0.5-V Highly Power-Efficient Programmable Logic using Nonvolatile Configuration Switch in BEOL

Abstract

A low-power nonvolatile programmable-logic cell array is proposed for energy-constrained applications such as wireless sensor nodes and mobile apparatuses. A 64x64 programmable-logic cell array includes a 9.2-Mbit nonvolatile switch, namely atom switch, as the routing switch and configuration memory. A 16-bit arithmetic logic unit, which is a building block of the micro-controller unit, was implemented to compare the speed and power consumption with a state-of-the-art low power field-programmable gate array. The proposed programmable-logic array exhibited 30% dynamic power saving and x2.5 faster operation in the low-voltage region. Zero sleep power was also demonstrated.