Title :
Resonant clock mega-mesh for the IBM z13TM
Author :
Shan, David ; Restle, Phillip ; Malone, Doug ; Groves, Rob ; Lai, Eric ; Koch, Michael ; Hibbeler, Jason ; Yong Kim ; Vezyrtzis, Christos ; Feder, Jan ; Hogenmiller, David ; Bucelot, Thomas
Author_Institution :
IBM Syst., Austin, TX, USA
Abstract :
The IBM z13TM microprocessor utilizes a large resonant “mega-mesh” global clock distribution saving 50% of the final-stage clock mesh power and 8% of the total chip power in the desired frequency range of 4.5 to 5.5 GHz compared to a simulated, non-resonant base-line design. The mega-mesh is driven by pulsed buffers. Measurement of the mega-mesh´s robustness is enabled by skew gradients created by programmable delays. The design is implemented in IBM´s high-performance 22nm high-k CMOS SOI technology with 17 metal layers [1].
Keywords :
CMOS integrated circuits; integrated circuit design; microprocessor chips; clock distribution; frequency 4.5 GHz to 5.5 GHz; high-k CMOS SOI technology; microprocessor; programmable delays; resonant clock mega-mesh; size 22 nm; skew gradients; Clocks; Delays; Frequency measurement; Inductors; Microprocessors; Resonant frequency; Switches;
Conference_Titel :
VLSI Circuits (VLSI Circuits), 2015 Symposium on
Conference_Location :
Kyoto
Print_ISBN :
978-4-86348-502-0
DOI :
10.1109/VLSIC.2015.7231308
