2 · kind B2 · utility

14Cited by
5References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 19, 2012
Grant dateFeb 23, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 19, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K3/356052
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A clock-gating circuit is disclosed that may reduce unnecessary power consumption associated with clock distribution networks. For some embodiments, the clock-gating circuit includes a latch control circuit, a storage latch, and a logic gate. The control circuit has inputs to receive an input clock signal, a clock enable signal, and a clock gating control signal, and has an output terminal to generate a latch enable signal. The latch has a data terminal responsive to the clock enable signal, a latch enable terminal responsive to the latch enable signal, and an output to generate the clock gating control signal. The logic gate has inputs to receive the input clock signal and the clock gating control signal, and has an output terminal to generate an output clock signal. The clock-gating circuit may reduce power consumption during an enabled state by maintaining the latch enable signal at a constant logic state, thereby reducing dynamic power consumption by preventing internal logic gates from dynamically switching logic states while the input clock signal is gated.

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