Dynamic Power
Output capacitance of the CMOS logic gate consists of below components:
1) Output node capacitance of the logic gate: This is due to the drain diffusion region.
2) Total interconnects capacitance: This has higher effect as technology node shrinks.
3) Input node capacitance of the driven gate: This is due to the gate oxide capacitance.
As
the name indicates it occurs when signals which go through the CMOS
circuits change their logic state. At this moment energy is drawn from
the power supply to charge up the output node capacitance. Charging up
of the output capacitance causes transition from 0V to Vdd. Considering
an inverter example power drawn from the power supply is dissipated as
heat in pMOS transistor. On the other hand charge down process causes
NMOS transistor to dissipate heat.
Output capacitance of the CMOS logic gate consists of below components:
1) Output node capacitance of the logic gate: This is due to the drain diffusion region.
2) Total interconnects capacitance: This has higher effect as technology node shrinks.
3) Input node capacitance of the driven gate: This is due to the gate oxide capacitance.
The
average power dissipation of the CMOS logic circuit can be
mathematically expressed [2]. Integrating the instantaneous power over
the period of interest, the energy EVDD taken from the supply during the transition is given by
EVDD= 0->∞∫I. VDD(t).VDD.dt
=VDD. 0->∞∫ CL.(dvout/dt).dt
= CL.VDD. 0->VDD∫.dvout
= CL.VDD2
Similarly
integrating the instantaneous power over the period of interest, the
energy Ec stored in the capacitor at the end of transition is given by,
Ec = 0->∞∫ I. VDD(t).Vout.dt
= 0->∞∫ CL.(dvout/dt).vout.dt
= CL.(integration from 0 to VDD).Vout.dvout
= (CL.VDD2)/2
Therefore energy stored in capacitor is= CL.VDD2 / 2.
This implies that half of the energy supplied by the power source is stored in CL. The other half has been dissipated by the PMOS devices. This energy dissipation is independent of the size of the PMOS device. During the discharge phase the charge is removed from the capacitor, and its energy is dissipated in the NMOS device.
Each switching cycle takes a fixed amount of energy = CL. VDD2.
If a gate is switched on and off ‘fn’ times / second, then Pdynamic = CL. VDD2. fn.
Where fn à frequency of energy consuming transitions. This is also called "switching activity".
In general we can write,
Pdynamic = Ceff.VDD2.f
Where f à maximum switching activity possible i.e. clock rate.
Hence,
Pavg= 1/T [0->T/2∫Vout (-Cload.dVout/dt)dt+T/2->T∫(VDD-Vout)(Cload.dVout/dt) dt]
i.e. Pavg=1/T Cload.VDD2
i.e. Pavg=Cload.VDD2.Fclk
Here
energy required to charge up the output node to Vdd and charge down the
total output load capacitance to ground level is integrated. Applied
input periodic waveform having its period T is assumed to be having zero
rise and fall time. Note that average power is independent of
transistor size and characteristics.
Internal power
This
is the power consumed by the cell when an input changes, but output
does not change [3]. In logic gates not every change of the current
running through an input cell necessarily leads to a change in the state
of the output net. Also internal node voltage swing can be only Vi
which can be smaller than the full voltage swing of Vdd leading to the
partial voltage swing.
Below mentioned steps can be taken to reduce dynamic power
1) Reduce power supply voltage Vdd
2) Reduce voltage swing in all nodes
3) Reduce the switching probability (transition factor)
4) Reduce load capacitance
1) Reduce power supply voltage Vdd
2) Reduce voltage swing in all nodes
3) Reduce the switching probability (transition factor)
4) Reduce load capacitance
[1] Michael Keating, David Flynn, Robert Aitken, Alan Gibsons and Kaijian Shi, “Low Power Methodology Manual for System on Chip Design”, Springer Publications, NewYork, 2007, www.lpmm-book.org, 4/9/2007
[2]
Jan M Rabaey, Anantha Chandrakasan and Borivoje Nikolic, "Digital
Integrated Circuits A Design Perspective", 2nd Edition, 2005, Prentice
Hall
[3] Astro, User Guide, Version X-2005.09, September 2005