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Clockless Computing: Benefits & Challenges

This document discusses clockless, or asynchronous, computing as an alternative to traditional synchronous circuits that rely on a global clock signal. In asynchronous circuits, handshaking signals are used between stages to coordinate the transfer of data without a clock. This allows each stage to process data at its own pace. Benefits include higher speeds, lower power consumption, and more modular designs. However, asynchronous circuits are more difficult to design due to limitations in CAD tools and designers' familiarity with synchronous approaches.

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21 views13 pages

Clockless Computing: Benefits & Challenges

This document discusses clockless, or asynchronous, computing as an alternative to traditional synchronous circuits that rely on a global clock signal. In asynchronous circuits, handshaking signals are used between stages to coordinate the transfer of data without a clock. This allows each stage to process data at its own pace. Benefits include higher speeds, lower power consumption, and more modular designs. However, asynchronous circuits are more difficult to design due to limitations in CAD tools and designers' familiarity with synchronous approaches.

Uploaded by

cooldk007
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

An Introduction to

Clockless Computing

James Copus
FABE 810
What do we mean by clock?
The system clock for an integrated circuit is a
voltage signal that pulses at a regular frequency.

1
0
The clock tells eachTime
stage of a circuit that the
inputs of that stage are valid and can be
processed.
Current PC Technology
One of the defining performance characteristics of
current personal computers is the clock speed of the
microprocessor.
Current home PC microprocessors approach 3 GHz.
The Pentium 4 chip has an area of around 217 mm2,
or around 15 mm from edge to edge.
A clock signal must travel the 15 mm distance in less
than .333 nanoseconds = 100 million miles/ hour.
What does this mean?
As clock speeds increase, it becomes
more difficult to get the clock signal to
propagate to all parts of the chip fast
enough for the circuit to operate
properly.
There is some upper limit to clock
speed that depends on the material
properties of the device.
Another Option:
Eliminate the global clock.
Use handshaking between the stages to
handle data transfer.
A circuit that does not utilize a
synchronized clock is called an
ASYNCHRONOUS circuit.
Synchronous v. Asynchronous
Synchronous Circuit
Clock Signal

Input Asynchronous Circuit Output


Data Data
Local Handshake Control Between Stages
How Handshaking Works

Processing Data Idle

Stage 1 Stage 2
How Handshaking Works

Request

Transmitting
Idle
Data
Data

Stage 1 Stage 2
How Handshaking Works

Request

Transmitting Acknowledge Data


Data Received
Data

Stage 1 Stage 2
How Handshaking Works

Processing
Idle
Data

Stage 1 Stage 2
Benefits of
Asynchronous Circuits
High Speed -- Each stage can process as fast
as possible, independent of a global clock.
Low Power -- When system is idle, there is no
clock driving the circuit.
Modularity -- One design can easily be
integrated into another design, without regard
to how fast each section works.
Design Time -- Less of the design time is spent
making sure the timing assumptions of the
circuit work at the given clock speed.
Disadvantages of
Asynchronous Circuits
Handshaking control can increase the overall
circuit area.
More difficult to design:
- Most circuit designers learn only synchronous
design.
- Most CAD tools only support synchronous design.
- Asynchronous circuit CAD tools still in early
development.
Uses of Asynchronous Circuits
Custom-designed circuits for high speed
calculations.
Modular designs that can be quickly
changed for different applications.
Low power uses, such as mobile phones
and pagers.

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