Gordon & WireWhiz
Have you ever tried to optimize a circuit for minimal power consumption while still meeting timing constraints? I'm thinking about a new design.
Yes, I've tackled that before. The key is to treat power and timing as two axes on a trade‑off plane. First, run a full timing analysis to pin down the critical path and see where slack exists. Then apply clock‑gating to idle blocks, reduce supply voltage where slack allows, and consider body‑bias tricks for dynamic performance. Don’t forget leakage: low‑power libraries can cut static draw by half, but they usually slow the worst‑case path. A balanced schedule—shortening the critical path just enough to meet the target, then squeezing voltage and gating—usually gives the best compromise. If you want more detail, let me know which part of the design is giving you the most trouble.