A novel approach for skew compensation in energy recovery clock distribution networks

In this paper a new approach for skew compensation in energy recovery clock distribution networks is introduced by manipulating the operating speed of the flip-flops. Three types of flip-flops: ¿fast¿, ¿standard¿, and ¿slow¿ are used. Distributing flip-flops according to their delay requirements would reduce the effect of the clock´s skew on the outputs of sequentially adjacent flip-flops. This approach increases the skew bounds required by algorithms to balance the skew in the clock distribution network leading to reduced design complexity. Theoretical analysis and simulation results at a clock frequency of 500 MHz show that this approach is feasible and effective where a skew of up to 6.2% of the clock period can be compensated for.