Circuit design advances for ultra-low power sensing platforms

Michael Wieckowski; Ronald G Dreslinski; Trevor Mudge; David Blaauw; Dennis Sylvester

doi:10.1117/12.850720

5 May 2010 Circuit design advances for ultra-low power sensing platforms

Michael Wieckowski, Ronald G Dreslinski, Trevor Mudge, David Blaauw, Dennis Sylvester

Proceedings Volume 7679, Micro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications II; 76790W (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.850720
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2010, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

This paper explores the recent advances in circuit structures and design methodologies that have enabled ultra-low power sensing platforms and opened up a host of new applications. Central to this theme is the development of Near Threshold Computing (NTC) as a viable design space for low power sensing platforms. In this paradigm, the system's supply voltage is approximately equal to the threshold voltage of its transistors. Operating in this "near-threshold" region provides much of the energy savings previously demonstrated for subthreshold operation while offering more favorable performance and variability characteristics. This makes NTC applicable to a broad range of power-constrained computing segments including energy constrained sensing platforms. This paper explores the barriers to the adoption of NTC and describes current work aimed at overcoming these obstacles in the circuit design space.

Citation Download Citation

Michael Wieckowski, Ronald G Dreslinski, Trevor Mudge, David Blaauw, and Dennis Sylvester "Circuit design advances for ultra-low power sensing platforms", Proc. SPIE 7679, Micro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications II, 76790W (5 May 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.850720

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