Supply and threshold voltage optimization for low power design

One of the most effective ways to design low power circuits is to use low power supply voltages. If the threshold voltages are also reduced, it is possible to maintain good performance at these lower voltages. This paper addresses the question of how to choose the optimum supply and threshold voltages for low power design. Other workers have also addressed this question, but have only considered nominal conditions or nominal conditions plus simplified tolerances. These prior works have used simplified models for device switching speed and power dissipation. In the present work we take more detailed account of parameter tolerances, take full account of short channel effects in the devices, and carry out full circuit simulations to obtain accurate speed and power information.