Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering (한국정보통신학회논문지)

The Korea Institute of Information and Commucation Engineering (한국정보통신학회)
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Gated Clock-based Low-Power Technique based on RTL Synthesis

RTL 수준에서의 합성을 이용한 Gated Clock 기반의 Low-Power 기법

  • 서영호 (광운대학교 교양학부 IT) ;
  • 박성호 (LG 전자 SIC 사업팀 HPM Gr) ;
  • 최현준 (광운대학교 전자재료공학과 Digital Design & Test Lab.) ;
  • 김동욱 (광운대학교 전자재료공학과 Digital Design & Test Lab.)
  • Published : 2008.03.31
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Abstract

In this paper we proposed a practical low-power design technique using clock-gating in RTL. An efficient low-power methodology is that a high-level designer analyzes a generic system and designs a controller for clock-gating. Also the desirable flow is to derive clock-gating in normal synthesis process by synthesis tool than to insert directly gate to clock line. If low-power is considered in coding process, clock is gated in coding process. If not considered, after analyzing entire operation. clock is Bated in periods of holding data. After analyzing operation for clock-gating, a controller was designed for it, and then a low-power circuit was generated by synthesis tool. From result, we identified that the consumed power of register decreased from 922mW to 543mW, that is the decrease rate is 42%. In case of synthesizing the test circuit using synthesizer of Power Theater, it decreased from 322mW to 208mW (36.5% decrease).

본 논문에서는 RTL 수준에서의 클록 게이팅을 이용한 실제적인 저전력 설계 기술에 대해서 제안하고자 한다. 상위 수준의 회로 설계자에 의해 시스템의 동작을 분석하여 클록 게이팅을 위한 제어기를 이용하는 것이 가장 효율적인 전력 감소를 가져 온다. 또한 직접적으로 클록 게이팅을 수행하는 것보다는 합성툴이 자연스럽게 게이팅된 클록을 맵핑할 수 있도록 RTL 수준에서 유도하는 것이 바람직하다. RTL 코딩 단계에서부터 저전력이 고려되었다면 처음 코딩단계에서부터 클록을 게이팅 시키고, 만일 고려되지 않았다면 동작을 분석한 후에 대기 동작인 부분에서 클록을 게이팅 한다. 그리고 회로의 동작을 분석한 후에 클록의 게 이팅을 제어하기 위한 제어기를 설계하고 합성 툴에 의해 저전력 회로에 해당하는 netlist를 얻는다. 결과로부터 상위수준의 클록 게이팅에 의해 레지스터의 전력이 922 mW에서 543 mW로 42% 감소한 것을 확인할 수 있다. Power Theater 자체의 synthesizer를 이용하여 netlist로 합성한 후에 전력을 측정했을 경우에는 레지스터의 전력이 322 mW에서 208 mW로 36.5% 감소한 것을 확인할 수 있다.

Keywords

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