Abstract:
A switchable supply network for powering multiple digital islands. In one embodiment, a first digital island includes a first power collapsible circuit and a first retention circuit, and a second digital island includes a second power collapsible circuit and a second retention circuit. In a normal mode of operation, the first digital island is provided a first supply voltage and a second digital island is provided a second supply voltage higher than the first supply voltage. In a transition mode the second power collapsible circuit is powered down and the second supply voltage is lowered and provided to the second retention circuit. When the second supply voltage falls below the first supply voltage, the first power collapsible circuit is powered down. The second supply voltage is now provided only to the retention circuits, and is furthered lowered in a retention mode to a final retention voltage.
Abstract:
A three-dimensional (3D) ultra-low power neuromorphic accelerator is described. The 3D ultra-low power neuromorphic accelerator includes a power manager as well as multiple tiers. The 3D ultra-low power neuromorphic accelerator also includes multiple cores defined on each tier and coupled to the power manager. Each core includes at least a processing element, a non-volatile memory, and a communications module.
Abstract:
A boost and LDO hybrid converter with dual-loop control is disclosed. In some implementations, a hybrid converter includes an inductor having a first terminal to receive an input voltage and a second terminal; an n-type metal oxide semiconductor device (nMOS) having a drain coupled to the second terminal of the inductor; a p-type metal oxide semiconductor device (pMOS) having a gate, a drain, and a source, the source coupled to the second terminal of the inductor; an output capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the drain of the first pMOS; and a controller having a switch driver and a buffer, wherein the controller is configured to use the switch driver to drive the gate of the first pMOS in a boost mode and to use the buffer to drive the gate of the first pMOS in a low drop out (LDO) mode.
Abstract:
A three-dimensional (3D) ultra-low power neuromorphic accelerator is described. The 3D ultra-low power neuromorphic accelerator includes a power manager as well as multiple tiers. The 3D ultra-low power neuromorphic accelerator also includes multiple cores defined on each tier and coupled to the power manager. Each core includes at least a processing element, a non-volatile memory, and a communications module.
Abstract:
A dual-mode memory is provided that includes a self-timed clock circuit for asserting a sense enable signal for a sense amplifier. In a low-bandwidth read mode, the self-timed clock circuit asserts the sense enable signal only once during a memory clock cycle. The sense amplifier then senses only a single bit from a group of multiplexed columns. In a high-bandwidth read mode, the self-timed clock circuit successively asserts the sense enable signal so that the sense amplifier successively senses bits from the multiplexed columns.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for identifying a process corner are provided. Provided is an exemplary method for identifying a process corner of an integrated circuit (IC). The IC has a first asymmetrical ring oscillator (ARO1) including pull-up transistors that have a low threshold voltage (LVT) and pull-down transistors that have a regular threshold voltage (RVT), and has a second asymmetrical ring oscillator (ARO2) including pull-up transistors that have an RVT and pull-down transistors having an LVT. The exemplary method includes applying an ultra-low power supply voltage to the ARO1 and the ARO2 that causes the integrated circuit to operate near a verge of malfunction, measuring an output frequency of the ARO1, measuring an output frequency of the ARO2, calculating a calculated ratio of the output frequency of the ARO1 and the output frequency of the ARO2, and comparing the calculated ratio to a fiduciary ratio to identify the process corner.