Abstract
Conventionally, when a synchronous sequential circuit is synthesized, storage units are implemented in either edge-triggered flip-flops or level-sensitive latches, but not both, depending on the clocking scheme (one- or two-phase) used. We propose that, in the former case, some of the flip-flops can be replaced with latches. Since a latch is generally smaller, faster and less power-consuming than a flip-flop, this replacement leads to improvements in circuit area, performance and power consumption. Whether a flip-flop can be replaced with a latch depends on not only its structural context but also its temporal behavior. In this paper, we first present conditions under which a straightforward replacement can be made; then, we propose two retiming-based transformations that increase the number of replaceable flip-flops. We have implemented the proposed idea in a software called FF2Latch. Experimental results on a set of control-dominated circuits from the high-level synthesis benchmark set [1] show that a large number of the flip-flops can be replaced with latches. Up to 22% reduction in the circuit area and up to 73% reduction in the power consumption have been achieved.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | European Design Automation Conference - Proceedings |
| Publisher | IEEE |
| Pages | 296-301 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Publication status | Published - 1996 Jan 1 |
| Event | Proceedings of the 1996 European Design Automation Conference with EURO-VHDL'96 and Exhibition - Geneva, Switz Duration: 1996 Sep 16 → 1996 Sep 20 |
Other
| Other | Proceedings of the 1996 European Design Automation Conference with EURO-VHDL'96 and Exhibition |
|---|---|
| City | Geneva, Switz |
| Period | 96-09-16 → 96-09-20 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Control and Systems Engineering
Cite this
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Storage optimization by replacing some flip-flops with latches. / Wu, Tsung-Yi; Lin, Youn Long.
European Design Automation Conference - Proceedings. IEEE, 1996. p. 296-301.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
TY - GEN
T1 - Storage optimization by replacing some flip-flops with latches
AU - Wu, Tsung-Yi
AU - Lin, Youn Long
PY - 1996/1/1
Y1 - 1996/1/1
N2 - Conventionally, when a synchronous sequential circuit is synthesized, storage units are implemented in either edge-triggered flip-flops or level-sensitive latches, but not both, depending on the clocking scheme (one- or two-phase) used. We propose that, in the former case, some of the flip-flops can be replaced with latches. Since a latch is generally smaller, faster and less power-consuming than a flip-flop, this replacement leads to improvements in circuit area, performance and power consumption. Whether a flip-flop can be replaced with a latch depends on not only its structural context but also its temporal behavior. In this paper, we first present conditions under which a straightforward replacement can be made; then, we propose two retiming-based transformations that increase the number of replaceable flip-flops. We have implemented the proposed idea in a software called FF2Latch. Experimental results on a set of control-dominated circuits from the high-level synthesis benchmark set [1] show that a large number of the flip-flops can be replaced with latches. Up to 22% reduction in the circuit area and up to 73% reduction in the power consumption have been achieved.
AB - Conventionally, when a synchronous sequential circuit is synthesized, storage units are implemented in either edge-triggered flip-flops or level-sensitive latches, but not both, depending on the clocking scheme (one- or two-phase) used. We propose that, in the former case, some of the flip-flops can be replaced with latches. Since a latch is generally smaller, faster and less power-consuming than a flip-flop, this replacement leads to improvements in circuit area, performance and power consumption. Whether a flip-flop can be replaced with a latch depends on not only its structural context but also its temporal behavior. In this paper, we first present conditions under which a straightforward replacement can be made; then, we propose two retiming-based transformations that increase the number of replaceable flip-flops. We have implemented the proposed idea in a software called FF2Latch. Experimental results on a set of control-dominated circuits from the high-level synthesis benchmark set [1] show that a large number of the flip-flops can be replaced with latches. Up to 22% reduction in the circuit area and up to 73% reduction in the power consumption have been achieved.
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M3 - Conference contribution
SP - 296
EP - 301
BT - European Design Automation Conference - Proceedings
PB - IEEE
ER -