Data retention in operational and sleep modes

Abstract

A circuit is disclosed for retaining a signal value during a sleep mode while a portion of said circuit is powered down comprising: a clock signal input operable to receive a clock signal; at least one latch clocked by said clock signal; a data input, a data output and a forward data path therebetween, wherein a signal value is operable to be received at said data input, is clocked through said at least one latch and passes to said data output along said forward data path; at least one of said at least one latch comprises a retention latch operable to retain a signal value during said sleep mode, said retention latch not being located on said forward data path; and a bidirectional tristateable device, said bidirectional tristateable device being arranged between said forward data path and said retention latch and being operable to selectively isolate said retention latch from said forward data path in response to receipt of a first sleep signal; wherein in response to receipt of a second sleep signal, said second sleep signal being received after said first sleep signal, said circuit is operable to enter said sleep mode such that a voltage difference across said portion of said circuit is reduced such that said portion of said circuit is powered down, and a voltage difference across said retention latch and said bidirectional tristateable device is maintained.

1 . A circuit for retaining a signal value during a sleep mode while a portion of said circuit is powered down comprising: 
 a clock signal input operable to receive a clock signal;    at least one latch clocked by said clock signal;    a data input, a data output and a forward data path therebetween, wherein a signal value is operable to be received at said data input, is clocked into said at least one latch and passes to said data output along said forward data path; wherein    at least one of said at least one latch comprises a retention latch operable to retain a signal value during said sleep mode, and said circuit further comprises    a bidirectional tristateable device, said bidirectional tristateable device being arranged between said forward data path and said retention latch and being operable to selectively isolate said retention latch from said forward data path in response to receipt of a first sleep signal; wherein    in response to receipt of a second sleep signal, said second sleep signal being received after said first sleep signal, said circuit is operable to enter said sleep mode such that a voltage difference across said portion of said circuit is reduced such that said portion of said circuit is powered down, and a voltage difference across said retention latch and said bidirectional tristateable device is maintained.    
   
   
       2 . A circuit according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of latches clocked by said clock signal, said signal value passing from one of said plurality of latches to a subsequent one of said plurality of latches along said forward data path, at least one of said plurality of latches comprising said retention latch.  
   
   
       3 . A circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein said bidirectional tristateable device comprises two transistors operable to receive said first sleep signal and arranged such that in response to receipt of said first sleep signal said two transistors form a high impedance path and in response to not receiving said first sleep signal said two transistors form a low impedance path.  
   
   
       4 . A circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein said bidirectional tristateable device comprises four transistors, two of said four transistors forming said bidirectional tristateable device and two of said four transistors forming an inverter operable to invert said first sleep signal prior to inputting it to one of said two transistors.  
   
   
       5 . A circuit according to  claim 4 , wherein said bidirectional tristateable device comprises a transmission gate.  
   
   
       6 . A circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein said retention latch is operable to receive said clock signal.  
   
   
       7 . A circuit according to  claim 6 , said circuit further comprising: 
 clock signal distribution means operable to distribute said clock signal to said retention latch.    
   
   
       8 . A circuit according to  claim 7 , said clock signal distribution means comprising a first sleep signal input operable to receive a first sleep signal; wherein 
 in response to said first sleep signal said clock signal distribution means is operable to hold said clock signal at a predetermined value such that said retention latch retains state.    
   
   
       9 . A circuit according to  claim 7 , wherein said clock signal distribution means comprises a logic gate having a clock signal input and a first sleep signal input.  
   
   
       10 . A circuit according to  claim 8 , wherein said clock signal distribution means comprises a plurality of components through which a clock signal propagates, said circuit is operable to reduce a voltage difference across said components of said clock signal distribution means upstream in a clock signal propagation direction of said first sleep signal input such that said components are powered down in response to said first sleep signal, and to maintain a voltage difference across said components downstream of said first sleep signal input.  
   
   
       11 . A circuit according to  claim 6 , wherein said retention latch comprises a clocked tristate inverter, and transistors arranged in parallel with a portion of said clocked tristate inverter and operable to receive said first sleep signal such said retention latch is operable to retain state irrespective of a value of said clock during receipt of said first sleep signal.  
   
   
       12 . A circuit according to  claim 11 , wherein said transistors comprise two transistors in parallel with said two clocked transistors of said tristate inverter, said two transistors receiving said first sleep signal and an inverted first sleep signal respectively.  
   
   
       13 . A circuit according to  claim 1 , said circuit comprising at least one further latch, at least two of said latches comprising a master slave flip flop comprising a master latch and a slave latch, said retention latch comprising said slave latch.  
   
   
       14 . A circuit according to  claim 13 , wherein said master slave flip flop comprises a reset master slave flip flop, said retention latch comprising two transistors operable to receive said first sleep signal and a reset signal and operable to block said reset signal and prevent it from resetting a state of said retention latch in response to receipt of said first sleep signal.  
   
   
       15 . A circuit according to  claim 13 , wherein said master slave flip flop comprises a set master slave flip flop, said retention latch comprising two transistors operable to receive said first sleep signal and a set signal and operable to block said set signal and prevent it from setting a state of said retention latch in response to receipt of said first sleep signal.  
   
   
       16 . A circuit according to  claim 1 , said circuit further comprising a voltage regulator operable to control a voltage level supplied to portions of said circuit, said voltage regulator being operable to receive said second sleep signal and in response to said second sleep signal to reduce a voltage difference across said portion of said circuit such that said portion of said circuit is powered down; and to maintain a voltage difference across said retention latch and said bidirectional tristateable device.  
   
   
       17 . A circuit according to  claim 1 , said circuit being operable to be powered in response to a voltage difference applied across said circuit, said circuit further comprising a power transistor, said power transistor being arranged such that said voltage difference is applied across said power transistor and said portion of said circuit in series, said power transistor being operable to receive said second sleep signal and being operable to be turned off in response to said second sleep signal, such that a voltage difference across said portion of said circuit is reduced and said portion of said circuit is powered down in response to said second sleep signal.  
   
   
       18 . A circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein said retention latch and said bidirectional tristateable device comprise low leakage devices.  
   
   
       19 . A circuit according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of retention latches.  
   
   
       20 . A method of storing a signal value within a circuit during a sleep mode while a portion of said circuit is powered down, said method comprising the steps of: 
 distributing said clock signal to a clock input of at least one latch, said at least one latch being located between a data input and a data output such that a signal value received at said data input, is clocked into said at least one latch and passes to said data output along a forward data path, and at least one of said at least one latch is a retention latch operable to retain a signal value during said sleep mode; wherein    in response to a first sleep signal:    isolating said retention latch from said forward data path using a bidirectional tristateable device located between said forward data path and said retention latch;    in response to a second sleep signal:    reducing a voltage difference across said portion of said circuit such that said portion of said circuit is powered down; and    maintaining a voltage difference across said retention latch and said bidirectional tristateable device.    
   
   
       21 . A circuit for retaining a signal value while a portion of said circuit is powered down comprising: 
 a clock signal input operable to receive a clock signal;    a means for retaining data clocked by said clock signal and comprising: 
 a forward data path such that a signal value passes from a data input, is clocked into a retention means and passes to a data output along said forward data path and;  
 said retention means being operable to retain a signal value during a sleep mode; and  
 a bidirectional tristateable means for selectively isolating said retention means from said forward data path in response to receipt of a first sleep signal, said bidirectional tristateable means being arranged between said forward data path and said retention means; wherein  
   in response to receipt of a second sleep signal, said second sleep signal being received after said first sleep signal, said circuit is operable to enter said sleep mode such that a voltage difference across said portion of said circuit is reduced such that said portion of said circuit is powered down, and a voltage difference across said retention means and said bidirectional tristateable means is maintained.