Analysis of clocked timing elements for dynamic voltage scaling effects over process parameter variation

In power-constrained systems, the power efficiency of latches and flip-flops is pivotal. Characteristics of three selected latches and FFs were analyzed for their behavior under voltage scaling and different process corners in a 0.18 μm CMOS technology. The relative performance amongst the latches/FFs was consistent across the different supply voltages. At low-voltage power-delay product was degraded by about 25%. Energy-delay-product was approximately doubled at low-voltage, for all latches/FFs over all process corners. This result was smaller in comparison to the ideal voltage scaling characteristics mainly because the effects of velocity saturation were less severe at low voltage. All three designs suffered more due to process variation under low-voltage conditions