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Reading: CH 6.3 & 6.4

Lecture 6: Combinational Logic Design: Dynamic Logic

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Dynamic CMOS   In static circuits at every point in time (except

when switching) the output is connected to either GND or VDD via a low resistance path. l fan-in of n requires 2n (n N-type + n P-type) devices

  Dynamic circuits rely on the temporary storage of signal values on the capacitance of high impedance nodes. l requires on n + 2 (n+1 N-type + 1 P-type) transistors l caps are left floating at times; noise sensitive

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Dynamic Gate

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In1

In2 PDN

In3

Me

Mp

Clk

Clk

Out CL

Out

Clk

Clk

A

B

C

Mp

Me

Two phase operation Precharge (CLK = 0) Evaluate (CLK = 1)

Clock +

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Dynamic Gate

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In1

In2 PDN

In3

Me

Mp

Clk

Clk

Out CL

Out

Clk

Clk

A

B

C

Mp

Me

Two phase operation Precharge (CLK = 0) Evaluate (CLK = 1)

on

off

1

off

on

((AB)+C)

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Conditions on Output   Once the output of a dynamic gate is

discharged, it cannot be charged again until the next precharge operation.   Inputs to the gate can make at most one

transition during evaluation.   Output can be in the high impedance state

during and after evaluation (PDN off), state is stored on CL

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Properties of Dynamic Gates   Logic function is implemented by the PDN only

l number of transistors is N + 2 (versus 2N for static complementary CMOS)

  Full swing outputs (VOL = GND and VOH = VDD)   Non-ratioed sizing of the devices does not affect

the logic levels   Faster switching speeds (1.5-2X vs. static CMOS)

l reduced load capacitance due to lower input capacitance (Cin) l reduced load capacitance due to smaller output loading (Cout) l NMOS only, faster devices (optimize for one transition direction) l no Isc, so all the current provided by PDN goes into discharging CL

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Properties of Dynamic Gates   Overall power dissipation usually higher than static

CMOS dynamic power !!! l no static current path ever exists between VDD and GND

(including Psc) l no glitching l higher transition probabilities l extra load on Clk l Smaller devices (caps) helps reduce impact

  PDN starts to work as soon as the input signals exceed VTn, so VM, VIH and VIL equal to VTn l Small low noise margin (NML) VTn

  Needs a precharge/evaluate clock 7

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Issues in Dynamic Design 1: Charge Leakage

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CL

Clk

Clk

Out

A

Mp

Me

Leakage sources

CLK

VOut

Precharge

Evaluate

Dominant component is subthreshold current of M1

M1

Require a minimal clock rate ~ a few kHz (not good for low-performance circuit)

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Solution to Charge Leakage

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CL

Clk

Clk

Me

Mp

A

B

Out

Mkp

•  Same approach as level restorer for pass-transistor logic •  Psc during swithing when PDN and keeper are both on

Keeper Need to be small

Fight between the keeper and PDN

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Issues in Dynamic Design 2: Charge Sharing

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CL

Clk

Clk

CA

CB

B=0

A

Out Mp

Me

Charge stored originally on CL is redistributed (shared) over CL and CA leading to reduced robustness

To avoid: 1)  Precharge internal nodes

adds delay 2)  Add a feedback (keeper)

device

Ma

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Charge Sharing

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B = 0

Clk

X

C L

C a

C b

A

Out M p

M a

V DD

M b

Clk M e

on

off

case 1) if ΔVout <VTn : VX =VDD −VTn (VX )CLVDD = CLVout (final) + Ca[VDD −VTn (VX )]or

ΔVout =Vout (final)+ (−VDD ) = − Ca

CL

[VDD −VTn (VX )]

case 2) if ΔVout >VTn :Vout = VX

ΔVout = −VDDCa

Ca +CL

⎛⎝⎜

⎞⎠⎟

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Solution to Charge Redistribution (sharing)

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Clk

Clk

Me

Mp

A

B

Out Mkp

Clk

Precharge internal nodes using a clock-driven transistor (at the cost of increased area and power)

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Issues in Dynamic Design 3: Backgate Coupling (output-to-input coupling)

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CL1

Clk

Clk

B=0

A=0

Out1 Mp

Me

Out2

CL2 In

Dynamic NAND Static NAND

=1 = H à L

Out1 decrease

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Issues in Dynamic Design 4: Clock Feedthrough

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CL

Clk

Clk

B

A

Out Mp

Me

Coupling between Out and Clk input of the precharge device due to the gate to drain capacitance. So voltage of Out can rise above VDD (or below GND). The fast rising (and falling edges) of the clock couple to Out.

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Backgate Coupling & Clock feedthrough

-1

0

1

2

3

0 2 4 6

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Volta

ge

Time, ns

Clk

In

Out1

Out2

Backgate coupling Clock feedthrough

(Out2 does not drop to GND)

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Clock Feedthrough

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-0.5

0.5

1.5

2.5

0 0.5 1

Clk

Clk

In1

In2

In3

In4

Out

In & Clk

Out

Time, ns

Volta

ge

Clock feedthrough (L H)

Clock feedthrough (HL)

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Other Effects

 Capacitive coupling

 Substrate coupling

 Minority charge injection

 Supply noise (ground bounce)

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Cascading Dynamic Gates

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Clk

Clk

Out1

In

Mp

Me

Mp

Me

Clk

Clk

Out2

V

t

Clk

In

Out1

Out2 ΔV

VTn

Setting all inputs of the 2nd gate to ‘0’ during precharge will fix it è Only 0 à 1 transitions allowed at inputs!

1 0 transition

Straightforward cascading of dynamic gates does not work!

1 0 1 1

Race b/w clk and out1

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Domino Logic

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In1

In2 PDN

In3

Me

Mp

Clk

Clk Out1

In4 PDN

In5

Me

Mp

Clk

Clk Out2

Mkp

1 à 1 1 à 0

0 à 0 0 1

Outputs of other Domino logics

INV can be used as a feedback

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Why Domino? and Properties

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Clk

Clk

Ini PDN Inj

Ini Inj

PDN Ini PDN Inj

Ini PDN Inj

Like falling dominos!

 Only non-inverting logic can be implemented  Very high speed (tpHL 0)

l static inverter can be skewed, only L-H transition l  Input capacitance reduced – smaller logical effort

0 à 0 0 à 1 0 or 1 0 or 1

0 or 1

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Designing with Domino Logic

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M p

M e

V DD

PDN

Clk

In 1 In 2 In 3

Out1

Clk

M p

M e

V DD

PDN

Clk

In 4

Clk

Out2

M r

V DD

Inputs = 0 during precharge

Can be eliminated!

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Footless Domino

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•  The first gate in the chain needs a foot switch •  Precharge is rippling (critical path)

à both PDN, PUN are on (fighting)à short-circuit current •  A solution is to delay the clock for each stage or put

evaluation NMOS always.

VDD

Clk MpOut1

In1

1 0

VDD

Clk MpOut2

In2

VDD

Clk MpOutn

InnIn3

1 0

0 1 0 1 0 1

1 0 1 0

Precharge device is fighting the PDN

0

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Differential (Dual Rail) Domino

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A

B

Me

Mp

Clk

Clk Out = AB

!A !B

Mkp Clk

Out = AB

Mkp Mp

Solves the problem of non-inverting logic But, expensive: double the # of transistors

1 0 1 0

on off

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np-CMOS (aka Zipper logic)

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In1

In2 PDN

In3

Me

Mp

Clk

Clk Out1

In4 PUN

In5

Me

Mp Clk

Clk

Out2 (to PDN)

1 à 1 1 à 0

0 à 0 0 à 1

Only 0 à 1 transitions allowed at inputs of PDN Only 1 à 0 transitions allowed at inputs of PUN è Requires extra area to balance PDN and PUN delay

From PUN

NO conditional discharge

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NORA (NO RAcing) Logic

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In1

In2 PDN

In3

Me

Mp

Clk

Clk Out1

In4 PUN

In5

Me

Mp Clk

Clk

Out2 (to PDN)

1 à 1 1 à 0

0 à 0 0 à 1

to other PDN’s

to other PUN’s

WARNING: Very sensitive to noise!: à All inputs are dynamic (capacitance) during evaluation

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Summary of Dynamic Gates

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 Require fewer #of transistors than Static (N+2 vs. 2N)  Require clock and PDN (NMOS) network only   Two phase operation:

l  precharge evaluation

 Dynamic gates provide speed benefits l Smaller area, smaller parasitic capacitance

 BUT: l Add complexity l Worsen power (most dynamic power) l Worsen noise immunity (leakage, charge sharing, coupling, etc…)